The United Nations has proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.

This is designed to “raise global attention on the critical risks confronting indigenous languages and its significance for sustainable development, reconciliation, good governance and peace building”

Language is a crucial part of a person’s identity and plays a fundamental role in the transmission of culture and traditions. Linguistic diversity is closely related to biodiversity and languages, like other threatened species, are disappearing at a dangerous rate: 40% of the over 7000 languages are in danger of extinction, thus contributing to the general threat to humanity’s survival.

Of the languages in danger, most are indigenous languages. Indigenous languages are particularly vulnerable and they must therefore constitute a priority in our action to protect this vital constituent of our planet’s survival.

UNA Westminster, Survival International and the Foundation for Endangered Languages, three organisations with a rich record of work on UN, indigenous, and language endangerment issues, have come together to contribute to the promotion of the spirit and the principles of this International Year.

Programme

1300 Registration

Screening of short films from the UN in Action series depicting challenges facing indigenous peoples in several countries.

13:45 Lunch Refreshments with vegetarian options, soft drinks, tea and coffee

14:15 Welcome: Professor Stephen Hopgood, Pro-Director (International), SOAS

Session 1 HOW THE UN SYSTEM COORDINATES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Moderator: David Wardrop, Westminster United Nations Association

14:20 "The UN family marking the International Year of Indigenous Languages"

Salem Mezhoud, Westminster United Nations Association

14.40 "UNESCO’s Programme of Mapping and Recording Indigenous Languages"

Chris Moseley, Foundation for Endangered Languages

Session 2 LANGUAGES, MAPPING, RECORDING, PRESERVING

Moderator: Hakim Elnazarov, Foundation for Endangered Languages

15.00 "Wikitongues and the Grass Root Language Recordings"

Kristen Tcherneshoff

15:20 "The Work of the Foundation for Endangered Languages"

Nicholas Ostler, Foundation for Endangered Language

15:40 Refreshment Break

Session 3 CASE STUDIES ON THREATS TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Moderator Salem Mezhoud, Westminster United Nations Association

15:50 "Factory Schools and other threats to tribal and indigenous peoples"

Jo Woodman, Survival International

16:10 "The Language Landscape Project: A Case Study of Promoting Indigenous

Languages in Borneo”

Charlotte Hemmings, Language Landscape (TBC)

16:30 - 17:00 Closing remarks, networking and refreshments