Mr. Chair,
Indigenous languages are an essential part of the culture, identity and history of Indigenous Peoples.
By advocating for the right of Indigenous Peoples to use their mother tongues and to participate in public life in their own languages, we not only protect their linguistic sovereignty and ancestral heritage, but also uphold their right to self-determination and their dignity.
Four years after the proclamation of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), much remains to be done.
One of the most harmful consequences of the structural discrimination to which Indigenous Peoples have been subjected for many years is the critical situation facing many of their languages, which are at risk of disappearing.
Forty per cent of the more than 6,700 languages spoken around the world are threatened with extinction, and the vast majority of them are Indigenous languages. It is therefore urgent to adopt concrete measures and mobilize greater resources for their preservation, revitalization and promotion.
National action plans for the implementation of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages should be strengthened, and sufficient, predictable and sustainable financial resources should be allocated to this objective.
The Decade provides an opportunity to raise greater awareness among Governments and society as a whole of the importance of multilingualism. It also offers a favourable framework for international cooperation, enabling more coherent and coordinated action by the many stakeholders involved in this issue.
It is our responsibility to support Indigenous Peoples in every possible way so that they may pass on their languages, histories, traditions and the knowledge accumulated over thousands of years to future generations.
Cuba supports the promotion of education in Indigenous languages, particularly for children.
We also support the adoption of an international convention on the linguistic rights of Indigenous Peoples.
In conclusion, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to the legitimate aspirations of Indigenous Peoples and calls upon the international community to demonstrate greater political will to advance the full realization of the rights of these communities.
Thank you.