February 21
February 21 is Mother Language Day, with the aim of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity around the world, as well as highlighting the importance of preserving mother tongues, many of which are threatened with extinction. The date was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and recognized by the UN, and is an opportunity to celebrate the richness of languages spoken on the planet and reinforce the right to education in the mother tongue.
Origin of the Date
The choice of February 21 dates back to a tragic event that occurred in 1952 in Bangladesh (at the time part of Pakistan), when students were killed while protesting for the recognition of their mother tongue, Bengali, as the official language. The day honors this sacrifice and highlights the importance of respecting and valuing all languages and cultural identities.
Why is it important?
According to UNESCO, almost 40% of the world's population does not have access to education in a language they understand. In addition, more than 7,000 languages are spoken in the world, but many are at risk of disappearing due to globalization, linguistic discrimination and lack of transmission to future generations.
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