The Assembly of the Guaraní Peoples (APG-Bolivia), the organization Derecho Indígena de Uruguay, the International Network of Chairs Institutions and personalities on the Study of Public Debt (RICDP), and the lacommunis Platform are organizing a virtual Public Forum on the situation of Indigenous Peoples with special attention to their languages to be held on August 9 at 12:00 Uruguay time.
The objective of the event is to disseminate and raise awareness about the situation of the Indigenous Peoples of the region, highlighting the importance of their languages and the actions that are being promoted to protect and promote the knowledge and use of indigenous languages.
The event coincides with the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which, by decision of the United Nations General Assembly since 1994, has been held every year to commemorate the first meeting of the Working Group on the Multiple Populations of indigenous Peoples of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, in 1982.
This event will feature the participation of indigenous experts and leaders who will share their experiences, knowledge and efforts in the promotion and protection of their languages. We will explore the different strategies that are being carried out to revitalize indigenous languages and ensure that they remain a living part of the cultural diversity of the region.
In Latin America, there are about 60 million indigenous people, about 826 peoples and about 550 indigenous languages are spoken. More than 100 indigenous peoples are transboundary, such as the Guarani people who are present in five countries of South America.
Despite the remarkable cultural and social contributions, throughout history and in the present, the reality is that Indigenous Peoples are among the sectors that exhibit the worst levels of access to basic rights throughout the world and in this region.
Although the vast majority of Latin American countries have recognized the rights of Indigenous Peoples, many have ratified Convention No. 169 of the ILO and even an American Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been adopted, the gap between the recognized rights and the reality is enormous.
Among other aspects, indigenous languages, an essential part of native cultures, are at serious risk, even those with millions of speakers.
The year 2023 is the second of the Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032, also approved by the UN as a result of indigenous demands at the conclusion of the International Year of Indigenous Languages in 2019.