UN French Language Day 2019: International Francophonie Day

UN French Language Day is celebrated on March 20. The event was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010. 

 

The day is observed annually in order to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six its official working languages throughout the organization.


For the French language, 20 March was chosen as the date since it "coincides with the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie", a group whose members share a common tongue, as well as the humanist values promoted by the French language.  Other dates were selected for the celebration of the UN's other five official languages.


International Francophonie Day (French: Journée internationale de la Francophonie) is observed within the International Organization of La Francophonie's 77 member states every March 20 to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture. There are over 369 million French speakers on Earth.


French is an official language in 29 countries. It as well is an official language of all United Nations agencies and a large number of international organizations. French was the most important language of diplomacy and international relations from the 17th century to approximately the middle of the 20th century. English has taken over that role since then.


The French language has always had an important place among languages. First a symbol of culture and creativity, it was then a vector of democracy and humanism, values ​​that UNESCO intends to promote. UNESCO loves, speaks and promotes French - one of its 6 official languages ​​and one of its 2 working languages. But more broadly UNESCO celebrating the Francophonie celebrates the cultural and linguistic diversity that makes up the world.


Celebrating La Francophonie is recognizing the potential of language and culture to unite people, to create spaces of solidarity and mutual understanding, to reflect together on our common future. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) share this common vision that places culture and language at the heart of any lasting effort for peace. and development.

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