The Decade continues to advance the preservation, revitalization and promotion of Indigenous languages, and to expand its network of partners. During the 18th meeting of its Global Task Force that took place last May, Thomas Mullaney, Professor in Stanford University’s Department of History, was appointed as UNESCO Chair in Digital Futures. This designation is part of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, an inter-university cooperation network of more than 1,000 chairs worldwide. In this role, Professor Mullaney will contribute to UNESCO’s work through research, teaching, training and community outreach.
Professor Mullaney’s scholarship closely aligns with the Decade’s digital priorities. He co-directs SILICON (Stanford Initiative on Language Inclusion and Conservation in Old and New Media), which works to ensure that speakers of under-resourced languages can participate fully in digital spaces. SILICON brings together language communities, the technology sector, academic institutions and international organizations, including UNESCO and Unicode, to expand the range of languages supported by digital technologies.
The governance of the Decade was also strengthened with the appointment of four new Co-Chairs of the Global Task Force for the 2026–2027 term: Chinwe Veronica Anunobi (Nigeria) and Sara Martínez (Colombia), representing Member States, and Heather Souter (Prairies to Woodlands Indigenous Revitalization Circle, Canada) and Bintou Camara (Nalou Indigenous People, Guinea), representing Indigenous Peoples’ organizations.
Preparations for the Mid-Term Review of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, which will assess progress achieved since 2022 and help identify priorities for the years ahead were also discussed at the 18th meeting of the Global Task Force.
National and regional action must remain at the center of our efforts throughout this Decade. We also need to ensure that digital space becomes more multilingual and inclusive. While UNESCO can help create the framework for partnerships and investments, Indigenous Peoples must guide priorities and lead implementation.
Åsa RegnérDeputy Director-General, UNESCO
In addition, Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination at UNDESA, reiterated that the Task Force plays a key role in connecting stakeholders, and coordinating the development of Action Plans and the other initiatives.
Implementation of the Decade continues to accelerate through its principal delivery mechanism—the National Action Plans. To date, 21 Action Plans have been finalized, comprising 17 national, two regional and two institutional plans, each translating the Global Action Plan into concrete actions tailored to local contexts. Many of these plans place digital inclusion at the centre of language revitalization, ensuring that Indigenous languages are increasingly visible, usable and respected online.
The Decade has also catalyzed a growing number of complementary initiatives aimed at strengthening multilingualism in the digital era. These include the Global Roadmap on Multilingualism in the Digital Era and its proposed Plan of Action, the UNESCO–ICANN Policy Brief on Universal Acceptance, and the Data Commons Incubator for Indigenous Languages and Cultures. Together, these initiatives seek to expand multilingual digital services, strengthen language technologies, and promote ethical, community-centred approaches to Indigenous language data.
As the Decade approaches its midpoint, it is increasingly demonstrating its value not only as a global advocacy platform but also as a facilitator of concrete action. By bringing together governments, Indigenous Peoples, academia, the private sector and international organizations, the Decade provides a common framework that enables partnerships, mobilizes expertise and resources, and connects national, regional and global initiatives.
Through this collaborative ecosystem, projects such as the National Action Plans, the UNESCO Chair in Digital Futures, the UNESCO–ICANN partnership and other digital inclusion initiatives can reinforce one another and contribute to ensuring that Indigenous languages flourish in the digital age.
The United Nations General Assembly (Resolution A/RES/74/135) proclaimed 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to raise global awareness of the urgent need to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages worldwide. UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector leads the Decade’s implementation in cooperation with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and other relevant UN Agencies.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/accelerating-action-indigenous-languages?hub=701
