News and media

Remarks by the Secretary-General

Video message on French Language Day at the United Nations, 20 mars 2022 (French)
Video message on World Arabic Language Day, 18 December 2021 (Arabic and English)
Video message on the occasion of World Portuguese Language Day (5 May 2021) (Portuguese, with English subtitles)
Video message on the occasion of Spanish Language Day (23 April 2021) (Spanish)
Video message on the occasion of World Portuguese Language Day (5 May 2020) (Portuguese, with English subtitles)
Message on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August 2019) (English / French)
Secretary-General's message to the event marking Arabic Language Day (18 December 2018) (Arabic, English)
Remarks at francophone reception (20 September 2017) (French)
Video message on the tenth anniversary of the founding of the MoU Universities Network (21 April 2017) (multilingual)
Remarks at francophone reception (22 September 2016) (French)
Message to International Festival on Language and Culture (29 April 2016) (English)
Remarks at francophone reception (30 September 2015) (French)
Message to the United Nations Academic Impact-ELS Many Languages One World Student Forum [delivered by Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information] (24 July 2015) (English)
Message for International Mother Language Day (21 February 2014) (English)
Remarks at cultural event in honor of la Francophonie (20 March 2013) (French)

Remarks by the Chef de Cabinet

Remarks at the event "Europe. Your Languages. Portugal and its Language in the World" (23 June 2021) (Portuguese, with German interpretation)
Remarks on the tenth anniversary of the founding of the MoU Universities Network (21 April 2017) (English)
Remarks on the Student Essay Contest “Many Languages, One World” ceremony (21 July 2017) (English)

Remarks by the Coordinator for Multilingualism

Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2024) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2024) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (20 April 2023) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2023) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2022) (English)
Remarks on World Poetry Day, delivered by Cecilia Elizalde, Director of Documentation Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (21 March 2022) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2022) (English)
Remarks at panel discussion on “Multilingualism and the United Nations”, by the Committee on Language and Languages of the Conference of NGOs in consultative status with the UN (7 December 2021) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (22 February 2021) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day, delivered by Cecilia Elizalde, Director of DGACM's Documentation Division (21 February 2020) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations, delivered by Ms. Cecilia Elizalde, Director of the Documentation Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (18 April 2019) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day, delivered by Ms. Ruth de Miranda, Director of the General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (21 February 2019) (English)
Remarks on World Arabic Language Day and Arabic Language Day at the United Nations (18 December 2018) (English)
Remarks on International Translation Day, delivered by Ms. Cecilia Elizalde, Director of the Documentation Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (26 September 2018) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (20 April 2018) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2018) (English)
Remarks at the opening ceremony of an exhibition celebrating International Translation Day 2017 (28 September 2017) (English)
Remarks on the opening ceremony of the Exhibition on Nuremberg and the Birth of Simultaneous Interpretation (15 May 2017) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2017) (English)
Remarks on Spanish Language Day at the United Nations (5 May 2017) (English)
Remarks at the panel discussion on "International Organizations and Academia: Partners in Sustaining Multilingualism in the Service of Peace, Development and Human Rights" (21 April 2017) (English)
Remarks at consultations on the draft resolution on the role of professional translation in connecting nations, fostering peace, understanding and development (11 April 2017) (English)
Remarks on French Language Day at the United Nations (20 March 2017) (English)
Remarks on the event Ukrainian Mother Language Day: A Celebration of Women's Voices (10 March 2017) (English)

Remarks by the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications

Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2022) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2022) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2020), on behalf of António Guterres, UN Secretary-General (English)
Remarks on Russian Language Day at the UN (6 June 2019) (bilingual)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (18 April 2019) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2019), on behalf of Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General (English)
Remarks on Russian Language Day at the United Nations (6 June 2018) (bilingual)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nation (20 April 2018) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2018) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (20 February 2016) (English)

Remarks by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2022) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (18 April 2019) (Chinese)

Remarks by the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2022) (English)
Remarks as part of Russian Language Day the United Nations, delivered by David Chikvaidze, Chef de Cabinet, Office of the Director-General (6 June 2019) (bilingual English/Russian)
Remarks as part of English Language Day at the United Nations (25 April 2019) (English)
Remarks as part of Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (25 April 2019) (English)
Remarks as part of Arabic Language Day at the United Nations (15 January 2019) (English)
Remarks as part of Spanish Language Week (4 October 2018) (Spanish)
Remarks on Russian Language Day at the United Nations (6 June 2018) (English)
Remarks at the Portuguese Film Festival (14 May 2018) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (16 April 2018) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2018 ) (English)
Remarks on Spanish Language Day at the United Nations (17 October 2017) (Spanish)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2017) (English)
Remarks on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2017) (English)
Remarks on Spanish Language Day at the United Nations (13 October 2016) (Spanish)
Remarks on Russian Language Day at the United Nations (3 June 2016) (English)
Remarks at the CPLP Film Festival on the occasion of the Portuguese Language and Culture Day (9 May 2016) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (19 April 2016) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the v (20 April 2015) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (17 April 2014) (English)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (18 April 2013) (English)
Remarks on Russian Language Day at the United Nations (6 June 2012) (Russian)
Remarks on Chinese Language Day at the United Nations (20 April 2012) (English)

Press coverage

Videos

From the Executive Office of the Secretary-General

Video message on French Language Day at the UN, 20 March 2022 (French):

Video message on World Portuguese Language Day, 5 May 2021 (Portuguese, with English subtitles)

Video message on Spanish Language Day at the United Nations, 23 April 2021 (Spanish)

"Multilingualism is a core value of the UN", video message of Secretary-General António Guterres on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the MoU Universities Network (multilingual, no captioning / with English captioning):

From the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management

"Multilingualism and the UN" (Arabic / Chinese / English / French / Russian / Spanish / Portuguese / Swahili):

Panel discussion on international organizations and academia: partners in sustaining multilingualism in the service of peace, development and human rights (21 March 2017): full webcast:

From the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide

Video message on multilingualism on French Language Day at the United Nations, 20 March 2017 (French):

From the United Nations Office at Geneva

Video of Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, on International Translation Day, 30 September 2022 (English):

Video with Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, on International Mother Language Day (21 February 2021) (multilingual, with English and French subtitles):

Video of Mr. Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, on the United Nations Geneva Multilingualism Challenge (bilingual, English and French, with subtitles):

Video released on International Mother Language Day 2019:

Video testimony on multilingualism by Focal Point for Multilingualism at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ms. Corinne Momal-Vanian, produced by Centre for Learning and Multilingualism at the United Nations Office at Geneva (bilingual, English and French, with subtitles):

To access other video testimonies on multilingualism produced by the Centre for Learning and Multilingualism at the United Nations Office at Geneva, click here.

From the UN Verification Mission in Colombia

“The United Nations and Multilingualism”, multilingual video produced by the UN Verification Mission in Colombia.

From the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq

Video showcasing UNAMI's staff's cultural and linguistic diversity, produced on the occasion of International Mother Language Day (21 February 2023).

"Celebrate multilingualism", multilingual video (with English subtitles) produced by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, on the occasion of the 2019 Chinese, English and Spanish Language Days at the United Nations.

From external parties, with the support of United Nations entities

"Valuing multilingualism at the United Nations" (French), video produced by the International Organization of la Francophonie on French Language Day at the United Nations 2017, with the support of the Coordinator for Multilingualism, the Department of Field Support, the Department of Public Information and the Department of Political Affairs:

From UN Web TV

All webcast videos about multilingualism (website is in English, with videos in multiple languages).

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