NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York

Friday, 16 December 2022

 

INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES

President Csaba Kőrösi today convenes a high-level event for the launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. In his opening remarks, President Kőrösi said that languages are vectors of knowledge and carriers of identity.

With each indigenous language that goes extinct, so too goes the culture, tradition and knowledge it bears.

The President noted that he had just returned from COP-15 in Montreal.

He said that he left COP-15 with the conviction that if we are to successfully protect nature, we must listen to indigenous peoples, and we must do so in their own languages.

He called on Member States to work with indigenous communities on three specific actions:

  1. Safeguard indigenous peoples’ rights – such as to education in their native tongues.
  2. Ensure that indigenous peoples and their knowledge are not exploited, and secure their free, prior, and informed consent when harnessing their knowledge or languages.
  3. And to consult indigenous peoples, engaging with them in every stage of decision-making processes.

The President closed his remarks with some words in the language of Lushootseed, which is on UNESCO’s Critically Endangered List.

You have his full remarks in your inboxes and online: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2022/12/16/pga-remarks-to-the-launch-of-the-international-decade-of-indigenous-languages/

The President will give closing remarks to the event, shortly.

 

CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE

This afternoon in the General Assembly, Member States will take action on a number of items, including the report of the Credentials Committee.

I understand the link that I included in yesterday’s notes didn’t work for some colleagues, if you still need the document, please let me know.

 

LOOKING AHEAD

And looking ahead, on Monday, 19 December, President Kőrösi will take part in the celebration of Arabic Language Day.

As you know, the Secretary-General will hold a briefing that day, so there will not be a noon briefing.

Tuesday, 20 December, will be the election of members of ECOSOC. That’s in the General Assembly Hall in the 10AM session.

 

QUESTIONS

 

There were no questions for the Spokesperson.