speech on international language day

International Mother Language Day at UNESCO

• Download event
• Add to google
• Add to Outlook
• Add to Office365

Today, 40% of the world’s population does not have access to education in a language they speak or understand. In some countries this figure rises to over 90%.  Yet research shows that the use of learners’ own language(s) in schools provides a solid foundation for learning, boosts self-esteem and critical thinking skills, and opens the door for inter-generational learning, language revitalization, and the preservation of culture and intangible heritage.

UNESCO’s celebration of International Mother Language Day 2024 will highlight the importance of implementing multilingual education policies and practices as a pillar to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 which calls for inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning for all as well as to the objectives of the International Decade on Indigenous Languages (2022 – 2032). 

Join experts in early childhood education, literacy, informal learning and indigenous languages as they discuss how multilingual education policies and practices can be implemented to ensure inclusive, quality learning for all that enhances not only learning outcomes but the transmission of intergenerational knowledge, languages, culture and intangible heritage.

This year's event at UNESCO HQ will include two panel discussions on multilingual education. Interpretation will be provided in English, French and Spanish. 

Participate in the event

Watch the event live.

More on International Mother Language Day

Related items.

• Country page: France
• Region: Europe and North America

More on this subject

Other recent events

Event 19th Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict 10 December 2024 - 11 December 2024

Event 19th Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict 10 December 2024 - 12 December 2024

Event UNESCO Global Alliance on the Science of Learning for Education – Annual Meeting 2 December 2024

Event Summit on Peace Education and Civil Society 27 November 2024

Search form

Message from ms audrey azoulay, director-general of unesco, on the occasion of international mother language day.

While mother-tongue-based education is essential to the full development of individuals and to the transmission of linguistic heritage, 40% of the world's students do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best. Such a situation severely undermines learning, cultural expression and the building of social relations, and significantly weakens the linguistic heritage of humanity.

It is therefore crucial that this language issue be taken into account in the necessary exercise of transforming education, which UNESCO was supporting throughout 2022, culminating in the Transforming Education Summit, convened last September by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

This imperative first requires a better collection of data, which will make it possible to carry out specific and customized actions. Above all, however, it requires a more general awareness of the irreplaceable but fragile value of the world's linguistic and cultural diversity.

Each of the more than 7,000 languages spoken by humanity carries within it a unique view of the world, of things and of beings, a way of thinking and feeling – so much so that each disappearance of a language constitutes an irretrievable loss. In this context, the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), for which UNESCO is the leading agency, is an important opportunity for the international community to mobilize in order to safeguard a major part of the world's cultural diversity.

This is also the aim of this International Day: celebrating these ways of expressing the world in its multiplicity, committing to the preservation of the diversity of languages as a common heritage, and working for quality education – in mother tongues – for all.

  Find us on Facebook   Find us on Twitter   Find us on YouTube   Find us on Flickr   Find us on Tumblr   Find us on Instagram   RSS feed

Celebrating the world’s rich ‘linguistic tapestry’, UN officials call for realizing multilingual education on Mother Language Day

Facebook Twitter Print Email

Multilingual education is a critical key to razing inequalities and promoting human rights for all, UN officials said on Tuesday to mark International Mother Language Day.

Commemorating the world’s languages – all 6,700 of them – since 1999, the Day aims at celebrating ways of showcasing the world’s linguistic tapestry, committing to the preservation of the diversity of languages as a common heritage, and working for quality education – in mother tongues – for all , said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ).

What is your mother language? How do you say "We, the peoples of the United Nations"? See how @UNGeneva staff read the preamble of the UN Charter in their mother tongues: https://t.co/WU4OzJSXeu #IMLD2023 https://t.co/qm2VCDxEfr UN Geneva UNGeneva February 21, 2023

The theme this year - “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education” - aligns with recommendations made during the UN Transforming Education Summit in 2021. Convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres , the gathering drew attention to indigenous people’s education and languages.

Africa has highest linguistic diversity

The day also highlights shortcomings and challenges ahead. UNESCO’s recent report, Born To Learn , shows that at most one in five children are taught in their mother tongue in Africa , the continent with the highest linguistic diversity. At the same time, 40 per cent of the world’s students do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best.

This severely undermines learning, cultural expression and the building of social relations, and significantly weakens the linguistic heritage of humanity, Ms. Azoulay said.

“It is therefore crucial that this language issue be taken into account in the necessary exercise of transforming education ,” she said. Moving forward, better data collection is required for improved tailored action, she said.

Diversity’s ‘fragile value’

“Above all, however, it requires a more general awareness of the irreplaceable but fragile value of the world's linguistic and cultural diversity,” she said. “Each of the more than 7,000 languages spoken by humanity carries within it a unique view of the world , of things and of beings, a way of thinking and feeling – so much so that each disappearance of a language constitutes an irretrievable loss .”.

Progress is being made. UNESCO is leading the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), an important opportunity for the world to mobilize in order to safeguard a major part of its cultural diversity. There is also a growing understanding of the importance of multilingual education, particularly in early schooling.

Keys to inclusion

Yet, States must be more inclusive in the treatment and use of minority and indigenous languages, said Fernand de Varennes, the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues.

“In celebrating the richness and beauty of the global linguistic tapestry, it is essential to move away from new forms of nationalist majoritarianism that assume that societies and States should have only one language to the exclusion of all others,” he said.

More than 6,700 languages are spoken worldwide but at least 40% are threatened with extinction. The classroom has a vital role to play in keeping them alive! @UNESCO is calling on countries to implement mother language-based education: https://t.co/8IndXt4Tsx #MotherLanguageDay https://t.co/DvBEYzZZzl UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 UNESCO February 20, 2023

This is inconsistent with inclusive societies that respect the human rights of linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples, he said.

“ Languages are essential tools to communicate and share knowledge, memory, and history, but they are also key to full and equal participation ,” he said. “One of the most effective ways of empowering minorities and indigenous peoples is to guarantee the use of their language in education.”

Adopting an inclusive approach is the most effective way of guaranteeing equality and non-discrimination with respect to international law and will ensure that minority and indigenous children are provided with useful literacy and numeracy skills to learn other languages, he said.

Rather than reducing or even eliminating the use of minority and indigenous languages in education, he said States should invest in the development of teaching materials, training and promoting the mother tongue as a medium of instruction.

‘Untranslatable’

Meanwhile, around the world, the UN has been commemorating the day, in many, many languages. Bangladesh and partners will host a meeting at UN Headquarters, and UNESCO held an event in France.

The UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library released the second volume in its Why it Matters series. Documenting how the issue evolved from a founding principle to a core value, “ Multilingualism at the United Nations ” is now available in its six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

To mark the day, Mexico, UNESCO and partners are highlighting their “ Untranslatable ” project, book and graphic exhibit. Shaped by 68 words from 33 indigenous languages, the exhibit will travel across the country, and the book, published in 2021, is now available free on the website of the National Institute of Indigenous Languages (Inali).

Zapotec poet Irma Pineda , a partner in the project, said the goal was to promote interest and respect for the cultural and linguistic richness of Mexico.

It was also “for people to know that we don’t speak only Spanish, but rather 364 linguistic variants of 68 languages , and that each word of this project reflects a whole worldview and a way of thinking of many indigenous people ,” she said.

• International Mother Language Day
• multilingualism

Gondwana University and Other Exam News

International Mother Language Day Speech – 10 Lines, Short and Long Speech Samples here!

On February 21, International Mother Language Day is observed to raise awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to encourage multilingualism. The largest linguistic and cultural diversity in the world is found in India, which is home to thousands of dialects and hundreds of different languages. Language serves as a tool for communication as well as a symbol of a rich intellectual and cultural legacy. Bangladesh’s initiative is the reason it is celebrated. In an effort to get Bengali recognized as the official mother tongue of Bangladesh on February 21, 1952, four students were slain. Discover the different samples of International Mother Language Day speech in the article below.

Table of Contents

10 Lines Speech on International Mother Language Day

• International Mother Language Day is observed on February 21st every year.
• The day was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.
• The day is celebrated to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
• It is also a day to raise awareness about the importance of preserving and promoting mother languages.
• International Mother Language Day recognizes the role of mother languages in building and preserving cultural heritage.
• The day is a reminder of the linguistic and cultural diversity that enriches our world.
• It also highlights the challenges faced by many communities in maintaining their languages and cultures.
• International Mother Language Day is an opportunity to celebrate the power of language in promoting mutual understanding and respect.
• It encourages people to learn and appreciate different languages and cultures.
• On this day, let us celebrate our linguistic and cultural diversity, and pledge to promote and preserve our mother languages.

Short Speech on International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day, which is observed on February 21st each year, raises awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity. Also celebrated on this day is multilingualism.

The first language a person learns is referred to as their mother tongue. A person’s identity is influenced by their mother tongue. Some people consider their mother tongue to be extraordinarily beautiful. This is particularly true if they reside in a region where their native tongue is not used. For them, speaking their native tongue allows them to maintain ties to their country of origin and culture. Sadly, a mother tongue goes extinct every two weeks. When this occurs, a complete cultural heritage also vanishes.

Mother languages “influence millions of growing child minds,” the Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay noted in a recent speech on International Mother Language Day. She thinks it’s crucial for kids to have this option because they learn best in their mother tongue. 40% of people worldwide lack access to educational opportunities in a language they can understand or speak. Being successful in life can be made simpler or much harder by using specific languages.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head, Nelson Mandela famously stated. Speaking to him in his language will touch his heart. Fewer than 100 of the world’s languages are used in the digital sphere, and at least 43% of all languages are endangered. English, Chinese Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Indonesian, Malayan, Japanese, Russian, and German are the top languages used on the internet. However, everyone has the right to speak their native tongue and to preserve the memories, customs, and ways of thought that their language embodies. And this is the main focus of International Mother Language Day.

Check the latest updates below-

Long Speech on International Mother Language Day

I am honored to speak to you on this special occasion of International Mother Language Day. Today, we gather to celebrate the diversity and richness of languages and cultures that make our world a unique and wonderful place to live in.

Languages are essential to our identity, history, and cultural legacy; they are not just tools for communication. They bring the legends, ethics, and customs of the communities who speak them. It is crucial to remember that every language has value and should be recognized, preserved, and promoted in this situation.

Every year on February 21st, people around the world observe International Mother Language Day to recognize the value of mother tongues and their contribution to the creation and preservation of cultural heritage. The day honors the sad events that occurred in Bangladesh in 1952, as students and activists gave their lives in a fight to preserve Bengali, which was in danger of being supplanted by Urdu.

The day also recognizes the need to promote multilingualism and multiculturalism as a means of promoting understanding and tolerance among people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

As we celebrate International Mother Language Day, we must acknowledge that many languages around the world are at risk of disappearing. This is due to several factors, including globalization, urbanization, and the influence of dominant cultures. The loss of a language also means the loss of unique knowledge, skills, and perspectives that cannot be replaced.

Therefore, it is important to promote the use and learning of mother languages in education, culture, and social life. This includes providing opportunities for children to learn and use their mother languages at home and in school, and ensuring that mother languages are included in the curriculum and cultural programs. It also involves providing access to resources and technologies that enable people to use and share their mother languages.

Celebrating International Mother Language Day also means recognizing the power of languages in promoting mutual understanding and respect among people from different backgrounds. When we speak in someone else’s mother language, we show our respect for their culture and identity. We also open up opportunities for building bridges of friendship and cooperation across borders.

In conclusion, International Mother Language Day is an occasion to celebrate the diversity and richness of languages and cultures around the world. It is an opportunity to recognize the importance of preserving and promoting mother languages, and to advocate for the rights of linguistic and cultural minorities. It is a reminder that all languages and cultures are equally valuable and deserving of respect. Let us continue to promote multilingualism, multiculturalism, and linguistic diversity in our communities, and work towards a world where all languages and cultures can thrive.

FAQs on International Mother Language Day Speech

To raise awareness of the value of multilingualism, linguistic diversity, and cultural diversity, February 21 is observed as International Mother Language Day.

International Mother Language Day is important because it celebrates the linguistic and cultural diversity that enriches our world. It reminds us of the importance of preserving and promoting mother languages, and the role they play in building and preserving cultural heritage.

February 21st is significant in International Mother Language Day because it marks the day when students and activists sacrificed their lives in 1952 in a movement to protect the Bengali language, which was under threat of being replaced by Urdu. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made to protect mother languages, and the need to continue promoting linguistic and cultural diversity.

There are many ways to promote International Mother Language Day. These include organizing cultural events that showcase the richness and diversity of different languages and cultures, providing opportunities for children to learn and use their mother languages at home and in school, promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism in education and social life, and advocating for the rights of linguistic and cultural minorities.

Some of the challenges facing the preservation of mother languages include globalization, urbanization, the influence of dominant cultures, and the lack of resources and support for linguistic and cultural minorities. The loss of a language also means the loss of unique knowledge, skills, and perspectives that cannot be replaced.

By Gauri Malik

Related post, fathers day speech in english – explore the sample speeches on fathers day here, speech on rabindranath tagore in english – find the 1-minute speech, short speech, and long speech in hindi and english here, mother’s day speech – discover the heartwarming mother’s day speech to show your love and gratitude, leave a reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Unlocking Opportunities: BSSC Inter-Level Vacancy, Salary, and Job Profile

Exploring the geographical marvels and hill stations of maharashtra, यूपीएससी जीएस पेपर 4 पाठ्यक्रम के मुख्य पहलुओं का अनावरण, आईएएस मुख्य पाठ्यक्रम हिंदी में और यूपीएससी जीएस 3 पाठ्यक्रम हिंदी में जानें.

• Education (Old) News

International Mother Language Day: Why mother tongue is the soul of life

Visual Stories

To Conserve and Celebrate the Heritage of the Undivided Panjab

• Santosh Kumari
• Feb 28, 2022

International Mother Language Day – Punjabi Maa Boli

Language is the most effective source of communication in our lives, it plays an

important role in the evolution of human society. It establishes our relation to our past as well as future. Similarly, the mother language plays an important role in the growth of an individual as well as the society and its culture. It is our heritage and legacy, it’s an important tool for development. It’s a medium through which we connect to our culture, people, history and our roots. It provides us the comfort and reassurance of belonging to a particular place and community.

On 21st February we celebrated International Mother Language Day globally, to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. UNESCO declared 21st February as International Mother Language Day in November 1999 as a tribute to the Language movement fought by the people of Bangladesh for the recognition of the Bangla Language.

Punjabi Language is spoken primarily by the natives of the Punjab region of India and Pakistan and Punjabi people living all over the world. It is one of India’s 22 official languages. It’s the ninth most spoken language in the world. The word Punjabi/Panjabi is derived from ‘Panj-ab’ a Persian word for ‘five-waters’ which symbolizes the five major eastern tributaries of Indus river, hence it means the ‘Land of five rivers’. These five rivers are Satluj, Beas, Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab. The Punjab region has seen Arabic and Persian influence due to the Muslim conquests. As a result many Persian and Arabic words were incorporated in the Punjabi Language. It originally evolved from ‘Sanskrit’ language through Prakrit, a language of medieval northern India. The earliest traces of the language can be found in the ninth century in the works of Nath Yogis, Gorakshanath, and Charpatnath.

The Sufi writings of Baba Farid can be considered as one of the early creations in the Punjabi Language. It is written in Gurmukhi script – literal meaning is ‘Guru’s mouth’, which is based on Devanagri in east Punjab and in west Punjab ‘Shahmukhi’- meaning ‘from King’s mouth’, is used which is a Perso-Arabic alphabet similar to alphabets of Urdu. It is the religious language of Sikhs throughout the world, their holy book ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is written in Gurmukhi. Second Sikh Guru Angad Dev Ji enhanced the Gurmukhi alphabet to its current state for the purpose of writing ‘Adi Granth’.

Punjabi Literary tradition is rich as many Sufis such as Shah Hussain, Bulleh Shah, Waris

Shah and Khwaja Ghulam Farid enriched it with their writings. Punjabi language is spoken in many dialects through the region of India and Pakistan. The dialects are different in pronunciation and vocabulary. The key dialects of Punjabi spoken in Punjab region of India is Majhi, Doabi, Malwai and Poadhi. In Pakistan administered Punjab the regional Sindhi language had an influence on the main Punjabi language along with Persian-Arabic languages  which resulted into dialects such as Multani, Pothohari, Hindko, Sairaiki and Majhi.

Majhi dialect of Punjabi is common to both sides of Punjab and it is basis for written and spoken language since 10th century and it’s prominently used in modern times as well.  It is the standard written form of Punjabi. Presently 122 million people around the world speaks Punjabi as a native language, courtesy to presence of Punjabi Diaspora in different parts of US, Canada and UK. They have successfully employed the language to their next generations .The language has got it’s new dimensions as in many parts of Canada and UK the street signs and boards have been put up in Punjabi Language providing it the status of official language.

The rise in technology and social media platforms provide means to Punjabis to connect globally through their mother language, which gives them identity, promotes their culture and educate them about their legacy and heritage. There are various discussion forums, websites, panels and events organised online to collaborate Punjabis all over. It unites them beyond the borders of their states and nationalities.

We should never forget our roots and heritage as it only determines our future, we should be proud of our mother tongue and celebrate it more often. We should conserve our Punjabi culture, Our Punjabiyat, and our Punjabi Language.

Let’s remember Babu Rajab Ali’s Poem –‘ Mithe Bol Bolide Punjabi Boli de’

ਬਾਬੂ ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ ਦੀ ਕਵਿਤਾ - ਮਿੱਠੇ ਬੋਲ ਬੋਲੀਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਦੇ:

ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਰੱਬ ਤੇ ।

ਰੀਝ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਸੁਣਾਉਂਦੇ ਕਬਤੇ ।

ਸ਼ੈਰੀ ਦੇ ਕਚਹਿਰੀ 'ਚ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਖੋਲ੍ਹੀ ਦੇ ।

ਮਿੱਠੇ ਬੋਲ ਬੋਲੀਦੇ, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

ਨੱਥ ਘੜੇ ਸਿਉਨੇ ਤੇ, ਸੁਨਿਆਰਾ ਮੁੱਲ ਲੈ ।

ਹਾਰ ਗੁੰਦੇ ਮਾਲਣ, ਬਗ਼ੀਚਿਉਂ ਫੁੱਲ ਲੈ ।

ਬੁੱਲ੍ਹ, ਦੰਦ, ਜੀਭੋਂ, ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ ਪਰੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

ਨਵੇਂ ਗੀਤ ਨਵੀਆਂ ਵਿਖਾਉਂਦੇ ਰੰਗਤਾਂ ।

ਸੁਣ-ਸੁਣ ਹੁੰਦੀਆਂ ਨਿਹਾਲ ਸੰਗਤਾਂ ।

ਦਿਲ ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ ਕਰਾਂਗੇ ਹਰੇਕ ਟੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

ਏਸ਼ੀਆ 'ਚ ਏਹੋ ਜ੍ਹੀ ਜ਼ਬਾਨ ਮਿੱਠੀ ਨਾ ।

ਯੂਰਪ, 'ਫ਼ਰੀਕਾ, ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਡਿੱਠੀ ਨਾ ।

ਦੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੰਡ ਦੇ ਪਤਾਸੇ ਘੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

ਆ ਜੋ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੇ ਜੇ ਸਿੱਖਣੀ ।

ਪੜ੍ਹਨੀ ਅਸਾਨ ਤੇ ਸੁਖ਼ਾਲੀ ਲਿੱਖਣੀ ।

ਅੱਖਰ ਜਿਉਂ ਫਾਗ ਜ੍ਹਿ ਜਲੇਬੀ ਪੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

ਬਾਬੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਰੰਥ ਰਚੇ ਜੀ ।

ਸ਼ੌਕ ਨਾਲ ਲੱਗਦੇ ਪੜ੍ਹਨ ਬੱਚੇ ਜੀ ।

ਦਸਾਂ ਗੁਰੂਆਂ ਦੇ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਫੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

ਫੜ ਜਮ ਅੱਗੇ ਲੌਣਗੇ ਡਰਾਵਣੇ ।

ਪੈਜੂ ਰੱਬ ਸੱਚੇ ਦੇ ਖੜੋਣਾਂ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ।

ਸੁਣਿਐਂ 'ਸੱਚ ਖੰਡ' 'ਚ ਅਮਲ ਤੋਲੀ ਦੇ ।

'ਬਾਬੂ' ਦੇ ਜਮਾਤੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਪੀਣਿਉਂ ।

ਘੋਲੀਉਂ ਬਿੱਕਰ, ਗੋਕਲ ਸਲ੍ਹੀਣਿਉਂ ।

ਬੱਗਾ ਸਿਉਂ ਤੇ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਸਿਉਂ 'ਡਰੋਲੀ' ਦੇ ।

Picture Credits : Ravan Khosa

• Culture of Panjab

Recent Posts

The Surmayidani of Shrimati Uttamdevi

Comentarios

• Speech Topics For Kids
• Speech On The Importance Of English

Speech on the Importance of English Language

The English language plays a very important role in our lives. As a result of globalisation and with the help of the English language, the entire world has now become familiar to all people. It is considered the principal language of communication by many nations, and everyone has accepted it as the global language. Do you want to know more about the topic? Read the article for cues and tips, and prepare a mesmerising speech on the importance of the English language – one of the interesting speech topics for kids .

Table of Contents

Sample speeches on the importance of the english language, speech about the importance of learning english.

• Importance of Learning English Speech

Frequently Asked Questions on the Importance of English Language

A couple of sample speeches are given below. Go through them, utilise the resources, and prepare a speech about the importance of the English language on your own.

Have you ever wondered about our condition if there was no common language like English to share our thoughts and feelings with one another? There are numerous languages in our world. Most countries have a national language, and there are multiple regional languages within a nation. The English language is a great boon in such situations; it serves as a common language and helps everyone to communicate.

The English language bridges the gap between nations and offers everyone the possibility of attaining wide exposure. The adoption of the English language as the principal source of communication has resulted in increasing international relationships in travel and tourism, education, business, entertainment, science, technology, and so on.

The English language helps individuals to transcend international boundaries and get a global reach. For example, a book written in English will get far better reach than a book written in any of the regional languages. A regional language has limitations; it cannot be understood by anyone who doesn’t know it; as a result, the audience will be minimal. A common language like English will eradicate this limitation and help everyone to connect with wider audiences. Similar is the condition for any content presented in English.

The worldwide reach of the English language is the main reason for setting English as the language of the internet. By knowing the English language, a person can easily access all the information on any topics that are available on the internet. English content like songs, movies, news, entertaining programmes, public events, and all can be enjoyed by everyone who knows the language. Like the words of Frank Smith, “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way”. Let’s try to learn more languages and open every opportunity in our lives.

Speech on the Importance of Learning English

The English language was initially the national language of England. Later, as a result of British imperialism and colonisation, the language was introduced to many nations. Eventually, it became the primary and secondary language of their colonies, such as India, Australia, Sri Lanka, Canada etc. Gone are the times when the British ruled over more than half the world, but their language is still ruling almost half the entire world.

Today, nearly sixty-seven countries all over the world have declared English as their official language, and twenty-seven countries consider English as their secondary language. Without a second thought, we can declare the English language as one of the most dominant languages in the world.

The English language is the key to opening the door to the world. It is one of the most used languages in the world. The knowledge of the English language helps everyone to attain personal and professional growth. As a result, people all over the world have started to learn English as a second language. Many nations have included English as their second language in their school curriculums to assist students in learning English at a young age. Almost all the materials and subjects for learning are drafted in English to make it more accessible for everyone all around the world. The initiative of using the English language as a medium of instruction in schools and colleges brings a commonality to the structure of education and brings multiple positive impacts to the students.

Good communication skills in English is considered one of the most important soft skills required for an employee. Other than this benefit provided by the English language, it helps us understand different nations’ cultures. A piece of good knowledge in English guides us to travel to any new nation. With the support of good understanding and communication skills, a person can easily transfer ideas and thoughts to one another. An insight of the English language increases the chance of setting up a good career.

The impacts brought by the English language on our lives are boundless. Let’s realise the true potential of language and remember the words of Roger Bacon – “Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.”

How did English become a global language?

The English language is one of the most dominant languages in the world. The English language was initially the national language of England. Later, as a result of British imperialism and colonisation, the language got introduced to many nations. Eventually, it became the primary and secondary language of their colonies, such as India, Australia, Sri Lanka, Canada etc. Today, nearly sixty-seven countries all over the world have declared English as their official language, and twenty-seven countries consider English as their secondary language.

What is the importance of learning English?

The English language bridges the gap between nations and offers everyone the possibility of attaining wide exposure. The adoption of the English language as the principal source of communication has resulted in increasing international relationships in travel and tourism, education, business, entertainment, science, technology, and so on. The English language helps individuals to remove international boundaries and helps them to get a global reach.

List some advantages of the English language.

• English is considered the principal language of communication by many nations, and everyone has accepted it as the global language.
• The English language knowledge helps everyone attain personal and professional growth.
• A piece of good knowledge in English guides us to travel to any new nations.
• English helps every content creator to receive a wider audience.
• The English language helps us to enjoy content like songs, movies, news, entertaining programmes, public events and so on.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

• Share Share

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

English Language Day Speech in English- Check Out 10 Lines, Short & Long Speech!

English Language Day Speech: English Language Day is celebrated annually on April 23rd to commemorate the birthday of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers in the English language. It is a day to celebrate the richness and diversity of the English language and its global importance as a means of communication. English is spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide, making it one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. On this day, we celebrate the power of language and its ability to connect people across cultures and borders.

Table of Contents

10 Lines on English Language Speech

Short speech on english language day, long english language day speech, faqs related to the english language day speech.

• English Language Day is celebrated on April 23rd each year.
• The day commemorates the birthday of William Shakespeare.
• English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
• It is the official language of over 50 countries.
• English is considered the language of international business and communication.
• It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people speak English worldwide.
• The English language has a rich and diverse history.
• English is constantly evolving and changing with the times.
• Learning English can open up opportunities for personal and professional growth.
• Celebrating English Language Day is a way to promote the importance of language and cultural understanding. 

Dear fellow language enthusiasts,

Today, on April 23rd, we celebrate English Language Day, a day to honor the richness and diversity of the English language. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and has become the global language of business, education, and communication.

English Language Day is a reminder of the importance of language learning and cultural understanding. As we continue to connect with people from different countries and backgrounds, knowing English can open up new opportunities and help us build bridges across cultures.

So on this day, let us celebrate the power of language and its ability to connect us with the world. Let us also remember the great contributions of William Shakespeare and other English writers whose works continue to inspire us today.

Thank you and happy English Language Day!

Also, Read the following:

Dear distinguished guests, colleagues, and language enthusiasts,

Today, on April 23rd, we celebrate English Language Day, a day to honor the richness and diversity of the English language. English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with an estimated 1.5 billion speakers worldwide. It is also the official language of over 50 countries, making it a truly global language of business, education, and communication.

English Language Day is celebrated on April 23rd in honor of the birthday of William Shakespeare, one of the most renowned writers in the English language. Shakespeare’s contributions to the English language cannot be overstated, and his works continue to be celebrated and studied around the world today.

But English Language Day is not just a celebration of Shakespeare or the English language itself. It is also a reminder of the importance of language learning and cultural understanding. As we continue to connect with people from different countries and backgrounds, knowing English can open up new opportunities and help us build bridges across cultures.

Moreover, the English language is constantly evolving and changing with the times. New words and phrases are added to the language every year, reflecting the changing needs and interests of its speakers. The global nature of the language has also contributed to the development of numerous dialects and variations, each with its unique flavor and character.

On this day, let us celebrate the power of language and its ability to connect us with the world. Let us also remember the great contributions of William Shakespeare and other English writers whose works continue to inspire us today. And let us commit ourselves to the ongoing pursuit of language learning and cultural understanding.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort

Scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island of Dominica have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help better protect them.

A sperm whale swims off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. In a study published Tuesday, May 7, in the journal Nature Communications, scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help us to better protect them. (Samuel Lam via AP)

• Copy Link copied

Light shines on a sperm whale swimming off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. In a study published Tuesday, May 7, in the journal Nature Communications, scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help us to better protect them. (Samuel Lam via AP)

A sperm whale and her calf swim off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. In a study published Tuesday, May 7, in the journal Nature Communications, scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help us to better protect them. (Samuel Lam via AP)

Sperm whales swim together off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. In a study published Tuesday, May 7, in the journal Nature Communications, scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help us to better protect them. (Samuel Lam via AP)

A sperm whale and her calf swim together off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. In a study published Tuesday, May 7, in the journal Nature Communications, scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help us to better protect them. (Samuel Lam via AP)

ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island of Dominica have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help better protect them.

Like many whales and dolphins, sperm whales are highly social mammals and communicate by squeezing air through their respiratory systems to make strings of rapid clicks that can sound like an extremely loud zipper underwater. The clicks are also used as a form of echolocation to help them track their prey.

Sperm whale clicks

Listen to the sound of sperm whales communicating off the coast of Dominica, as recorded by researchers.

Scientists have been trying for decades to understand what those clicks might mean, with only minimal progress. While they still don’t know, they now think there are sets of clicks they believe make up a “phonetic alphabet” that the whales can use to build the very rough equivalent of what people think of as words and phrases.

“We’re now starting to find the first building blocks of whale language,” said David Gruber, founder and president of the Cetacean Translation Initiative or CETI, an effort devoted to translating the communication of sperm whales.

Light shines on a sperm whale swimming off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. (Samuel Lam via AP)

In a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers analyzed more than 8,700 snippets of sperm whale clicks, known as codas. They say they have found four basic components they think make up this phonetic alphabet.

Pratyusha Sharma, the paper’s lead researcher, said this alphabet could then be used by the whales in an unlimited number of combinations.

“It doesn’t appear that they have a fixed set of codas,” said Sharma, an artificial intelligence and computer science expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “That gives the whales access to a much larger communication system,” she said, explaining it was as if the whales had a very large dictionary.

Sperm whales have the biggest brains of any animal on the planet at up to 20 pounds, as much as six times the size of an average human brain. Thy live in matriarchal groups of about 10 and sometimes meet up with hundreds or thousands of other whales. Sperm whales can grow up to 60 feet (18 meters) long and dive to nearly 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) to hunt for squid. They sleep vertically, in groups.

Gruber, a biology professor at the City University of New York, said sperm whales seem to have sophisticated social ties and deciphering their communication systems could reveal parallels with human language and society.

A sperm whale and her calf swim off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. (Samuel Lam via AP)

To get enough examples of the sperm whale clicks in Dominica, where there is a resident population of about 200 whales, scientists created a giant underwater recording studio with microphones at different depths. Tags on the whales also record what position they are in when clicking — for example diving, sleeping, breathing at the surface — and if there are any other whales nearby they might be communicating with.

Jeremy Goldbogen, an associate professor of oceans at Stanford University, called the new research “extraordinary,” saying it had “vast implications for how we understand ocean giants.”

Goldbogen, who was not involved in the study, said that if we were one day able to understand what sperm whales were saying, that knowledge should be used for conservation purposes, like minimizing their risk of being hit by ships or reducing ocean noise levels.

Sperm whales are classified as “ vulnerable ” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The whales were hunted for centuries for the oil contained in their giant heads and the species is still recovering.

AP AUDIO: Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort

AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports on artificial intelligence helping researchers crack a code on the building blocks of an alphabet used by sperm whales.

Diana Reiss, a marine mammal behavior and communication expert at the City University of New York, said that scientists understand certain aspects of marine animals’ communication reasonably well, including the whistles used by dolphins and the songs sung by humpback whales.

But when it comes to sperm whales, even that basic knowledge is lacking.

“What’s new in this study is that they are trying to look at the basis for the whales’ communication system ... not just particular calls they’re making,” she said.

Reiss, who was not involved in the new research, said she hoped we would one day be able to match the whales’ clicks to behavior.

“We will never understand what the clicks mean to another whale, but we may be able to understand what the clicks mean enough to predict their behavior,” she said. “That alone would be an amazing achievement,” she said.

CETI founder Gruber said millions and possibly billions of whale codas would be needed to collect enough data to try to work out what the whales are saying, but he expects AI to help speed the analysis. He said other sperm whale populations — the whales are found in deep oceans from the Arctic to the Antarctic — likely communicate in slightly different ways.

A sperm whale swims off the coast of Dominica in March 2024. (Samuel Lam via AP)

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Latest Stories

• more Entertainment Worth Health IPL 2024 Women's Day 2024

Happy Mothers's Day 2024 Speech Ideas: Best Short, Long, And 10 Lines Speech On Mother's Day In English For Students

Happy Mother’s Day 2024 speech ideas in English: Mother's Day is a global celebration that gives us a chance to honour mothers and motherly figures and recognise the sacrifices they make for their families. Activist Anna Jarvis, inspired by her own mother's dedication to humanitarian work, established Mother's Day in the US in 1908 . In 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, a day dedicated to showing gratitude and appreciation for mothers everywhere . This year, Mother's Day falls on May 12.

Mother's Day holds great significance as it allows us to acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of mothers to society. Mothers play a crucial role in shaping the lives of their children, imparting values, providing support, and nurturing growth. Their selfless love and unwavering dedication are the foundation of family life, creating bonds that last through generations.

Mother's Day serves as a reminder to express gratitude for the countless sacrifices mothers make, often behind the scenes, to ensure the well-being and happiness of their families. It's a time to reflect on their tireless efforts and show them the appreciation they truly deserve.

As Mother's Day 2024 approaches, many events will be organised worldwide to celebrate this special occasion. Educational institutions will host a variety of activities such as quiz contests, campaigns, rallies, poster-making, and speeches to honour mothers and their contributions. Students play a significant role in these events, often participating in speech competitions in their schools and colleges. Here are some Mother's Day speech ideas for students in English:

How to Write an Impressive Speech for Mother's Day 2024?

• Start with a heartfelt introduction, acknowledging the significance of Mother's Day as a special occasion to honour and appreciate mothers everywhere.
• Share personal anecdotes or stories about your own mother or the mothers in your life to connect with your audience emotionally.
• Express gratitude and appreciation for all the love, sacrifices, and hard work that mothers put into raising their children and managing their families.
• Highlight the importance of showing love and appreciation to mothers not just on Mother's Day, but every day of the year.
• Incorporate quotes, poems, or songs about mothers to add depth and inspiration to your speech.
• Discuss the global significance of Mother's Day and how it is celebrated in different cultures and countries around the world.
• Encourage the audience to take action by expressing their love and appreciation to their mothers through heartfelt gestures, such as spending quality time together, writing letters or cards, or giving thoughtful gifts.
• End the speech with a heartfelt conclusion, reiterating the importance of cherishing and honouring mothers every day.
• Optionally, invite the audience to share their own stories or reflections about their mothers, creating a sense of community and connection.
• Practice delivering your speech with confidence and sincerity to ensure that it resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.

Mother's Day Short speech in English

Good morning/afternoon everyone,

On Mother's Day, we celebrate the incredible love and sacrifice of mothers everywhere. A mother's love knows no bounds, and her selflessness is truly inspiring. She dedicates her life to her children, nurturing and supporting them every step of the way.

As we honour mothers on this special day, let us remember the profound impact they have on our lives. They teach us valuable lessons, guide us through challenges, and fill our hearts with boundless love.

May this Mother's Day bring joy and appreciation to all mothers around the world. Let us express our gratitude for their unwavering support and unconditional love. Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers out there!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Mother's Day Long Speech

Respected Sir/Madam, esteemed guests, and my fellow students,

Mother's Day is a beautiful celebration of motherhood, a time when we express our love and gratitude to the special women in our lives. A mother's love is pure and selfless, and she serves as the backbone of the family, sacrificing everything to keep everyone happy.

For me, my mother is my greatest teacher and supporter. She has always been there for me, guiding me through life's challenges and teaching me valuable lessons along the way. Her sacrifices for my happiness and success are endless, and I am forever grateful for her love and care.

Mother's Day is celebrated differently around the world, but its essence remains the same – to honour and appreciate mothers for their unconditional love and selfless contributions to their families and society. However, in recent times, the true meaning of Mother's Day has been overshadowed by commercialization.

Mothers are the heart and soul of the family, binding everyone together with their love and care. They possess an unmatched strength and resilience, always putting their children's needs before their own. A mother's love is a powerful force that can weather any storm and overcome any obstacle.

Every day should be Mother's Day, as we should always cherish and appreciate the love and sacrifices of our mothers. Let us take this opportunity to honour and celebrate all the beautiful mothers around the world, thanking them for their unwavering love and support.

In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my mother for everything she has done for me. I also want to thank each and every one of you for being here today to celebrate the incredible women who have shaped our lives. Happy Mother's Day to all!

Happy Mothers Day 2024: 10 Lines speech on Mother's Day

• Mother's Day honours the invaluable role of mothers in our lives.
• It's a day to express gratitude for their tireless dedication to their families.
• Mother's Day reminds us to show respect and obedience to our mothers.
• Many countries worldwide celebrate Mother's Day.
• Typically, it's observed on the second Sunday of May in most countries.
• France and Sweden celebrate Mother's Day on the last Sunday of May.
• In Mexico, Mother's Day falls on May 10th each year.
• Thailand commemorates its queen's birthday as Mother's Day on August 12th.
• The United Kingdom celebrates Mother's Day as Motherhood Day three weeks before Easter.
• In India, Mother's Day involves giving greeting cards, flowers, and gifts to mothers, and many institutions organise speeches or essay contests to honour mothers

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit  Indiatimes Events .

Bhupinder Singh is a Principal Executive in Content Management. He writes about historic events, art and culture for SEO. His interests include Artificial intelligence tools like Chatgpt, midjourney, and generative AI, along with an avid passion for cricket. In his free time, you will find him discussing MS Dhoni-Sachin Tendulkar and IPL.

Visual Stories

Northern Lights Illuminate Skies Around The World, See Pics

Chanakya Niti: Chanakya Says It Is Wise To Run Away From These 4 Situations

10 Types Of Relatives You Should Always Stay Away From

Akshaya Tritiya 2024: Check City-wise Gold Rates

'Love You, Mom': 7 Mother's Day Gifts That Won't Cost A Fortune

Maruti Swift 2024 Launched: Check Out Price, Variants & Features

IQ Test: Only True Gym Lover Can Spot The Hidden Dumbbell In 5 Seconds

Appraisal Tips & Tricks: 7 Things To Say During A Performance Review

Only Those With Sharp Eyes Can Find Hidden Butterfly In 5 Seconds

10 Powerful Quotes By Cristiano Ronaldo On Life & Success

Accept the updated Privacy & Cookie Policy

Biden’s speech at the Holocaust remembrance ceremony, annotated

By Zachary B. Wolf and Annette Choi , CNN

Published May 7, 2024

President Joe Biden talked about the documented increase of antisemitism in the United States during the annual US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony at the US Capitol building. Every recent president has made remarks at least once at the event, but Biden’s remarks came as pro-Palestinian protests have disrupted classes and commencements at multiple US universities . At times, rhetoric at those protests has veered into antisemitism, offended Jewish students and sparked a fierce debate about free speech.

Biden talked in-depth about the Hamas terror attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, and the Israeli hostages that remain in captivity . He did not mention Israel’s heavy-handed response, which has not only destroyed much of Gaza and cost tens of thousands of lives but has also driven a wedge between Biden and many progressives, particularly on college campuses. See below for what he said , along with context from CNN.

Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, Stu Eizenstat, for that introduction, for your leadership of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum . You are a true scholar and statesman and a dear friend.

Speaker Johnson , Leader Jeffries, members of Congress and especially the survivors of the Holocaust. If my mother were here, she’d look at you and say, “God love you all. God love you all.”

Abe Foxman and all other survivors who embody absolute courage and dignity and grace are here as well.

During these sacred days of remembrance we grieve, we give voice to the 6 million Jews who were systematically targeted and murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II. We honor the memory of victims, the pain of survivors, the bravery of heroes who stood up to Hitler's unspeakable evil. And we recommit to heading and heeding the lessons that one of the darkest chapters in human history to revitalize and realize the responsibility of never again.

The Days of Remembrance commemoration has been an annual event since 1982. Every US president since Bill Clinton has spoken at least once at a remembrance event.

House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke shortly before Biden and tried to compare the situation on college campuses today with that on college campuses in Germany in the 1930s.

Never again, simply translated for me, means never forget, never forget. Never forgetting means we must must keep telling the story, we must keep teaching the truth, we must keep teaching our children and our grandchildren. And the truth is we are at risk of people not knowing the truth.

That's why, growing up, my dad taught me and my siblings about the horrors of the Shoah at our family dinner table.

Shoah is the Hebrew term for the Holocaust.

That's why I visited Yad Vashem with my family as a senator, as vice president and as president. And that's why I took my grandchildren to Dachau , so they could see and bear witness to the perils of indifference, the complicity of silence in the face of evil that they knew was happening.

Biden visited Yad Vashem , Israel’s Holocaust remembrance site, in 2022 as president.

As vice president, he toured the Nazi concentration camp outside Munich in 2015 with his granddaughter during a trip for an annual security conference.

Germany, 1933, Hitler and his Nazi party rise to power by rekindling one of the world's oldest forms of prejudice and hate — antisemitism.

His rule didn't begin with mass murder. It started slowly across economic, political, social and cultural life — propaganda demonizing Jews, boycotts of Jewish businesses, synagogues defaced with swastikas, harassment of Jews in the street and in the schools, antisemitic demonstrations, pogroms, organized riots.

With the indifference of the world, Hitler knew he could expand his reign of terror by eliminating Jews from Germany, to annihilate Jews across Europe through genocide the Nazis called the final solution. Concentration camps, gas chambers, mass shootings. By the time the war ended, 6 million Jews, one out of every three Jews in the entire world, were murdered.

This ancient hatred of Jews didn't begin with the Holocaust. It didn't end with the Holocaust either, or after, even after our victory in World War II. This hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world and requires our continued vigilance and outspokenness.

The Holocaust survivor Irene Butter wrote for CNN Opinion in 2021 about Adolf Hitler’s rise and echoes of Nazism in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

That hatred was brought to life on October 7th in 2023. On the sacred Jewish holiday, the terrorist group Hamas unleashed the deadliest day of the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Read mo re about Hamas .

Driven by ancient desire to wipe out the Jewish people off the face of the Earth, over 1,200 innocent people — babies, parents, grandparents — slaughtered in their kibbutz, massacred at a music festival, brutally raped, mutilated and sexually assaulted .

Evidence of sexual violence has been documented. Here’s the account of one Israeli woman who has spoken publicly about her experience.

Thousands more carrying wounds, bullets and shrapnel from the memory of that terrible day they endured. Hundreds taken hostage, including survivors of the Shoah.

Now here we are, not 75 years later but just seven-and-a-half months later and people are already forgetting, are already forgetting that Hamas unleashed this terror. That it was Hamas that brutalized Israelis. It was Hamas who took and continues to hold hostages. I have not forgotten, nor have you, and we will not forget.

On May 7, 1945, the German High Command agreed to an unconditional surrender in World War II, 79 years ago.

And as Jews around the world still cope with the atrocities and trauma of that day and its aftermath, we've seen a ferocious surge of anti s emitism in America and around the world.

In late October, FBI Director Christopher Wray said reports of antisemitism in the US were reaching “ historic ” levels.

Vicious propaganda on social media, Jews forced to keep their — hide their kippahs under baseball hats, tuck their Jewish stars into their shirts.

On college campuses, Jewish students blocked, harassed, attacked while walking to class . Antisemitism, antisemitic posters , slogans calling for the annihilation of Israel, the world's only Jewish state.

Many Jewish students have described feeling intimidated and attacked on campuses. Others have said they support the protests , citing the situation in Gaza.

Last month, the dean of the University of California Berkeley Law School described antisemitic posters that targeted him.

Too many people denying, downplaying, rationalizing, ignoring the horrors of the Holocaust and October 7th, including Hamas' appalling use of sexual violence to torture and terrorize Jews. It's absolutely despicable and it must stop.

Silence. Silence and denial can hide much but it can erase nothing.

Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous they cannot be married – buried, no matter how hard people try.

In my view, a major lesson of the Holocaust is, as mentioned earlier, is it not, was not inevitable.

We know hate never goes away. It only hides. And given a little oxygen, it comes out from under the rocks.

We also know what stops hate. One thing: All of us. The late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks described antisemitism as a virus that has survived and mutated over time.

Together, we cannot continue to let that happen. We have to remember our basic principle as a nation. We have an obligation. We have an obligation to learn the lessons of history so we don't surrender our future to the horrors of the past. We must give hate no safe harbor against anyone. Anyone.

From the very founding, our very founding, Jewish Americans , who represented only about 2% of the US population , have helped lead the cause of freedom for everyone in our nation. From that experience we know scapegoating and demonizing any minority is a threat to every minority and the very foundation of our democracy.

As of 2020, Jewish Americans made up about 2.4% of the US population, according to the Pew Research Center , or about 5.8 million people.

So moments like this we have to put these principles that we're talking about into action.

I understand people have strong beliefs and deep convictions about the world .

In America we respect and protect the fundamental right to free speech, to debate and disagree, to protest peacefully and make our voices heard . I understand. That's America.

The complaint of many protesters is that Israel’s response to the terror attack has claimed more than 30,000 lives and destroyed much of Gaza .

But there is no place on any campus in America, any place in America, for antisemitism or hate speech or threats of violence of any kind.

Whether against Jews or anyone else, violent attacks, destroying property is not peaceful protest. It's against the law and we are not a lawless country. We're a civil society. We uphold the rule of law and no one should have to hide or be brave just to be themselves.

To the Jewish community, I want you to know I see your fear, your hurt and your pain.

Let me reassure you as your president, you're not alone. You belong. You always have and you always will.

And my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad, even when we disagree.

My administration is working around the clock to free remaining hostages, just as we have freed hostages already, and will not rest until we bring them all home.

My administration, with our second gentleman's leadership, has launched our nation's first national strategy to counter antisemitism. That's mobilizing the full force of the federal government to protect Jewish communities.

But we know this is not the work of government alone or Jews alone. That's why I’m calling on all Americans to stand united against antisemitism and hate in all its forms.

My dear friend — and he became a friend — the late Elie Wiesel said, quote, “One person of integrity can make a difference.”

Elie Wiesel , the Holocaust survivor, writer and activist, died in 2016.

We have to remember that, now more than ever.

Here in Emancipation Hall in the US Capitol, among the towering statues of history is a bronze bust of Raoul Wallenberg . Born in Sweden as a Lutheran, he was a businessman and a diplomat. While stationed in Hungary during World War II, he used diplomatic cover to hide and rescue about 100,000 Jews over a six-month period.

Read more about Wallenberg , the Holocaust hero and Swedish diplomat who was formally declared dead in 2016, 71 years after he vanished.

Among them was a 16-year-old Jewish boy who escaped a Nazi labor camp. After the war ended, that boy received a scholarship from the Hillel Foundation to study in America. He came to New York City penniless but determined to turn his pain into purpose. Along with his wife, also a Holocaust survivor, he became a renowned economist and foreign policy thinker, eventually making his way to this very Capitol on the staff of a first-term senator.

That Jewish refugee was Tom Lantos and that senator was me. Tom and his wife and Annette and their family became dear friends to me and my family. Tom would go on to become the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress, where he became a leading voice on civil rights and human rights around the world. Tom never met Raoul, who was taken prisoner by the Soviets, never to be heard from again.

Read more about Lantos , the longtime congressman and Holocaust survivor who died in 2008. Lantos worked for Biden early in his career.

But through Tom's efforts, Raoul’s bust is here in the Capitol. He was also given honorary US citizenship, only the second person ever after Winston Churchill. The Holocaust Museum here in Washington is located in a road in Raoul’s name.

The story of the power of a single person to put aside our differences, to see our common humanity, to stand up to hate and its ancient story of resilience from immense pain, persecution, to find hope, purpose and meaning in life, we try to live and share with one another. That story endures.

Let me close with this. I know these days of remembrance fall on difficult times. We all do well to remember these days also fall during the month we celebrate Jewish American heritage, a heritage that stretches from our earliest days to enrich every single part of American life today.

There are important topics Biden did not address. He referenced the October 7 attacks on Israel but not Israel’s controversial response, which has drawn furious protests. He failed to mention Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign has killed so many, and which has led the World Food Programme to warn of a “full-blown famine .”

A great American — a great Jewish American named Tom Lantos — used the phrase “the veneer of civilization is paper thin.” We are its guardians, and we can never rest.

My fellow Americans, we must, we must be those guardians. We must never rest. We must rise Against hate, meet across the divide, see our common humanity. And God bless the victims and survivors of the Shoah.

May the resilient hearts, the courageous spirit and the eternal flame of faith of the Jewish people forever shine their light on America and around the world, pray God.

Thank you all.

Psalms 19:2-6

Psalms 19:2-6 niv.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Read Psalms 19

Listen to Psalms 19

Compare All Versions : Psalms 19:2-6

Verse Images for Psalms 19:2-6

Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Psalms 19:2-6

3 Big Questions, 1 Little Psalm

Our Good And His Glory

Shook - Science and Faith

Room For Doubt

Every Nation Faith City - Voices

True Love Revealed

Heaven's In Your Routines

All In All 5 Day Devotional

Fresh Footprints - In Search Of A Lost God

Kingdom Marriage

Chris Tomlin - Holy Roar: Live From Church Devotional

Cody Carnes - Christ Be Magnified

Real Hope: The Psalms

Real Hope: The Wonder of Creation

Finding Hope in Suffering Through Beauty

I Believe in God, but I Trust in Science, Not the Supernatural

Heaven and Nature Sing: 5 Days to Reflect During Advent

Enjoying God in Everything: A 5-Day Study by Steve Dewitt

Five Days in Creation for Parents and Kids

Dare to Dream: Making Yourself Available to God: 5 Day Bible Plan

We Believe: Who Is God?

Wake Up to Wonder: 22 Invitations to Amazement in the Everyday a 5-Day Reading Plan by Karen Wright Marsh

Seek Shalom

Faith And Science

Get the YouVersion Bible App

Save verses, read offline, watch teaching clips, and more!

YouVersion uses cookies to personalize your experience. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy

Welcome to the United Nations

• About the General Assembly
• Schedule of Meetings
• Election of the President of the General Assembly for the 79th Session
• Voluntary pledge on limiting side events
• Vision Statement
• Acceptance Speech
• Team Directory
• Code of Ethics
• OPGA Funding
• Staff Profile
• Official Travels
• Past Presidents
• Meetings with Security Council President
• Press Conferences and Statements
• Spokesperson’s Briefings
• Press Releases
• Mandated Meetings
• High-level Meetings of the 78th Session
• High -Level plenary meeting of the General Assembly known as the “World Conference on Indigenous Peoples”
• Joint UNGA – ECOSOC Thematic Event on Landlocked Developing Countries
• Multi-stakeholder Hearing on Antimicrobial Resistance
• #ChooseSustainability
• Summit of the Future
• Fellowship Program

Select Page

PGA Remarks at the World Press Freedom Day

PGA Remarks

at the World Press Freedom Day

(As prepared- Video Message)

World Press Freedom Day Global Conference :

– Santiago, Chile.

Your Excellency, Gabriel Boric Font, President of the Republic of Chile,

Your Excellency, Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of the General Conference of UNESCO,

Your Excellency, Paula Narváez, President of the Economic and Social Council,

Your Excellency, Omar Zniber, President of the Human Rights Council,

Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director General of UNESCO,

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am most grateful to the President of the General Conference of UNESCO for the invitation to join in commemorating World Press Freedom Day 2024; and also, to the Government of the Republic of Chile for organizing this significant event – a testament of your unwavering commitment to that timeless democratic principle of “freedom of expression”.

Freedom of expression is also a fundamental human right – enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the 75th anniversary of which we commemorated proudly last December here at the United Nations.

Press freedom – a core component of the right to freedom of expression – recognizes the right of journalists and media organizations to operate independently and to report the news impartially without censorship or intimidation These rights and freedoms are crucial in instilling public confidence in unfettered truthful reporting, which allows people to make well-informed decisions.

This year’s theme – A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis – is especially timely, given the imperative of accelerating action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals over the next 6 years.

It underscores the critical role of journalists and media workers in shedding light on the causes and consequences of current environmental crises, including an objective assessment of corporate and state response, as the case might be , – in an atmosphere that guarantees absolute journalistic freedom.

Excellencies,

Sustainability remains one of the core unifying principles of my Presidency of the General Assembly – with environmental protection and climate action high on my agenda, because we are witnessing in real time , evidence of the avoidable human impacts of how we consume resources.

It is greatly encouraging that in 2022 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 76/300, recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as fundamental to human well-being.

This important resolution advocates for increased global efforts to uphold and to give practical expression to this essential right – a measure that I wholeheartedly endorse.

Last month, I convened the first-ever UN General Assembly Sustainability Week, among other things, to bolster international awareness of all three dimensions of sustainable development – the social, economic, and environmental – in an integrated manner, but with particular emphasis on the concept and indeed the imperative of achieving sustainability

My interactions with journalists and Media – both online and offline – were critical to informing global audiences about these issues, and raising awareness about the prevailing gaps and challenges; thus triggering innovations and shaping policy decisions to address environmental challenges.

Sadly, journalists and media workers across the globe are increasingly under threat – from kidnapping and torture to arbitrary detention, and losing their lives at alarming rates, whether as casualities of war or or as deliberate targets of state authority,

As we honour those who members of the fifth estate who have fallen in our service on this day, let us all recommit to protecting journalists and media workers – as a paramount obligation for promoting inclusive media coverage, to inform and educate society including on current environmental issues.

I therefore call upon Member States to prioritize upholding and honouring freedom of expression, protecting journalists as well as media workers – and ending impunity.

Ensuring accountability for attacks against and harassment of journalists and media workers is crucial to upholding democratic values, globally.

In this era characterized by the pervasive trend of misinformation and disinformation, society needs the independence, expertise and integrity of a free media, more than ever.

When applied to climate and other environmental issues such trends are undermining our urgent efforts for climate action, effective policy formulation, and the protection of vulnerable communities – particularly women and girls, who are often disproportionately affected by climate change.

Strengthening independent and impartial journalism is vital to the healthy functioning of societies – empowering them for factual reporting that promote protection of the environment based on scientific facts and evidence

As I conclude, the upcoming Summit of the Future – along with the Global Digital Compact in particular – present unique opportunities to strengthen international cooperation, including on the question of access to reliable information.

As we look to the future, still with optimism – in the face of the myraid of challenges – we must galvanize our efforts in supporting and amplifying the voices of those who speak truth to power and clarity to the world on environmental issues, upon which hangs the very nature and sustainability of our civilization on this planet.

On this day, let us rededicate ourselves to fostering a global culture – where truth in reporting prevails and promotes evidence -based decision-making for sustainable development.

I convey my very best wishes for a successful and fulfilling World Press Freedom Day.

I thank you.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by GA in December 1993 (decision 48/432 of 20 December 1993 ).

The 2024 World Press Freedom Day theme is: “ A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis”.

At the Conference to celebrate World Press Freedom Day organized by UNESCO and Chile (2-4 May 2024), at which P GA participated by a Pre-recorded video message (script above)

A special video on PGA’s social media on Press Freedom Day also released.

Joint Statement

PGA joined alongside the President of UNESCO General Conference, the President of the Human Rights Council and the President of ECOSOC, the joint statement on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day , on 3 May, in their capacities as President of the three intergovernmental bodies in charge of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression and the safety of journalists in the UN. (the joint statement initiative was first initiated on the occasion of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day, and since the PGAs have joined the joint statement, so this is the third time that PGA join it)

The joint statements in English , French , and Spanish at the World Press Freedom Day Global Conference :

A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis; World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2024; joint statement – UNESCO Digital Library

Quick Links

Key documents.

• GA Rules of Procedure
• Resolutions

Related Sites

• General Assembly
• General Assembly Affairs
• Documents search
• Delegate’s handbook
• Media Arrangements

United Nations

A-Z Site Index | Contact | Copyright | Fraud Alert | Privacy Notice | Terms of Use

Ukraine war latest: Russia claims it has seized more villages - as Ukraine faces 'extremely dangerous' moment

Fighting is ongoing in Kharkiv, Ukraine's governor for the region has said - as Russia claims it has taken control of multiple villages in its surprise offensive. Lord Cameron has warned it is an "extremely dangerous" moment in the war.

Sunday 12 May 2024 13:44, UK

• More than 4,000 civilians have fled Kharkiv region after Friday morning's surprise attack by Putin's military  
• Russia claims to have captured another four villages in Kharkiv - bringing total to nine
• Cameron says new Russian offensive marks 'extremely dangerous' moment for Ukraine  
• At least seven killed after apartment collapse in Belgorod - Russian media
• Eyewitness: Deborah Haynes reports from town 'flattened' in offensive
• Analysis:  Russia's attack in Kharkiv region not a complete surprise - but the force of it is
• Live reporting by Jake Levison

 Some more details now from the ongoing search of a collapsed apartment block in the Russian city of Belgorod.

At least seven are dead and 17 injured after the 10-storey block fell, according to Russian media.

Russian officials say the building was struck by a Soviet-era missile launched by Ukraine that was shot down by Russia.

Specifically, they claimed it was a "massive mile attack" with Tochka ballistic missiles and Adler and RM-70 Vampire (MLRS) multiple launch rocket systems.

They said the attack, which involved at least 12 missiles, took place at 8.40am GMT.

Later, as emergency services scoured the rubble for survivors, the roof of the block collapsed and people ran for their lives, Reuters reported, with dust and rubble falling behind them.

Russian claims of a Ukrainian attack have not been verified and Kyiv officials have not commented.

Ukrainian officials never acknowledge responsibility for attacks on Russian territory or the Crimean Peninsula.

You may have noticed the bulk of our reporting over the past two days has covered two regions: Kharkiv in Ukraine and Belgorod in Russia.

A lot has happened in both, but here's a summary of events: 

In Kharkiv:  Russian forces have launched a brutal offensive, leading to fighting in various villages along the northeastern border separating Ukraine and Russia. 

Russia's defence ministry claims its troops have seized nine villages. Ukrainian officials, who have not commented on these claims, say thousands of civilians have been evacuated from the region.

In Belgorod:   Russian media has reported at least seven people have died and 15 more are injured after a whole section of the 10-storey building fell.

The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said the incident is a consequence of continuous attacks by Ukraine over the weekend - though Ukraine has not commented on the unverified claims.

Cities on opposite sides of the border

On the surface, these are completely separate incidents happening right next to each other.

And while Ukraine hasn't commented on whether it's responsible for the latest incident in Belgorod, it's no secret the city has regularly been targeted by Ukrainian artillery, drones and proxies over the past year.

Belgorod is a logistics hub for Russian military activity and Kyiv has always denied targeting civilians. 

Military analysts have speculated these attacks in Belgorod could have led Russia to carry out its brutal offensive in Kharkiv.

President Putin has long promised to create a buffer zone to push Ukrainian forces out of artillery range, which would limit the attacks on this frontier town. 

It's a likely motive, our military analyst  Sean Bell  has said, as is stretching Ukraine's military and potentially looking to seize the whole of Kharkiv.

We're seeing images from the Russian city of Belgorod, where part of a multi-storey apartment building has collapsed.

Russian media has reported at least seven people have died and 15 more are injured after a whole section of the 10-storey building fell.

Local officials have blamed the incident on "massive shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine" - but these claims have not been verified and Ukrainian officials have not commented.

Just before Russia claimed its troops had seized another four villages in Kharkiv, Ukraine's military chief had given an update on Telegram.

Oleksandr Syrskyi insisted his forces were doing all they could to contain the Russian threat, but admitted it was proving a challenge.

"Units of the Defence Forces are fighting fierce defensive battles, the attempts of the Russian invaders to break through our defences have been stopped," he said.

"The situation is difficult, but the Defence Forces of Ukraine are doing everything to hold defensive lines and positions, inflict damage on the enemy."

Ukrainian officials have not commented on reports from Russia claiming it has captured the villages of Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets and Oliinykove.

The Russian defence ministry claims troops have seized four more villages in the Kharkiv region - which would bring the total to nine.

The ministry yesterday declared they had taken the Ukrainian villages of Borysivka, Ohirtseve, Pylna and Strilecha, all of which are directly on the border with Russia's Belgorod region.

Russian officials said they had also captured another village, Pletenivka.

Now they've claimed four more: Hatyshche, Krasne, Morokhovets and Oliinykove.

Kyiv has not commented on the latest claims, but Ukrainian officials have remained adamant up until now that the country's troops are continuing to fight and prevent Russians from claiming more ground.

At least seven people have died after the partial collapse of an apartment building in the Russian city of Belgorod, Russia's Mash Telegram news channel has reported.

The revised number is up from earlier reports, which said three people had died.

Mash reported at least another 15 people had been injured.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, blamed the incident on "massive shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine".

The claims have not been independently verified and there has been no comment from Ukrainian officials.

A witness at the scene told Reuters news agency there were many ambulances and fire engines at the site.

"A whole section of a 10-storey building collapsed," the witness told Reuters on condition of anonymity. 

"I see several victims. Firefighters are sorting through the rubble."

Our defence editor  Deborah Haynes  says there are real fears the key city of Kharkiv could come under threat of a Russian takeover.

As it stands, fighting is ongoing near the northeastern border of the Kharkiv region.

The Russian defence ministry has already claimed its troops have taken five border villages and Ukrainian officials have said they are trying to claim more ground.

Ukraine officials and military analysts have been adamant Russia would struggle to seize Kharkiv - Ukraine's second largest city - having already failed to do so earlier in the war.

But Haynes says Russia's "ferocious assault" that started on Friday will stretch Ukraine's "already outgunned and undermanned" forces.

"There are real fears that if Ukraine is not able to repel this offensive... Russia could once again threaten this key city of Kharkiv," she says.

By  Deborah Haynes , security and defence editor

Russia has reopened a major front in its war with Ukraine in a move that will stretch Kyiv's already undermanned and outgunned forces as they wait for Western weapons.

The Russian military unleashed a ferocious barrage of artillery and airstrikes in the early hours of Friday morning as ground troops attempted the most significant incursion into northeastern Ukraine - territory that shares a long border with Russia - in two years.

Fierce fighting raged into the weekend in different locations along a 45-mile strip of the frontier in the Kharkiv region.

Moscow claimed to have seized five villages, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, said battles were taking place around seven villages.

In a sign of the seriousness of the challenge, Ukraine is deploying reserve forces to help repel the Russian assault and a senior commander has been appointed to lead the effort.

The timing of the attack could not be worse for Kyiv - which presumably is why Russia decided to act.

Read more here ...

More news from the Russian city of Belgorod now, where state-run media says the partial collapse of an apartment building has led to at least three deaths.

Footage from the scene posted by governor of the region Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram showed the building with a gaping hole in its centre.

In his post, Mr Gladkov claimed the collapse was due to "massive shelling by the armed forces of Ukraine".

He didn't comment on casualties, but initial Russian reports said at least three people had been killed and that 20 people might be in the rubble of the apartment block.

The reports have not been independently verified and there has been no comment from Ukrainian officials.

They come after Mr Gladkov's earlier claims one woman was killed and 29 other people wounded by continuous attacks by Ukraine over the weekend.

These claims have also not been verified.

We've been reporting on Vovchansk, where more than a third of the town's civilians have been evacuated due to devastating Russian attacks.

The Sky News team on the ground there have been sending us images and footage from the Ukrainian town bordering Russia.

They say it's essentially being "flattened".

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free