The International day has since been observed every year throughout the world on 21 February to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingual education.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

Mr Gould says UNESCO is committed to the preservation of languages as a vital component of linguistic and cultural diversity, multilingualism and quality education for all.

UNESCO: Samoan language week an international success

Typically, it is the poor, remote rural populations, those affected by conflict, or those belonging to ethnic, racial and linguistic minorities that are most often left out of education.

UNESCO: HIV and AIDS