INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES 2019

Early day motion 2009, tabled 24 January 2019 by Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party). Signed by 41 members.

That this House welcomes the launch of the International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019; recognises the rich diversity of indigenous languages spoken across the British Isles including Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Welsh, Doric, Romany, Cornish, Irish Gaelic and British Sign Language; welcomes the UN’s recognition of the importance of these languages as expression of a person’s culture, history, knowledge and traditions that have endured across the centuries; notes with concern that the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues said 40 per cent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world are in danger of disappearing; welcomes this opportunity for global co-operation to promote and protect indigenous languages as tools for greater mutual understanding, peace-building and reconciliation.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 28, Labour 5, Plaid Cymru 4, Conservative 2, Independent 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.