Multilingualism at the United Nations
The United Nations was founded more than 75 years ago on the principle of multilateralism. One of the first resolutions to be passed by the General Assembly outlined ground rules for multilingualism that still form the basis of UN language policy today. In the decades since, Member States have continued to advocate for “the right and the duty to make [themselves] understood and to understand others”. Today, the UN has six official and working languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
On International Mother Language Day, 21 February 2023, the Dag Hammarskj?ld Library released “Multilingualism at the United Nations”, a publication that documents how multilingualism has evolved from a founding principle to a core value of the Organization.
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Other Languages
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75 Milestones in International Cooperation
“75 Milestones in International Cooperation” chronicles pivotal moments that shaped the history of the United Nations and our world in the last 75 years. The Library’s selection tracks the history of the creation of the United Nations in 1945 and traverses until the UN’s call for global unity to fight COVID-19 in 2020. It highlights the context of historical occasions that have influenced international relations and led to remarkable changes in the lives of the people around the world.
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Why it Matters: About the series
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the Dag Hammarskj?ld Library launched a new publications series entitled “Why it matters”. Each volume focuses on one of the many deliberations of the United Nations. It provides readers with a comprehensive overview as well as an insightful backgrounder on the internal workings and the accomplishments of the Organization, backed by selected, credible knowledge sources and research expertise.