UN Secretary-General Celebrates World Portuguese Language Day and Emphasizes Multilingualism at the United Nations

In a heartening celebration of linguistic and cultural diversity, UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined the World Portuguese Language Day event in New York. Speaking at the event, Guterres expressed his gratitude to the Permanent Representative of Brazil for the invitation.

Highlighting the power of human connection, Guterres praised Portuguese as a unifying force that bridges cultures and communities. Spoken by millions of people worldwide, the language serves as a medium for diplomacy, art, and literature, showcasing the rich heritage of the Portuguese-speaking world.

Guterres also welcomed the establishment of a dedicated section in the United Nations Library for books in Portuguese. He thanked Member States for their generous donation of over a hundred books, emphasizing the contributions made by Lusophone authors to global knowledge and culture.

Furthermore, the Secretary-General emphasized the importance of multilingualism within the United Nations. Acknowledging its role in fostering global understanding and cooperation, Guterres highlighted the growing demand for information in Portuguese and praised the work carried out by the Portuguese language service of UN News, as well as the Lusophone UN Information Centres and Regional Offices.

Recognizing the efforts of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Guterres expressed his happiness in witnessing their engagement and vitality. He also welcomed the interest of other countries to join forces, emphasizing the values of dialogue and solidarity at the heart of the Community’s mission.

The World Portuguese Language Day’s focus on “Youth, Gender Equality, Digitalization, and Sustainable Development” underlined the role of linguistic and cultural diversity in empowering young people and finding common solutions to global challenges. Guterres expressed confidence in the support of the Portuguese-speaking community in the United Nations’ mission for peace, human rights, and sustainable development for all.

In summary, the celebration of World Portuguese Language Day highlighted the significance of multilingualism and cultural diversity within the United Nations, fostering unity and understanding among nations.

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