Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps the Government took to mark United Nations International Mother Language Day.

In liaison with other government departments and the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC), the FCDO partnered with the Bangladesh High Commission and High Commissioner for the 6th year to celebrate International Mother Language Day (IMLD) in London. IMLD was supported by the UK's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, with UKNC, focussing on the theme of International Mother Language Day celebration for 2024 which is "Multilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning". The UK Permanent Delegate to UNESCO also promoted IMLD through e-communications and social channels, including support for IMLD related activities taking place around the UK, for example celebrating local musicians performing in their mother language in Wales.