A/RES/61/266
United Nations
General Assembly
Sixty-first session
Agenda item 114
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 May 2007
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/61/L.56 and Add.1)]
61/266. Multilingualism
The General Assembly,
Recognizing that the United Nations pursues multilingualism as a means of
promoting, protecting and preserving diversity of languages and cultures globally,
Recognizing also that genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and
international understanding, and recognizing the importance of the capacity to
communicate to the peoples of the world in their own languages, including in
formats accessible to persons with disabilities,
Stressing the need for strict observance of the resolutions and rules
establishing language arrangements for the different bodies and organs of the United
Nations,
Recalling its resolution 47/135 of 18 December 1992, by which it adopted the
Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1
in particular article 27 thereof, concerning the rights of persons belonging to ethnic,
religious or linguistic minorities,
Recalling also its resolutions 2 (I) of 1 February 1946, 2480 B (XXIII) of
21 December 1968, 42/207 C of 11 December 1987, 50/11 of 2 November 1995,
52/23 of 25 November 1997, 54/64 of 6 December 1999, 56/262 of 15 February
2002, 59/309 of 22 June 2005, 61/121 B of 14 December 2006 and 61/236 and
61/244 of 22 December 2006,
Having considered the report of the Secretary-General 2 and the letter dated
26 February 2007 from the Director-General of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization to the Secretary-General on the proclamation of
2008 as International Year of Languages, 3
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1
See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
A/61/317.
3
A/61/780, annex.
2
06-51033
Distr.: General
8 June 2007