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Geopolitical Instability and the Value of Multilingualism
13 June @ 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM UTC-5
**Call for Participation**
The Study Group on Language and the United Nations presents
A Virtual Symposium on 13 June 2025
The world is experiencing what many are calling a polycrisis precipitated by climate change, geopolitical conflicts, political instability, social inequalities, economic challenges, misinformation, environmental degradation, health emergencies, and more. It would be easy in this time of turmoil to dismiss multilingualism as a minor concern and distraction—a luxury we cannot afford or simply a low priority until the world has other crises under control.
Yet, it is through language that we understand our world, create and share knowledge, and communicate with one another. The only way we can address the world’s current problems is through meaningful dialogue about solutions.
In a polycrisis, we must seek polysolutions like multilingual communication. Linguistic diversity brings with it a diversity of people and ideas from communities across the globe. How can we ensure that they are all included and that no possibilities are missed or voices unheard simply because of a lack of language capacity?
The present symposium draws attention to the value of multilingualism for the United Nations, Member States, non-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders in light of the confluence of contemporary geopolitical crises. The symposium follows a panel format through which experts present their perspectives, engage in dialogue with each other, and prompt general discussion with participants.
Event Details
The symposium will take place virtually on 13 June 2025.
Friday, 13 June
08:30-12:00 – New York
14:30-18:00 – Geneva
15:30-19:00 – Nairobi
19:30-23:00 – Bangkok
Interpreting will be provided in English, French, and Spanish. A detailed programme is attached.
Registration
The symposium is open to United Nations staff members, delegates of Member States and staff members of missions, government officials of all levels, university researchers and students, NGO representatives, members of civil society, and others with an interest in multilingualism There is no cost to attend the symposium, but preregistration is required. Register here as soon as possible, but no later than 12 June.
Symposium Sponsors
The symposium is hosted by the Study Group on Language and the United Nations in collaboration with the NGO Committee on Language and Languages, a substantive committee of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CoNGO), the Esperantic Studies Foundation (ESF), and the Consortium for Language Policy and Planning (CLPP).