In the framework of International Mother Language Day and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032, the Permanent Secretariat of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (PS/ACTO) will hold the virtual commemorative event “Language Policies and Rights in the Amazon” on February 23, 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen regional coordination for the protection and revitalization of Amazonian Indigenous languages.
The event seeks to foster dialogue among States, Indigenous Peoples, and international organizations on progress, challenges, and best practices related to language rights, in line with the resolutions adopted by ACTO Member Countries and the commitments established in the Belém Declaration and the Fifth Summit of Presidents of the States Parties to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty.
The Amazon is home to one of the world’s greatest linguistic diversities. It is estimated that between 411 and 520 Indigenous Peoples live in the region, whose languages represent complex systems of knowledge, historical memory, and unique forms of territorial governance. However, many of these languages face risks of displacement, silencing, or disappearance as a result of historical processes of colonization, discrimination, and the lack of sustainable public policies.
In this context, ACTO has advanced in the implementation of the Resolution on Amazonian Languages and Cultures and in the strengthening of the Amazonian Indigenous Peoples Mechanism (MAPI), an instrument that reaffirms the commitment of the States Parties to the individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the promotion, preservation, and revitalization of their languages.
The event will bring together government representatives from the eight Member Countries, MAPI delegates, international organizations, United Nations agencies, and Indigenous organizations. The program will include an institutional opening segment, a commemorative panel on language policies and rights, and an interactive dialogue session aimed at identifying priorities and regional lines of action.
This activity is part of the implementation of the Indigenous Roots for Amazon Governance (RAIGA) Grant under the Amazonia+ Programme, funded by the European Union, with technical assistance from Expertise France.
Through this commemoration, ACTO reaffirms that linguistic diversity is not only a cultural heritage of the region but also a strategic pillar for sustainable development, intercultural dialogue, and the comprehensive protection of the Amazon.
Event Information
Date: Monday, February 23, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Brasília time)
Format: Virtual event – Zoom platform
Pre-registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/mv8u_9j2RAuuvBVqK9CQtw
