NY K00959

Requests Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 21, 2026, as Mother Language Day in New York State, aligning with the international observance

International Mother Language Day commemorates the 1952 killing of students in Dhaka (present-day Bangladesh) who were demonstrating for recognition of the Bangla language

UNESCO established the observance on November 17, 1999, with annual celebrations beginning in February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity

Approximately 43% of the world's estimated 6,000 languages are endangered, and 40% of the global population lacks access to education in a language they speak or understand

The resolution emphasizes that languages are essential instruments for preserving tangible and intangible heritage and promoting tolerance and dialogue