A/HRC/44/34 policymaking. The implementation of such a principle was typically seen as a possible driver, if a language had been officially recognized, towards guaranteeing to indigenous peoples the right to use their languages and to have access to public services provided in their languages. 17. Regardless of the approach, he asserted that constitutional frameworks were the preeminent avenue for entrenching linguistic and cultural rights as integral parts of human rights as a whole. Institutional bilingualism reached in that way was exigent and prescribed for the legal recognition of indigenous languages, their generalized implementation within public institutions and the autonomous exercise of linguistic rights. Constitutional recognition of indigenous languages provided unique opportunities for protection, revitalization, promotion and ownership, illustrating the role of linguistic diversity as an indicator of good governance and its impact on human development. 18. He identified the roles played by various actors, asserting that States must guarantee the implementation of a strategic plan for the promotion of indigenous languages, that scholars must resolve questions regarding the planning and development of the indigenous languages corpus, that support structures must ensure monitoring and follow-up measures within all institutions and that indigenous communities must continue to monitor linguistic situations. Beyond those tasks, the constitutional status of indigenous languages was a sine qua non of successful revitalization policies. As a last resort, linguistic survival might rest on the will of indigenous communities, social proximity and conscientious selfdetermination. 19. He addressed the specific case of the Amazigh language in Morocco, acknowledging the constitutionally afforded official status of the language in the country and identifying the legal and political foundations protecting it at the international and national levels. The Amazigh language was to be integrated into education, the justice system, public signage, administration and services, cultural and artistic productions, the media, legislation and parliamentary proceedings, in close partnership with the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture. Based on that example, he added that a prerequisite for the official recognition of indigenous languages was the appropriation of the language and civic engagement by indigenous communities. 20. He concluded by recommending the following measures: State implementation of measures for the development and application of indigenous languages curricula; formalization and institutionalization of indigenous languages; adoption of laws and policies aimed at protecting and revitalizing indigenous languages; monitoring of protection and revitalization processes; and generalization of mandatory and equal use of indigenous languages within the public sphere. 21. Ms. Kasinskaite, recalled the statistics introduced by Ms. Rishmawi about endangered languages. She noted that the main foci of various efforts related to indigenous languages had centred on endangerment, safeguarding and the need to record dying languages before their disappearance, a perspective rooted in academia, society at large and other domains, in certain countries with a predominant culture. She underlined, however, that there was not a one size fits all approach to strategies for language preservation and promotion and encouraged instead the consideration of a broader spectrum of human rights when examining language issues and the current realities at the national, regional and local levels. 22. Recalling the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, she reasserted that linguistic rights were an integral component of human rights and fundamental freedoms, notably as a prerequisite for freedom of thought, freedom of opinion and expression, access to education and information, employment and participation in society at large. On that basis, UNESCO aimed to promote a more human rights-oriented approach to languages, insisting on the need to safeguard, protect, support and promote them, in order to ensure the full realization of the rights and fundamental freedoms of their speakers. 23. She highlighted the growing awareness that indigenous languages did not simply serve as cultural artefacts, but rather equipped their users with an invaluable skillset and expertise in various fields, from the environment to education, the economy, social and political life and family relations; there were many lessons to be learned from indigenous languages and their speakers. Furthermore, languages mattered for peacebuilding, 4

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