World Portuguese Language Day is annually observed across the globe on 5th May to create awareness about the role of the Portuguese language in the preservation and dissemination of human civilisation and culture.
Background:
i.Since 2005, Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) member states celebrate the 5th May as the day of the Portuguese language and Lusophone culture, and in 2006, the first commemoration of the Portuguese language took place at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters.
ii.In 2009, the Council of Ministers of the CPLP, established 5th May of every year as the Day of the Portuguese Language and Culture in CPLP.
iii.In 2019, the 40th session of UNESCO’s General Conference adopted the resolution 40 C/75 and decided to proclaim 5 May of each year as “World Portuguese Language Day”.
iv.The first UNESCO/UN-recognised World Portuguese Language Day was observed on 5th May 2020.
Significance of Portuguese:
i.Portuguese, is one of the most widespread languages in the world with more than 265 million speakers across all the continents. It is also the most widely spoken language in the southern hemisphere.
ii.Portuguese is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste. It is also an official language of the Macau Special Administrative Region of China.
iii.It is also an official language of the UNESCO General Conference and several other multiple regional organisations.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General- Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
