Supports goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day.

AR123

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 123

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� KENYATTA STEWART

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblywoman� MAUREEN ROWAN

District 2 (Atlantic)

Assemblywoman� SHAMA A. HAIDER

District 37 (Bergen)

SYNOPSIS

���� Supports goals and ideals of International Mother
Language Day.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Assembly
Resolution
supporting the goals and ideals
of International Mother Language Day in bringing attention to the importance of
preserving linguistic and cultural heritage through education.

Whereas,

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
established International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999, to promote
linguistic diversity and multilingualism; and

Whereas,

The annual International Mother Language Day celebration date, February 21, was
chosen to commemorate the day in 1952 in Bangladesh when students died
demonstrating for recognition of Bengali as a national language of Pakistan;
and

Whereas,

UNESCO establishes a different theme for the annual celebration of
International Mother Language Day each year, promoting various aspects of
linguistic education; and

Whereas,

The year 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day,
reaffirming the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism in
fostering dignity, peace, and understanding; and

Whereas,

According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World�s Languages in Danger, of the over
8,000 existing languages in the world, approximately 1,181 languages are not in
use and approximately 6,000 languages are classified as �endangered� with the
potential to disappear within a few generations; and

Whereas,

The United States Census Bureau has identified over 350 languages spoken in the
United States, at least 160 of which are distinct Native North American
languages; and

Whereas,

According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World�s Languages in Danger, 280 Native
North American languages were spoken in the continental United States when the
Europeans arrived and more than 115 are already extinct, with many more
critically endangered; and

Whereas,

The United States enjoys a rich and diverse cultural heritage, and preserving
existing languages is an essential piece to preserving this heritage; now,
therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:

���� 1.� This House supports the
goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day and encourages the people
of New Jersey to observe International Mother Language Day with appropriate
ceremonies, programs, and activities.

���� 2.� Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the
General Assembly to the Director-General of UNESCO and to every member of
Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution supports the goals
and ideals of International Mother Language Day
in
bringing attention to the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural
heritage through education.

���� The
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
established International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999, to promote
linguistic diversity and multilingualism. �The annual International Mother
Language Day celebration date, February 21, was chosen to commemorate the day
in 1952 in Bangladesh when students died demonstrating for recognition of
Bengali as a national language of Pakistan.

���� UNESCO
establishes a different theme for the annual celebration of International
Mother Language Day each year, promoting various aspects of linguistic education.
�The year 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language
Day, reaffirming the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism in
fostering dignity, peace, and understanding. �According to the UNESCO Atlas of
the World�s Languages in Danger, of the over 8,000 existing languages in the
world, approximately 1,181 languages are not in use and approximately 6,000
languages are classified as �endangered� with the potential to disappear within
a few generations.

���� The
United States Census Bureau has identified over 350 languages spoken in the
United States, at least 160 of which are distinct Native North American
languages.� According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World�s Languages in Danger,
280 Native North American languages were spoken in the continental United
States when the Europeans arrived and more than 115 are already extinct, with
many more critically endangered. �The United States enjoys a rich and diverse
cultural heritage, and preserving existing languages is an essential piece to
preserving this heritage.