For Our Mother Tongue

Kurdish Cultural Association of Geneva, On February 21, 2026, we celebrate International Mother Language Day and pay tribute to this sacred day. UNESCO has declared that the mother tongue is not only a means of communication but also the soul of identity, the memory of peoples, and a fundamental human right. United Nations data shows that the preservation and development of mother languages not only contribute to the protection of linguistic diversity but also play an important role in promoting values of understanding, tolerance, and dialogue between cultures and civilizations of the world. Despite this importance, many languages are today threatened with extinction or oblivion. At least 43% of the languages spoken in the world are in danger, while dominant languages hold a predominant place in the educational system, media, and digital spaces.

Call to Kurdish families abroad:

Our Kurdish language is a sacred heritage and an identity. The responsibility for its preservation begins at home, from the first word the child hears, and through the songs and stories that accompany them during their growth. We urge you to speak Kurdish with your children, to encourage them to learn and practice it, and to enroll them in cultural and educational associations and institutions that work for the teaching of the Kurdish language. This role is essential to strengthen the language in their daily lives and to develop their connection, cultural and linguistic identity.

For our mother tongue… let us preserve our identity and build the future of our children.