UN Russian Language Day is observed annually on June 6 to celebrate the richness of the Russian language and promote multilingualism and cultural diversity within the United Nations system.
The day coincides with the birth anniversary of Alexander Pushkin, widely regarded as the father of modern Russian language and literature.
Background
- Established in 2010 by UNESCO
- Part of the broader UN Language Days initiative, launched in February 2010
- Objective:
- Promote equal use of all six official UN languages
- Celebrate linguistic diversity and cultural heritage
- In Russia, it was declared a state holiday in 2011
Origin of the Idea
- First proposed by Ivan Klimenko in 2007
- Published in Parlamentskaya Gazeta
Celebration at United Nations
- Organized under the UN Department of Global Communications
- Each UN duty station celebrates language days to:
- Increase awareness of linguistic heritage
- Promote respect for culture and history
- Combine education with cultural engagement
- Russian Language Day specifically honours:
- Pushkin’s contribution to literature
- Development of modern Russian language
UN Language Days Initiative
The UN celebrates six official languages through dedicated days:
- French: 20 March
- Chinese: 20 April
- English: 23 April
- Spanish: 23 April
- Russian: 6 June
- Arabic: 18 December
Aim:
- Promote multilingual communication
- Ensure linguistic equality within the UN system