All entries will appear on the DESIGN 21 website and an official poster will be selected from the submissions. UNESCO will distribute the poster through its Member States and partners. The designer will receive $3000 as well as an invitation to attend Mother Language Day at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Background
Languages are essential to the identity of groups and individuals and to their peaceful coexistence. However, within the space of a few generations, more than 50% of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world may disappear.

Only if multilingualism is fully accepted can all languages find their place in our globalised world. We must act now as a matter of urgency.

In November 1999, the General Conference of UNESCO proclaimed 21 February the International Mother Language Day. This Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism.

The Languages matter! competition calls for a poster that celebrates International Mother Language Day on 21 February based on the slogan "Languages matter!"

Read more >>