The Ministry of Culture of Peru participated on March 15 in the international forum “Indigenous Languages in Integration Processes, Conservation, Cultural Diplomacy, and Intercultural Dialogue,” held in Bogotá, Colombia. The event brought together authorities, indigenous specialists, and international organizations to discuss ways to strengthen public policies for the protection and promotion of indigenous languages in the Andean region.
The forum focused on advancing the implementation of the Andean Plan for Indigenous Languages. This initiative aims to coordinate regional efforts to ensure linguistic rights, promote the use of indigenous languages in state services, and preserve traditional knowledge associated with these languages.
Representing Peru, Gerardo García, Director of the Directorate of Indigenous Languages at the Ministry of Culture, took part in a dialogue about linguistic rights and their current status in the region. Ángel Antonio González, General Director of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, joined remotely to highlight “the value of knowledge, technologies and practices of indigenous peoples for sustainable development.” Andrés Muente Barbagelata, a specialist from the Directorate of Indigenous Policies, also participated virtually. He said that preserving indigenous languages means protecting ancestral knowledge systems as well.
The meeting was organized under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Andean Community and the Ibero-American Institute of Indigenous Languages. It was promoted during Colombia’s Pro Tempore Presidency and aligned with the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages.
According to data shared at the event, more than 13 million indigenous people live in the Andean region. They speak 162 different languages across 239 peoples. In Peru alone there are 55 recognized indigenous or native peoples who speak 48 different languages; over four million citizens have one of these as their mother tongue.
Participants said that continued collaboration among Andean countries is needed to protect linguistic diversity and support cultural heritage.
