UNESCO has designated December 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day

At the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, held in Samarkand, a landmark decision was adopted: December 15 has been proclaimed the World Day of the Turkic Language Family. This day will be celebrated annually, highlighting international recognition of the shared linguistic, cultural, and historical heritage of Turkic-speaking peoples.

The choice of this date is not accidental: it is connected to an important event in the history of Turkic civilization — on December 15, 1893, Danish scholar Vilhelm Thomsen deciphered the Orkhon inscriptions. These inscriptions, dating back to the 8th century, are among the oldest written monuments that reveal the common roots of the Turkic languages and symbolize acknowledgment of a rich cultural legacy.

The proposal to establish such a commemorative day was put forward by President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and received wide support on the international stage. Turkey’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Gülnur Aybet noted that this decision demonstrates the organization’s commitment to strengthening multilingualism, cultural diversity, and encouraging dialogue among nations.

Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan co-sponsored the initiative. The project was supported by 26 countries, including Turkmenistan.

Today, more than 200 million people speak Turkic languages, united by a shared history and cultural values.

As part of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which brings together representatives from 194 countries, a ceremonial event was held to mark the establishment of the World Day of the Turkic Language Family. The heads of the permanent delegations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Hungary to UNESCO attended the event, along with scholars and representatives of international organizations. The ceremony featured performances by an ambassador of Turkic culture and heritage and by the ethno-folklore ensemble “Turan.”

This event became an important step in the international recognition of the contribution of Turkic civilization to the development of world culture and the promotion of humanitarian cooperation.