UNESCO has designated December 15 as World Day of the Turkic Language Family

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

The choice of this date is not accidental: it is associated with an important event in the history of Turkic civilization: on December 15, 1893, the Danish scientist Wilhelm Thomsen deciphered the Orkhon inscriptions. These inscriptions, dating back to the 8 th century, are among the oldest written monuments revealing the common roots of the Turkic languages and symbolize the recognition of a rich cultural heritage.

The proposal to establish such a commemorative day was put forward by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and received a wide response in the international arena. Turkey’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Gülnur Aybet, noted that this decision demonstrates the organization’s commitment to strengthening multilingualism, cultural diversity, and encouraging dialogue between peoples.

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

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

As part of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which brings together representatives from 194 countries, a celebratory event was held to establish World Day of the Turkic Language Family. It was attended by the heads of the permanent delegations of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Hungary to UNESCO, as well as scientists and representatives of international organizations. The event included performances by the Ambassador of Turkic Culture and Heritage, as well as the Turan ethno-folklore ensemble.

This event marked 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.