Joint Statement by Libyan Human Rights Organizations on the International Mother Language Day

Ref: PRS 2026/02/1012

February 10, 2026

Joint Statement by Libyan Human Rights Organizations on the International Mother Language Day

Youth Voices in Multilingual Education

Libyan civil society organizations mark the International Mother Language Day this year amid rapid linguistic and cultural transformations driven by migration, technological development, and growing global awareness of the importance of multilingualism in strengthening identity, learning, and social participation. This year’s theme, adopted by UNESCO “Youth Voices on Multilingual Education”, highlights the vital role young people play in protecting languages, producing digital content, revitalizing linguistic diversity, and defending their right to an education that recognizes their languages and enhances their abilities.

United Nations reports indicate that nearly 40% of learners worldwide do not have access to education in their mother language, limiting their ability to learn effectively and affecting their well‑being and participation in society. A language disappears every two weeks, taking with it cultural and intellectual heritage, as a small number of dominant languages increasingly shape education and the digital sphere. This reality underscores the urgent need for education systems that recognize and support learners’ languages and provide equitable and inclusive learning environments.

UNESCO affirms that education beginning in the mother language enhances comprehension, strengthens identity, and improves learning outcomes, especially in early childhood. Integrating national languages into education promotes cultural diversity, reinforces belonging, and supports the building of more inclusive and cohesive societies.

In Libya, this year’s theme carries particular significance. Since 2011, the education sector has witnessed a rapid expansion of private schools and universities, including kindergartens and international schools. While this expansion has offered families new options, it has also revealed serious challenges related to educational quality, weak oversight, and inconsistent adherence to national curricula. Many private institutions rely on unaccredited curricula or blend multiple curricula without a clear framework, resulting in wide disparities in learning outcomes, weakened Arabic language skills among children and youth, and declining attention to national languages such as Amazigh, Tebu, and Tuareg.

These disparities in educational quality extend beyond academic performance. They directly affect young people’s opportunities to access higher education, secure decent employment, and participate fully in public life. The absence of clear policies supporting multilingual education has further limited the integration of national languages into schooling, hindered teacher training, and left curricula without a modern vision that reflects Libya’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Challenges are even more severe in rural regions, where children face weak educational services, shortages of qualified teachers, and deteriorating school infrastructure. This widens regional inequalities and restricts opportunities for balanced development.

Believing that Libya’s linguistic and cultural diversity is a source of strength and enrichment for national identity, and that quality education is essential for development and youth empowerment, the signatory organizations call on Libyan authorities to establish a clear national framework for multilingual education from early childhood through university, regulate and monitor private educational institutions to ensure compliance with national curricula and standards, strengthen the teaching of Arabic and national languages in public and private schools, develop teacher‑training programs, guarantee equitable educational opportunities between urban and rural areas, and involve youth in shaping language‑related education policies.

The organizations also call on civil society institutions and cultural leaders to raise awareness of the importance of linguistic diversity, work collectively to protect national languages, and support every child’s right to an education that respects their language and identity and contributes to building a more cohesive and just society.

Tripoli, Libya

21 January 2026

Signatory Organizations:

1. Al-Bariq Organization for Child Rights, Tripoli.
2. Belady Human Rights Watch, Misrata.
3. Al‑Naseer Organization for Human Rights, Tripoli.
4. Ihqaq for Sustainable Development of Women and Children,
5. Human Rights Solidarity Organisation, Tripoli.
6. The Benghazi Center for Migration and Asylum Studies, Benghazi.
7. Atwar Organization for Research and Community Development, Tripoli.
8. Tabayano Human Rights Association, Nalut.
9. Rowad Al‑Fikr Matras Organization, Matras.
10. 17 February Organization for Environment and Human Rights, Tripoli.