Arabic at GSU: 18 December - World Arabic Language Day

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

18 December - World Arabic Language Day

During its 190th session the UNESCO Executive Board adopted a decision to celebrate 18 December of every year as World Arabic Language Day. The new initiative, proposed by Morocco and Saudi Arabia, seeks to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity, as well as celebrate Arabic language’s role in and contribution to the safeguarding and dissemination of human civilization and culture. The decision recognizes the need to implement more wide-ranging cooperation between peoples through multilingualism, cultural rapprochement and dialogue among civilizations.

Language is not merely a tool for communication, but rather the bearer of a whole range of cultural expressions and a bridge enabling close relations between societies. The Day creates an occasion to raise awareness about the cultural and social treasure of the Arabic language and gives an opportunity to discover more about the language and its contribution to human civilization.

Arabic is the language of 22 of the Member States of UNESCO and is one of the Organization’s official languages. It is one of the most widespread languages spoken by more than 422 million people, most of whom live in the Middle East and North Africa.

Arabic became a UN official working language on 18 December 1973 by virtue of a United Nations General Assembly resolution. In an effort to support and strengthen linguistic and cultural diversity within the UN system, on 19 February 2010 the United Nations Department of Public Information announced the decision to celebrate an international day for each of the six official languages of the UN: French (March 20), English (April 23), Russian (June 6), Spanish (October 12), Chinese (November 13) and Arabic (December 18). Arabic Language Day is celebrated on 18 December, the date on which the UN General Assembly designated Arabic as the sixth official language of the United Nations.

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Cairo: The City Victorious

In a country that has been ruled by the same man for the past three decades, it can be easy to forget that February's uprising is not Egypt's first revolution. In the book Cairo: The City Victorious, Max Rodenbeck ushers us through Cairo's complex and layered history, delicately moving through ancient and medieval times, then Cairo's colonization, nationalization and, finally, its modern-day state. Part personal commentary, Rodenbeck's book weaves in his experiences of growing up and living in Cairo, providing for the reader the smells and sights of this moving, breathing capital. Fittingly, the final chapter of the book is called 'The Voice of Cairo,' and although written over a decade ago, it gives us the perspective we need to understand the voices that have emerged from today's victorious city..

Arab personality of the week: Nawal Al Moutawakel 1962-

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Nawal is an athlete and Olympic Gold medalist. In 1984, she won the gold medal in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and, in doing so, became the first Arab women, African woman, Muslim woman, Moroccan woman, and Cyclone woman to win Olympic gold. Her Olympic victory made her an immediate national hero in Morocco. In 1989, she was appointed inspector at the Ministry of Sport and Youth and then became the national sprint and hurdle coach for both men and women. In 1997 she became secretary of state for sport and youth. From 1998 to 2003 she was executive director of the Foundation for Education and Environment in Casablanca, and she was director of the Sahara Sports Academy in India, as well as president and founding member of the Moroccan Association of Sport and Development.  
Throughout her professional career, Nawal has used her popularity and influence to continue breaking down barriers for women. She has been an agent of change in the male-dominated Moroccan society, helping and inspiring other women to assert themselves through sport. She organized the first-ever Moroccan women’s 10K race through the streets of Casablanca, an event that now attracts more than 20,000 participants. She has led significant change for women in sport on the international level.
She is a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and was president of the IOC Evaluation Commission for those same games, the first woman to serve in each of those capacities. She has also been a leader in AIDS education and tsunami relief efforts.  In 2007, Nawal was named the Minister of Sports in Morocco.