Multilingualism resources

Resolutions

Relevant resolutions of the General Assembly

• Resolutions relating to language arrangements:
  • Resolution 2(I) of 1 February 1946
  • Resolution 262 (III) of 11 December 1948
  • Resolution 2479 (XXIII) of 21 December 1968
  • Resolution 3189 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973
  • Resolution 3190 (XXVIII) of 18 December 1973
• Resolutions on multilingualism
• Resolution on professional translation in connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development
• Resolutions on the pattern of conferences
• Resolutions on questions relating to information
• Resolution on the International Day of Sign Languages
• Other relevant resolutions
  • Resolutions on the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly
  • Resolutions adopted under the agenda item "Human resources management" of the General Assembly
  • Resolutions on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects
  • Resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie
  • Resolutions on cooperation between the United Nations and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries

Reports

• Reports of the Secretary-General on multilingualism
  • Latest report
    • A/78/790
    • Supplementary information
  • Previous reports
• Reports of the Secretary-General on the pattern of conferences
• Reports of the Secretary-General on questions relating to information
• Reports on progress towards parity among official languages
• Reports of the Secretary-General on human resources management
• Other relevant reports
  • Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the implementation of multilingualism in the United Nations system (2002) (JIU/REP/2002/11)
  • Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on the implementation of multilingualism in the United Nations system (Note by the Secretary-General) (2002) (A/58/93/Add.1)
  • Report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on possible discrimination due to nationality, race, sex, religion and language in recruitment, promotion and placement (2002) (A/56/956)
  • Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services: possible discrimination due to nationality, race, sex, religion and language in recruitment, promotion and placement (2002) (A/56/956/Add.1)
  • Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on multilingualism in the United Nations system organizations: status of implementation (2011) (JIU/REP/2011/4)
  • Multilingualism in the United Nations system organizations: status of implementation (Note by the Secretary-General) (2012) (A/67/78/Add.1)
  • Report of the Joint Inspection Unit on multilingualism in the United Nations system (2020) (JIU/REP/2020/6)
  • Multilingualism in the United Nations system (Note by the Secretary-General) (2021) (A/75/960/Add.1)

Relevant Secretary-General’s bulletins and administrative instructions

• Secretary-General's bulletins
  • ST/SGB/201 of 8 July 1983 on the use of working languages of the Secretariat
  • ST/SGB/212 of 24 Sept. 1985 on the use of working languages of the Secretariat
• Administrative instructions
  • ST/AI/113 of 2 March 1956 on linguistic standards for staff of the United Nations Secretariat
  • ST/AI/1999/2 of 13 May 1999 on language proficiency and language incentives
  • ST/IC/2000/86 of 14 November 2000 on multilingualism
  • ST/AI/2021/1 of 12 May 2021 on language proficiency and language allowance

United Nations Strategic Framework on Multilingualism

• Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish

Other resources

• Charter of the United Nations
• Rules of procedure of the General Assembly
• Provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council
• Rules of procedure of the Economic and Social Council
• Rules of procedure of the regional commissions
  • ECE
  • ESCWA
  • ECLAC
  • ESCAP
  • ECA
• Minimum standards for multilingualism of United Nations websites
• UNTERM, the United Nations terminology database
• International Annual Meeting on Language Arrangements, Documentation and Publications:
  • Vienna Statement
  • Brussels Statement on multilingualism
• "Multilingualism at the United Nations", Dag Hammarsjkjöld Library, Why It Matters series, #2 (available in the six official languages of the UN).