Abstract:

The United Nations has declared 2022 the start of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. This decade aims to raise awareness of the ongoing global loss of Indigenous languages and to initiate effective action in defense of Indigenous languages.

The plan for the Decade centers two key principles: a human rights approach, and participation by Indigenous people.

However, ongoing attacks on human rights defenders and restrictions on civil society present critical challenges for the Decade, creating a politics of fear that suppresses action in defense of Indigenous languages and undermines the effectiveness of the Decade.

We demonstrate this by examining the situation in China, India, and Indonesia. These are the three most populous and linguistically diverse countries in Asia. In each country, Indigenous languages are suppressed, while human rights defenders and civil society are under attack.

We conclude by making recommendations for the governments of China, India, and Indonesia;
the United Nations; global civil society; and the government and people of Australia. Our recommenda- tions seek to ensure the safe participation of Indigenous language rights defenders in the International Decade of Indigenous Languages.