UNESCO and ICANN Partner to Enhance Linguistic Diversity Online
In a groundbreaking collaboration, UNESCO and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) have announced a new initiative aimed at enhancing linguistic diversity on the internet. This strategic partnership is designed to make the online world more inclusive and accessible for a broader range of languages, thereby fostering a digital environment that better represents the global population.
The goal of the agreement is to support the safe use of different scripts and languages in the Domain Name System (DNS), which is crucial for web addresses and email functionality—key elements for accessing and communicating online. By working together, UNESCO and ICANN aim to promote the universal acceptance (UA) of all domain names and email addresses, regardless of character length, language, or script. This initiative is particularly timely as the digital landscape continues to evolve, offering unprecedented opportunities for communication and engagement.
Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, highlighted the importance of this partnership, noting that in our increasingly digital world, it’s essential to enable better access to the internet for individuals across various demographics. "Currently, only about 400 languages are fully accessible online, which represents just a fraction of the approximately 7,000 spoken languages worldwide. This agreement to enhance linguistic diversity is a significant step toward achieving an accessible internet for all," she remarked.
Kurtis Lindqvist, President and CEO of ICANN, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: "We look forward to working with UNESCO to bridge digital divides and connect communities. Supporting domain names in local scripts and languages, and their universal acceptance, is vital for enabling a diverse and multilingual online experience. This collaboration with UNESCO reaffirms our mission of creating a united internet for everyone."
Connecting Future Generations
As of now, over 5.4 billion people actively use the internet, yet an estimated 2.6 billion are still waiting to connect. Many of these potential users communicate primarily in their native languages and scripts. Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), which allow for the use of various languages and scripts, will ensure that everyone can harness the full social and economic potential of the internet.
IDNs empower internet users to choose domain names and email addresses in the language and script that best suit their cultural needs and preferences. However, achieving universal acceptance is critical to ensuring that these names function seamlessly across the internet. Unfortunately, many software applications rely on outdated validation rules that fail to accommodate domain names in local languages. It’s imperative for organizations and stakeholders to take proactive measures to ensure that their systems are ready for universal acceptance, allowing all users to benefit from this enhanced diversity.
About UNESCO
UNESCO, with 194 member states, is the United Nations organization that contributes to peace and security by fostering international cooperation in fields such as education, science, culture, communication, and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO operates in 54 countries and employs over 2,300 individuals. It oversees more than 2,000 World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks, alongside networks of Creative Cities and Learning Cities.
About ICANN
The mission of ICANN is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global internet. To interact with another person online, one must enter a unique address (name or number) into their computer or device. ICANN plays a vital role in coordinating and supporting these unique identifiers worldwide. Established in 1998, ICANN is a non-profit public benefit corporation with community participants from around the globe.
For more information, please visit UNESCO and ICANN.
Together, UNESCO and ICANN are paving the way for a more inclusive and linguistically diverse internet that benefits all users worldwide.
The goal of the agreement is to support the safe use of different scripts and languages in the Domain Name System (DNS), which is crucial for web addresses and email functionality—key elements for accessing and communicating online. By working together, UNESCO and ICANN aim to promote the universal acceptance (UA) of all domain names and email addresses, regardless of character length, language, or script. This initiative is particularly timely as the digital landscape continues to evolve, offering unprecedented opportunities for communication and engagement.
Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, highlighted the importance of this partnership, noting that in our increasingly digital world, it’s essential to enable better access to the internet for individuals across various demographics. "Currently, only about 400 languages are fully accessible online, which represents just a fraction of the approximately 7,000 spoken languages worldwide. This agreement to enhance linguistic diversity is a significant step toward achieving an accessible internet for all," she remarked.
Kurtis Lindqvist, President and CEO of ICANN, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: "We look forward to working with UNESCO to bridge digital divides and connect communities. Supporting domain names in local scripts and languages, and their universal acceptance, is vital for enabling a diverse and multilingual online experience. This collaboration with UNESCO reaffirms our mission of creating a united internet for everyone."
Connecting Future Generations
As of now, over 5.4 billion people actively use the internet, yet an estimated 2.6 billion are still waiting to connect. Many of these potential users communicate primarily in their native languages and scripts. Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), which allow for the use of various languages and scripts, will ensure that everyone can harness the full social and economic potential of the internet.
IDNs empower internet users to choose domain names and email addresses in the language and script that best suit their cultural needs and preferences. However, achieving universal acceptance is critical to ensuring that these names function seamlessly across the internet. Unfortunately, many software applications rely on outdated validation rules that fail to accommodate domain names in local languages. It’s imperative for organizations and stakeholders to take proactive measures to ensure that their systems are ready for universal acceptance, allowing all users to benefit from this enhanced diversity.
About UNESCO
UNESCO, with 194 member states, is the United Nations organization that contributes to peace and security by fostering international cooperation in fields such as education, science, culture, communication, and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO operates in 54 countries and employs over 2,300 individuals. It oversees more than 2,000 World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks, alongside networks of Creative Cities and Learning Cities.
About ICANN
The mission of ICANN is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global internet. To interact with another person online, one must enter a unique address (name or number) into their computer or device. ICANN plays a vital role in coordinating and supporting these unique identifiers worldwide. Established in 1998, ICANN is a non-profit public benefit corporation with community participants from around the globe.
For more information, please visit UNESCO and ICANN.
Together, UNESCO and ICANN are paving the way for a more inclusive and linguistically diverse internet that benefits all users worldwide.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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