Language: A bridge to refugee integration and inclusion

On 21 February, the world marks International Mother Language Day – a day to celebrate linguistic diversity and promote the importance of mother tongues. Language is more than a means of communication; it is a bridge to community, connection, and opportunity.

Local integration is a key priority for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Central Asia, where communities generously host around 22,000 forcibly displaced people. Many refugees have been in the region for years, or even decades, speaking local languages and establishing strong family and community ties. Language plays a fundamental role in integration, allowing refugees and asylum-seekers to engage in daily interactions, access services, and form meaningful relationships, as well as contribute to the sustainable development of their host countries.

UNHCR works with governments and partners across Central Asia – including Red Crescent Society and Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan; the American University of Central Asia in the Kyrgyz Republic; and Refugees, Children and Vulnerable Citizens (RCVC) in Tajikistan – to provide free language courses for refugees, strengthening their self-reliance, and fostering social cohesion and local integration.

To support language diversity and enhance accurate communication on refugee and statelessness issues in the region, on International Mother Language Day 2025 UNHCR has published UNHCR Central Asia Key Terms guide in Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek, English, and Russian languages.