UNESCO Presents Book on Preserving the Taushiro Language in Peru
Joint Initiative Revitalises Indigenous Language and Cultural Identity in the Peruvian Amazon
August 07th, 2026
UNESCO Peru, the Ministry of Culture and the AJE Group have presented Awawantea'ke Taushiro Yaku: The Book of Those Who Speak Taushiro during the 2026 Lima International Book Fair, marking an important step in efforts to safeguard one of Peru's most endangered Indigenous languages.
The publication documents the language, culture and history of the Taushiro people, whose language today has only one fluent speaker, Amadeo García. Produced jointly by UNESCO Peru and Peru's Ministry of Culture with the support of the AJE Group, the book records the Taushiro alphabet, vocabulary, pronunciation and everyday expressions alongside the community's worldview and traditions. The work reflects more than four decades of collaboration between García and language specialists, whose efforts have ensured that this critically endangered language has been systematically documented for future generations.
The launch also featured a panel discussion bringing together government representatives, researchers and private-sector partners to examine the importance of revitalising Indigenous languages. Participants highlighted that preserving languages also safeguards traditional knowledge, cultural practices and collective memory while strengthening community identity. The discussion emphasised the value of partnerships between governments, academia, international organisations and businesses in supporting community-led initiatives that encourage the transmission of Indigenous languages across generations.
The publication draws attention to the wider global challenge of language loss. According to UNESCO's World Atlas of Languages, nearly 2,500 of the approximately 7,000 languages spoken worldwide are at risk of disappearing. Against this backdrop, the Taushiro initiative demonstrates how coordinated action can strengthen the preservation of endangered languages while encouraging dialogue between institutions, researchers and local communities.
Implemented under UNESCO's Global Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, the project has promoted the revitalisation of the Taushiro, Ikitu and Kukama Kukamiria languages in communities across Peru's Loreto region. These efforts reinforce the role of cultural cooperation in protecting the world's linguistic diversity while ensuring that Indigenous knowledge remains part of humanity's shared cultural heritage.
