Article 10
Official text
Spanish is the official language of Colombia. The languages and dialects of ethnic groups are also official in their territories. The education provided in communities with their own linguistic traditions shall be bilingual.
Legal commentary
Interpretation
This article recognizes Spanish as official while also granting official status to indigenous languages in their territories. Colombia has approximately 65 living indigenous languages and two creole languages. Unlike monolingual constitutional traditions (e.g., France's Art. 2), this reflects the plurilingual approach found in countries like Switzerland, Bolivia, and Peru. The right to bilingual education implements UNESCO standards on linguistic rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Consulted sources
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