10 In order to work effectively, WHO needs to exchange information and communicate in different languages. Language should not be a barrier to fulfilling its mandate. A multilingual WHO is better equipped to communicate health messages, to produce and disseminate health information, and to generate, share and use knowledge about health in an equitable manner (see resolution WHA61.12 and documents EB121/6 and EB121/6 Corr.1).
20 The official languages of WHO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish, as well as German (in the Regional Office for Europe) and Portuguese (in the Regional Offices for Africa and the Americas). WHO departments are encouraged to publish publications in the various official languages, as feasible and appropriate. The languages in which publications should be published will depend on the target audience.
