The Nitobe Symposia bring together non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations, academic researchers, government officials and politicians to enable discussion from diverse perspectives and the exchange of ideas on language policy and linguistic justice. The Symposia take their name from the Japanese scholar and diplomat Inazô Nitobe, who served as Under-Secretary-General of the League of Nations from 1920 to 1926.

The Nitobe Symposia aim at the discussion of language policy issues that are becoming increasingly important in recent years, including international migration, the processes of cultural and linguistic homogenisation linked to globalisation, and the digital revolution, which disadvantage minority languages and language rights.