Literacy
Promoting literacy for all as a tool for personal empowerment and social and human development.
Literacy is at the heart of basic Education for All, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.
Since its foundation in 1946, UNESCO has been at the forefront of global literacy efforts and is concerned with keeping literacy high on the agenda regionally, nationally and internationally.
UNESCO leads the United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD) under the banner ‘Literacy is Freedom’. Launched at UN Headquarters in 2003, the Literacy Decade aims to improve literacy levels and empower people everywhere.
In support of this initiative, UNESCO holds an International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) every 12 years. The VI CONFINTEA conference entitled ‘Living and Learning for a Viable Future – The Power of Adult Learning’ (hyperlink) was held in Brazil, 19-22 May 2009.
Read more about UNESCO’s work on literacy by visiting the UNESCO website.
The UK’s Literacy Working Group was formed in 2006 of which the UKNC’s Education Committee is a member. Through this group, the Education Committee pursues its aim of raising awareness of the importance of literacy in contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
International Literacy Day (LINK)
Each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the importance of literacy and adult learning.
Despite many and varied efforts, global literacy has yet to be achieved: 1 in 5 adults lacks minimum literacy skills and 75 million children are out of school; many more attend irregularly or drop out.
International Literacy Day focuses on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development. Literacy and Empowerment is the theme of the 2009-2010 biennium of the United Nations Literacy Decade.
Pages in this section
- Media Literacy
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- Giving people the choice to communicate, create and participate fully in today's world
