New York (IINA) – On September 8, the world will celebrate the 50th International Literacy Day, amid calls to continue the battle against illiteracy – one of the biggest scourge of global sustainable development.
In his message for the occasion on Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on governments and their partners, including in the private sector, to join forces for universal literacy and build peaceful, just, inclusive and sustainable societies – a vision set out in the new global development agenda.
The UN chief stressed that eliminating illiteracy is inevitable, in order to achieve the ambitious and transformational 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, describing the 2030 Agenda as "an action plan for people, planet, partnership and peace."
“Literacy stands at heart of the 2030 Agenda,” he said. “It is a foundation for human rights, gender equality, and sustainable societies. It is essential to all our efforts to end extreme poverty and promote well-being for all people. That is why the Sustainable Development Goals aim for universal access to quality education and learning opportunities throughout people's lives.”
In his message, the secretary general flagged that today, with the world becoming increasingly digitized and information rich, new opportunities and challenges are emerging, with more than 750 million adults illiterate, two-thirds of whom are female and including 115 million young people. Some 250 million children of primary school age lack basic literacy skills and 124 million children and adolescents receive no schooling at all.
This year marks the 50th anniversary since the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed 8 September as International Literacy Day in 1966 in order to actively mobilize the international community and to promote literacy as an instrument to empower individuals, communities and societies.
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