International Literacy Day

The International Literacy (English World Literacy Day, Literacy Day also ) is celebrated every year on September 8. The day commemorates the problem of illiteracy. Worldwide, approximately 860 million adults can not read and write properly, two thirds of them are women. In Germany, 7.5 million people are illiterate in Austria up to 600,000 people.

The International Literacy Day was launched by UNESCO following the World Conference on the elimination of illiteracy in September 1965 in Tehran into life and first celebrated on September 8, 1966.

In addition to numerous events that draw attention to the social and economic consequences of illiteracy worldwide, three educational prizes will be awarded by the UNESCO International Literacy Day:

• The UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize has been awarded since 1979 to institutions, organizations and individuals who have stood up for the fight against illiteracy.
• The 1989 Government of South Korea 's King Sejong Literacy Prize donated UNESCO is awarded to institutions and organizations that are committed to promoting the development of the native languages ​​prescribed in the developing countries.
• Since 2005, in addition to the donated by the People's Republic of China UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy is awarded the distinguished programs to promote literacy among women and young people, especially in rural regions.

In addition to the annual International Literacy Day, the UN Literacy Decade was proclaimed in 2003.