International Literacy
The LAC has been a local partner in celebrating International Literacy Day at the UN in September 2002 and in launching United Nations Literacy Decade in February 2003. International Literacy Day is celebrated around the world every year on September 8.
Themes for the UN Literacy Decade
International Literacy Conferences
United Nations Literacy Decade
The United Nations Literacy Decade 2003-2012 was launched on February 13, 2003, at the UN. The LAC was a local partner in launching UN Literacy Decade, mobilizing hundreds of literacy practitioners and students to attend the event.
Under the themes “literacy for all: voice for all, learning for all” and “literacy as freedom,” the UN established this decade to mobilize national and international efforts to educate 860 million illiterate adults and 100 million children who have no access to schooling worldwide.
Themes for the UN Literacy Decade
Over the next ten years the literacy community will have an opportunity to focus on particular themes:
- 2003-2004 Literacy and gender
- 2005-2006 Literacy and poverty
- 2007-2008 Literacy and health
- 2009-2010 Literacy and sustainable development
- 2011-2012 Literacy and peace
International Literacy Conferences
Several important international conferences in recent years have pushed literacy to the top of United Nations agenda:
- Education for All, Jomtien, Thailand 1990
- World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen 1995
- Fifth International Conference on Adult Education, Hamburg, 1997
- World Education Forum, Dakar, 2000