Literacy and Sustainable Societies
The theme of International Literacy
Day 2015 is Literacy and Sustainable Societies. Literacy is a key driver for
sustainable development. Literacy skills are the prerequisite for the learning
of a broader set of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, required for
creating sustainable societies. At the same time, progress in areas of
sustainable development, such as health and agriculture, serves as an enabling
factor in the promotion of literacy and literate environments.
New technologies, including mobile telephones, also offer fresh opportunities for literacy for all. We must invest more, and I appeal to all Members States and all our partners to redouble our efforts – political and financial – to ensure that literacy is fully recognized as one of the most powerful accelerators of sustainable development. The future starts with the alphabet. #UNESCO Director-General
This year’s celebration of
International Literacy Day, therefore, will be dedicated to exploring critical
links and synergy between literacy and the future Sustainable Development Goals
which will be adopted during the 70th session of the United Nations General
Assembly in September 2015.
As in previous years, International
Literacy Day 2015 will be celebrated worldwide, bringing together governments,
multi-and bi-lateral organizations, NGOs, the private sectors, communities,
teachers, learners and experts.
A main global celebration will take
place at UNESCO Headquarters, where a two-day event on Literacy and Sustainable
Societies (8-9 September 2015) will be organized to prepare the ground for
renewed literacy efforts by countries and partners in the post-2015 era. On 8
September, 2015 a ceremony will be held to award the 2015 UNESCO International
Literacy Prizes
