International Literacy Day is celebrated on September 8 to promote literacy in the third world. The day was adopted by the United Nations 50 years ago and was first celebrated on October 26, 1966 -- a year after the UN adopted the idea at World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy held in Tehran. In 2015, International Literacy Day was adopted as part of the UN’s sustainable development goals program in 2015.

The annual observance recognises the importance of literacy in the lives of children and adults and encourages people to focus their attention on the literacy issues in their community. The day focuses on skills and competencies required for employment, careers and livelihoods, particularly technical and vocational skills along with transferable and digital skills.

When is International Literacy Day celebrated?

International Literacy Day is celebrated every year on September 8.

What is the Theme of International Literacy Day 2019?

This year International Literacy Day 2019 falls on Sunday and is themed around 'Literacy and Multilingualism’.

Significance of International Literacy Day 2019

The aim of the day is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Celebrations to create awareness about the day take place in several countries. The celebrations are done in line with the specific theme of the year.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its partners promote the day to underline the significance of literacy for healthy societies.  Activities such as literacy day projects, particularly with regard to technology and literature are promoted by various organizations including reading associations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 08, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).