Every year, International Literacy Day (ILD) is celebrated on September 8 around the world to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. The main aim of the international event is to promote literacy as a fundamental human right and educate the masses that literacy is crucial for eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and achieving sustainable development goals across the world. Every year, UNESCO chooses a specific theme for International Literacy Day to focus on different aspects of literacy and education, which addresses the challenges and issues related to literacy around the world. International Literacy Day Quotes: Thoughtful Messages And Saying to Raise Awareness on Importance of Education.

The International Literacy Day 2023 theme is ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’. Scroll down to learn more about International Literacy Day 2023 date, history, and significance of the global event. September 2023 Holidays Calendar With Festivals and Events: Get Full List of Important Dates of Month.

International Literacy Day History

International Literacy Day was established by UNESCO on October 26, 1966, at the 14th session of UNESCO's General Conference. The day was celebrated for the first time in 1967.  Since then, International Literacy Day celebrations have taken place around the world to remind people of the importance of literacy and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate society.

International Literacy Day Theme

The International Literacy Day 2023 theme is ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.

International Literacy Day Significance

International Literacy Day serves as a platform to educate the masses about the importance of education as a matter of dignity and human rights. According to UNESCO, despite steady progress made across the world, literacy challenges persist, with at least 763 million young people and adults lacking basic literacy skills in 2020. Moreover, several factors like conflicts, climate change, and the recent COVID-19 crisis have been exacerbating the challenges. Let’s pledge to spread the word so people can make informed choices and improve their quality of life.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2023 11:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).