On World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO declares its commitment to harnessing information technology to support literacy

Ms. Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, in a letter addressed to the international community on the occasion of the World Book and Copyright Day, which falls on April 23th, 2015, called to celebrate books as the embodiment of the creative spirit and the desire to exchange ideas and knowledge, and to facilitate understanding, dialogue, and tolerance. She said that this day is an opportunity to recognize the power of books to improve our lives, and support the books and those who produce them, as they are tools for learning and reading and global symbols of social progress.
They have also become targets for those who denigrate culture and education and reject dialogue and tolerance ... and our duty is to intensify efforts to promote the book, the pen, and the computer, along with all forms of reading and writing, in order to combat illiteracy and poverty, build sustainable communities, and strengthen the foundations of peace. The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the national branch in the UAE of the International Board on Books for Young People, which has received the honor for sponsoring the message and poster of International Children's Book Day 2015, has revealed the poster of International Children's Book Day 2015, whose slogan is “Many Cultures ... One Story”, during its participation in the general meeting of the International Board on Books for Young People, which was held earlier this month on the sidelines of the Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy, attended by representatives of 77 branches around the world.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of UAEBBY, confirmed that the Board’s sponsoring of the International Children's Book Day 2015 stems from its belief in the right of the child to have access to the book, and the role of reading in the convergence of views between the different cultures through the similar stories read by the children in various countries around the world. The meanings behind the slogan of the 2015 event were explained for the children of the world in English and Arabic, which were stemmed from the UAE's keenness to promote understanding and dialogue between the different cultures, and to instill the love of reading in the hearts of young people since their early years. The Board called on all institutions in the UAE to celebrate the occasion through the use of the slogan, as this event will be sponsored until April 2016.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research exerts numerous efforts in an attempt to strengthen the culture of reading and not to dispense with the book, so it took the responsibility of distributing thousand copies of the book "Those Who Inspire: UAE" to the university students in the various Emirates, as the book deals with entrenching the values of excellence and giving in the UAE community, and the experiences of 60 creative Emiratis in various administrative, economic, artistic, sports, humanitarian, and other fields, written in Arabic and English. Such experiences show the success stories of a group of achievers, leaders, intellectuals, doctors, artists, teachers, scientists, athletes, business leaders, and philanthropists, who love their work and take the initiative to contribute to returning the favor to the community and State. It is noteworthy that the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions celebrates its10th anniversary this year. UNESCO is seeking to promote reading among young people and marginalized groups, and is working in collaboration with International Publishers Association, the International Booksellers’ Federation, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions to support careers in publishing, bookshops, libraries, and schools. UNESCO also leads the fight against illiteracy, to be included as a crucial ingredient of the Sustainable Development Goals to follow 2015. Literacy is the door to knowledge, essential to individual self-esteem and empowerment. Books, in all forms, play an essential role here.
All forms of books play a key role in this regard, and UNESCO is committed to harnessing information and communication technologies, especially the mobile technology, to support literacy and reach the unreached with quality learning. It worth mentioning that the city of Incheon, Republic of Korea, has been designated World Book Capital 2015, in recognition of its program to promote reading among young people and underprivileged groups.

4/23/2015

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On World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO declares its commitment to harnessing information technology to support literacy