Statement from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

I warmly congratulate Mrs. Laura Bush for her initiative to host this international literacy symposium in

White House photo by Susan Sterner

her capacity as Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade. The symposium will draw together the conclusions of the six regional literacy conferences organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) during 2007 and 2008, with a view to assessing the main outcomes and identifying the next steps. The first White House Conference on Global Literacy, which Mrs. Bush convened in New York in September 2006, was a resounding success and gave a major boost to international efforts to provide literacy to all. I am confident that this second meeting will provide fresh impetus to this important campaign.

Through our coordination of the UN Literacy Decade (2003-2012), and through our country-level Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), which targets the 35 countries facing the greatest literacy needs, UNESCO is working closely with member states to raise awareness of the global literacy challenge and galvanize action to address it. The UNESCO regional conferences — held in Qatar, China, Mali, India, Azerbaijan and Mexico — have helped to advance this work, identifying good practices, mobilizing new partnerships, and supporting country-led operations. This symposium will also mark the beginning of a new phase in our efforts. Here, the real hard work must begin among all stakeholders to deliver on the recommendations made.

This year represents both the mid-term of the UN Literacy Decade (UNLD) and the halfway point towards the 2015 target date for achieving Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While much progress has been made since the launch of the UNLD, considerable challenges remain. More than 770 million adults in the world — one in five — cannot read or write. Of these, two-thirds are women. In addition, around 72 million children do not attend primary school and have little chance of acquiring basic literacy skills. This is utterly unacceptable in this day and age.

Over the coming five years, UNESCO will bolster its awareness-raising efforts directed towards national governments and the international community, calling upon countries to strengthen their literacy policies and strategies, especially by drawing upon researchbased evidence and good practices, and advocating for increased funding towards this area.

Let this symposium be the starting point for a renewed drive to meet the basic learning needs of children and adults around the world.

Koïchiro Matsuura
UNESCO Director-General