"As we celebrate International Literacy Day, UNESCO would like to invite all actors around the world, in the field of education and beyond, to mobilize for the literacy of young people, adults and women. So that they, too, can have the right to dream and be free." — Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General, on the occasion of International Literacy Day

Since 1967, the celebration of International Literacy Day have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy. This year's International Literacy Day (ILD) will be celebrated under the theme “Literacy for a human-centred recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”.

The COVID-19 crisis has magnified the pre-existing inequalities and disrupted the learning of children, young people and adults. Even though efforts have been made to find alternative ways to ensure the continuity of learning (such as distance learning), access to literacy learning opportunities has not been evenly distributed. The pandemic was a reminder of the importance of literacy. It is not simply part of the right to education, literacy empowers individuals and improves their lives by expanding their capabilities to choose a kind of life they can value. 

Here's how we celebrate International Literacy Day: