International Literacy Prizes: nominations close June 30th 2009

On the theme Literacy and Empowerment, the 2009 UNESCO International Literacy Prizes will reward well-established and innovative practices documenting how literacy skills (basic skills in reading, writing and numeracy) contribute to empowerment, enabling people to better direct and control their lives.

UNESCO invites Governments and International Non-Governmental Organizations maintaining formal consultative relations with the Organization to solicit and submit applications by programmes that promote literacy as a means for nurturing inclusive societies.

Despite some remarkable results, the literacy challenge remains global: an estimated 776 million adults, approximately two-thirds of whom are women, lack the basic literacy skills needed to participate fully in society. Furthermore, 75 million children are out of school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. If current trends continue, there will be over 700 million adults unable to read or write in 2015.

In 2009, UNESCO will award the following International Literacy Prizes:
• the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize; and
• the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy.

The King Sejong Prize gives special consideration to the development and use of mother tongues in developing countries, while the Confucius Prize aims at rewarding outstanding activities in the field of literacy for rural adults and out-of-school young people, particularly women and girls.

The Prizes are awarded at an international ceremony organized by UNESCO on International Literacy Day (8 September).

For further information visit the Literacy Prizes web page .

• 20-06-2009