On February 13, 2003, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director-General, designated Mrs. Laura Bush UNESCO Honorary Ambassador for the Decade of Literacy. The United Nations Literacy Decade was launched at the New York Public Library at a ceremony attended by Mr. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General; Her Royal Highness Princess Firyal of Jordan; His Excellency President Bagandi and the First Lady of Mongolia; Mr. Roderick Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education; and UNA-USA President William Luers.
On September 29, 2003, Mrs. Bush led the ceremony raising the United States flag at the 32nd UNESCO General Conference, marking the return of the United States to membership after a nearly two-decade absence. Mrs. Bush addressed the gathered delegates from 190 Member States.
On June 5, 2004, Mrs. Bush met with Director-General Matsuura and UNESCO education specialists to discuss how best to extend literacy throughout the world. The goal of the UN Literacy Decade is for people everywhere to be able to communicate through the written word within their own community, in the wider society, and, beyond.
