Unesco conference to devise initiatives to cut Arab illiteracy rates

Doha: Qatar will host the first Unesco Regional Conference in Support of Global Literacy here from March 12 to 14.

The event under the theme 'Literacy in the Arab States: Building Partnerships and Promoting Innovative Approaches' will seek ways to reduce illiteracy in the Arab states, where approximately 58 million adults are illiterate. Of that figure 66 per cent are women.

Present to address the conference will be Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of Unesco, Mousa Bin Ja'afar Bin Hassan, President of Unesco General Conference and Permanent Delegate of the Sultanate of Oman to Unesco, and Amr Mousa, President of the Arab League.

Mrs. Laura Bush, Honorary Ambassador for the United Nations Literacy Decade and a passionate promoter for literacy in the United States, will make a video address.

In a press statement, Shaika Mouza said, "Literacy oxygenates families, schools, civil society, and all types of institutions and businesses. This is why when we speak of genuine reform in our region and the path to peace, we must keep literacy at the very core of this agenda."

Sources:
Gulfnews.com
Whitehouse.gov

Supporting links:
The Conference - for more information and downloads
UNESCO Regional Conferences
United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD), 2003 - 2012
UNESCO Literacy Portal