General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

7 December 1987

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                           A/RES/42/104
                                                           93rd plenary meeting
                                                           7 December 1987
                       International Literacy Year
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolution 41/118 of 4 December 1986,
 
      Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/80 of 8 July 1987,
 in which the Council recommended that the General Assembly proclaim 1990 as
 International Literacy Year,
 
      Recalling that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the
 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights the inalienable
 right of everyone to education is recognized,
 
      Mindful of the fact that the eradication of illiteracy is one of the
 paramount objectives of the International Development Strategy for the Third
 United Nations Development Decade,
 
      Recognizing that the elimination of illiteracy constitutes a prerequisite
 for ensuring the right to education,
 
      Emphasizing that widespread illiteracy, especially in many developing
 countries, seriously hinders the process of economic and social development
 and cultural and spiritual advancement,
 
      Emphasizing further that this situation is utterly incompatible with what
 is required by the great advances in the scientific and technical revolution
 that mankind is witnessing,
 
      Convinced that the process of education can make an indispensable
 contribution to the achievement of social progress, mutual understanding and
 co-operation among nations,
 
      Mindful of the fact that the eradication of illiteracy calls for
 world-wide co-operation and joint efforts,
 
      Considering that the complete elimination of illiteracy in all regions of
 the world should be recognized as a priority objective of the international
 community,
 
      Convinced that the elaboration of a global strategy for the eradication
 of illiteracy and the organization of a world-wide literacy campaign will
 promote deeper understanding by people throughout the world of the various
 aspects of the problem of illiteracy and help to intensify efforts to spread
 literacy and education,
 
      Taking note with appreciation of the programme for International Literacy
 Year submitted by the Director-General of the United Nations Educational,
 Scientific and Cultural Organization,
 
      Taking into account the guidelines for international years and
 anniversaries adopted by the General Assembly in its decision 35/424 of
 5 December 1980,
 
      1.   Proclaims 1990 as International Literacy Year;
 
      2.   Invites all States to ensure adequate nation-wide preparation for
 International Literacy Year;
 
      3.   Recommends that the specialized agencies, regional commissions and
 other organizations of the United Nations system consider in their respective
 forums the contributions that they could make to the success of International
 Literacy Year;
 
      4.   Invites interested intergovernmental and non-governmental
 organizations to exert efforts in their respective fields to contribute
 adequately to the preparation and implementation of national and international
 programmes for International Literacy Year;
 
      5.   Invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
 Organization to assume the role of lead organization for International
 Literacy Year;
 
      6.   Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fourth
 session an item entitled "Preparation and organization of International
 Literacy Year".