United Nations Radio

One in six adults that's over 790 million people, the majority of whom are women, can still not read or write, according to the head of the UN's Cultural and Education agency, Irina Bokova.

Speaking at an event in New York on Wednesday to mark International Literacy Day, Ms. Bokova says this reflects one of the most persistent injustices of modern times.

In a number of countries, she points out, less than 50 per cent of women are literate therefore it is impossible to break the cycle of extreme poverty and marginalization.

"Literacy, especially for women, improves livelihoods, leads to better child and maternal health, lessens the risk of contracting HIV and AIDS and favours girls' access to education. It delays the age of marriage, reduces fertility rates and opens up opportunities on the job market."

Ms Bokova lamented the fact that literacy remains a neglected goal with many countries spending no more than one per cent of their education budgets to teach adults to read and write.

As part of the International Literacy Day celebrations, UNESCO in Paris launched a new Knowledge and Innovations Network for Literacy.

The network will enable researchers and practitioners all over the world to link online and share information on best practices.

Jocelyne Sambira, UN Radio
Duration: 1'27"