Recalling its resolution 42/104 of 7 December 1987, by which it proclaimed 1990 as International Literacy Year,

Recalling also that in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights the inalienable right of every individual 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 and should become one of the objectives of the strategy for the fourth United Nations development decade,

Emphasizing that widespread illiteracy, especially in many developing countries, seriously hinders the process of economic and social development and the cultural and spiritual advancement of society,

Convinced that literacy, especially functional literacy and adequate education, represents an indispensable element for development and for the harnessing of science, technology and human resources for economic and social progress,

Confident that International Literacy Year will offer a unique opportunity for mobilizing efforts at the national, regional and international levels to combat illiteracy,

Welcoming the programme for International Literacy Year prepared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

Recognizing that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has assumed the role of lead organization for International Literacy Year,

1.Notes with satisfaction the commendable work done by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its Director-General to ensure adequate preparation for International Literacy Year;

2.Commends those Governments which have established national committees or similar structures for International Literacy Year and which have launched national programmes aimed at meeting the objectives of the Year;

3.Expresses its appreciation to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system for their contribution to the preparation for International Literacy Year;

4.Notes with satisfaction the active involvement of many non-governmental organizations in preparatory activities for International Literacy Year and, in particular, the establishment of the International Task Force on Literacy;

5.Welcomes the convening of the World Conference on Education for All, to be held in Thailand in March 1990 under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Bank;

6.Invites Member States, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to take appropriate measures with a view to achieving the objectives of International Literacy Year;

7.Also invites Governments that have not yet done so to establish a programme of measures for enhancing literacy and functional literacy for the period up to the year 2000 along the lines of the Plan of Action for the Eradication of Illiteracy by the Year 2000 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;

8.Appeals to Governments, economic and financial organizations and institutions, both national and international, to lend financial and material support to local, national and regional initiatives to promote literacy;

9.Requests the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to give wide publicity to the activities and measures to be undertaken during International Literacy Year;

10.Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session, through the Economic and Social Council, a report on the implementation of the programme for International Literacy Year;

11.Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-sixth session an item entitled "International Literacy Year".

82nd plenary meeting
15 December 1989