UNESCO established International Literacy Day in 1967 ‘to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.’

The theme for 2024 is Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace. UNESCO explains that ‘adopting a first language-based, multilingual approach to literacy and education’ can ‘help promote mutual understanding and respect while solidifying communal identities and collective history.