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Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay,
Director-General of UNESCO,
for World Book and Copyright Day
23 April 2022
Books have long embodied the human capacity to conjure up worlds, both real and
imagined, giving voice to the diversity of human experience. They help us share ideas,
obtain information and inspire admiration for different cultures, enabling far-reaching
forms of dialogue between people across space and time.
The potential of books to advance individual fulfilment and create social change is
undeniable. In the words of renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: “To
choose to write is to reject silence.”
This is why UNESCO is resolutely committed to promoting access to books and reading
– for example, through our World Book Capital programme. In 2022, the Mexican city of
Guadalajara is taking up the mantle of World Book Capital, with a year-long programme
that focuses on the role of books and reading in triggering social change, combating
violence and building a culture of peace.
Despite the importance of books in sustaining social wellbeing, the publishing industry
is currently facing major upheavals – most notably the digital transformation. These
challenges became all too clear during COVID-19, when falling revenues amplified the
vulnerability of authors and book sellers, like other creative professionals across the
value chain. Cultural diversity was also threatened as the number of titles published
ineluctably diminished.
In uncertain times, we must cherish and defend books as symbols of hope and dialogue.
This means standing in solidarity with the professionals who disseminate our literary
heritage – writers, editors, publishers and translators. As they build bridges across
continents and cultures, these professionals must be protected, and their value
acknowledged.
UNESCO is firmly committed to this goal. At a time when digital technology is changing
the face of the publishing industry, we advocate for the fair remuneration of authors and
the protection of cultural diversity. We support the work of publishers through
undertakings such as partnerships with the International Authors Forum, the
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the International
Publishers Association.
On World Book and Copyright Day, I call upon all of UNESCO’s partners to share the
message that books are a force to address contemporary challenges, to understand
political and economic realities, and to combat inequalities and misinformation.
Storytelling is an incredibly effective tool when it comes to educating younger
generations.
Indeed, books are vital vehicles to access, transmit and promote education, science,
culture and information worldwide. For this reason, every year, on 23 April – a date that
marks the departure of three great authors of universal literature, Miguel de Cervantes,
William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega – we celebrate their captivating
power to spark innovation, generate knowledge and change minds.