Every year, the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes reward excellence and innovation in the field of literacy around the world to promote effective and innovative practices and encourage dynamic literate societies. This year's theme focus on promoting literacy for a world in transition and on building the foundation for peaceful and sustainable societies.
Under this theme, UNESCO International Literacy Day will be celebrated at the global, regional, country, and local levels across the world. At the global level, a conference will be organized in person and online on Friday, 8 September 2023, in Paris, France. This global celebration will include the award ceremony of the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes to announce this year's outstanding prizewinning programmes.
The two UNESCO International Literacy Prizes are:
- The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize which was established in 1989 with support from the Republic of Korea, rewards three winners and focuses on literacy development based on mother languages. Each winner is honored with a medal, a diploma, and a monetary award of US$20,000.
- The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy which awards three winners and was established in 2005 with support from the People's Republic of China. This prize recognizes efforts in functional literacy, particularly in rural areas and among out-of-school youth, utilizing technology. Each prizewinner is presented with a medal, a diploma, and a monetary award of US$30,000.
