Our alphabet is made up of twenty-one letters; by combining these conventional symbols, inert in themselves, some people have managed to produce philosophical works that have influenced entire eras, while others simply use them to write a shopping list.

Whatever use one makes of it, one thing is certain: literacy is fundamental. It encompasses far more than the simple process of learning to read and write — it is, in fact, "a contribution to the liberation of the human being and to their full development," as stated in the Persepolis Declaration, adopted by Unesco in 1975.

To celebrate this important learning process, 8 September marks World Literacy Day (International Literacy Day) , established by Unesco. Although it may seem incredible, more than 700 million adults around the world are illiterate, according to data gathered by Unesco; two in three are women and the majority live in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Functional illiteracy also exists

The problem of illiteracy also affects the most developed countries. In Italy, for example, according to a survey by the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, "functional illiterates" abound. This expression refers to those who do not have the skills needed to understand, evaluate and use written texts, and are therefore unable to be productive members of modern society.

Functional illiterates rely almost exclusively on their own direct experience and are unable to construct analyses that also take into account indirect, long-term or geographically distant consequences. This particular type of illiteracy affects nearly three in ten Italians — the highest figure in Europe.

"The situation is exacerbated by the advent of new technologies, which make the ability to read and write even more essential," commented Unesco Director-General Irina Bokova.

The theme of the 2017 edition

The theme of the 2017 edition is "Literacy in a Digital World," and it highlights the importance of literacy in today's society. The day aims to underscore how literacy and the skills derived from it are indispensable for living, engaging and competing positively in an increasingly digital society — and above all for being able to take advantage of all the opportunities that a connected world offers to the youngest, but also to adults.

Literacy Day will be celebrated around the world with numerous initiatives; the main event will take place at Unesco headquarters on 8 and 9 September, and will focus on the literacy efforts undertaken by countries for the near future.