Literacy empowers and nurtures inclusive societies and contributes to the fair implementation of human rights. In the case of mothers, literacy leads to an enhanced quality of life for their families and improved education outcomes for their children. Nevertheless literacy remains a low priority for national governments and the donor community. Worldwide, 781 million adults are illiterate (as of April 2006) and about 100 million children are out of school.

Literacy is an indispensable means for effective social and economic participation, contributing to human development and poverty reduction.

The Literacy Section aims to provide a platform for information-sharing on literacy projects and activities undertaken in Bangladesh by UNESCO Dhaka to enhance capacity in coordinating the United Nation Literacy Decade (UNLD) in building partnership at all level.