Every year on 23rd April World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated worldwide, by UNESCO and other related organisations to promote reading, publishing and copyright. Let us study more about this day through this article.
World Book and Copyright Day is also known as World Book Day. It is observed annually to honour authors, books worldwide, to promote the art of reading etc.
World Book and Copyright Day: History
UNESCO has selected 23rd April as World Book Day to pay tribute to great literary figures including William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega who died on this day. Let us tell you that the connection between 23rd April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain to honour Miguel de Cervantes who died on this day. In 1995, this date was finalised by the UNESCO General Conference, held in Paris, to pay tribute and honour authors and books worldwide.
What is Copyright?
It is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving authors or creators of original work exclusive rights usually for a limited time. Basically, it is the right to copy. It also gives copyright holder the right to be credited for the work and other, related rights. So, it is an intellectual property form.
World Book and Copyright Day 2019: Theme
According to the Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, theme of 2019 sums up in these words: “Books are a form of cultural expression that lives through and as part of a chosen language. Each publication is created in a distinct language and is intended for a language-specific reading audience. A book is thus written, produced, exchanged, used and appreciated in a given linguistic and cultural setting. This year we highlight this important dimension because 2019 marks the International Year of Indigenous Languages, led by UNESCO, to reaffirm the commitment of the international community in supporting indigenous peoples to preserve their cultures, knowledge and rights.”
World Book and Copyright Day: Purpose
On this occasion worldwide tribute is given to books and authors and also to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. This will generate respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress. The UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance is awarded. Also, this day will increase understanding among people regarding copyright laws and other measures to protect intellectual copyright.
No doubt this day become a platform for people across the world and especially the stakeholders of the book industry including authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions, humanitarian NGOs and the mass media to come together to promote literacy and help everyone to have access to educational resources.
World Book and Copyright Day 2019: Celebrations
This day celebrations focuses on literature and reading particularly emphasise on the importance of enhancing and protecting Indigenous languages. UNESCO has been effectively committed towards indigenous people since the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (link is external) in September 2007 and continues to work towards a better recognition of their rights. UNESCO also supports local communities to promote and preserve their knowledge and language. Knowledge is never waste, and it is said that book brings people together around a story and a common heritage while revealing their specificities through different cultures, identities and languages.
In the headquarter of the UNESCO an exhibition is hosted "Les Livres a Deux places" from 23 April to 14 May. 2019. Sixteen sculptures of book-benches will be scattered throughout UNESCO, offering a unique reading experience, combining literature, plastic arts, and street art.
The collaboration between the association Lire et Faire Lire (link is external) and Les Livres à deux places (link is external), aims at promoting reading and fighting against illiteracy in a creative and innovative way. This day also highlight the central place of the book in everyone's intellectual and socio-cultural development.
Do you know that 23 April 2019 also marks the beginning of Sharjah's mandate as UNESCO's World Book Capital, chosen because of the highly innovative and inclusive nature of its candidacy? With the slogan “Read – you are in Sharjah”, the programme focuses on six themes namely, inclusivity, reading, heritage, outreach, publishing and children. Even the city of the United Arab Emirates is committed to promote books and reading to implement a range of activities for a period of one year. The main focus is to foster a culture of reading in the United Arab Emirates, conference was held on freedom of speech, a contest for young poets, workshops for creating Braille books and tactile books etc. and several other events were organised for Sharjah's multi-ethnic population.
Every year posters are designed and circulated around the world to promote books, reading, understanding etc. In the poster images are designed in a way to encourage people, particularly children, to read books and appreciate literature. In fact logo is also mentioned for World Book and Copyright Day. It has a circle which represents the world and two books out of which one is open.
So, World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on 23rd April to encourage people about books, reading, to understand copyright laws and measures to protect intellectual copyright.
Source: Unesco.org
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