By
observing this Day throughout the world UNESCO draws the continuing
attention of the international community "to the culture of
writing and the importance of creativity ...."
23
April is a symbolic date for world literature for on this
date in 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de
la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of
other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness,
Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
It
was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held
in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and
authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular
young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain
a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those
who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.
In this respect, UNESCO created both the World Book and Copyright
Day and the UNESCO Prize for Children's and Young People's
Literature in the Service of Tolerance.
LINKS
World
Book & Copyright Day
UN's
Dag Hammarskjold Library Links
International
Reading Association
UN
Days & Years Meditation Initiative