World Book Day window on cultures, bridge between civilizations.

• Author: Remmert, Consuelo
• Position: Brief Article

Every year since 1996 UNESCO has celebrated "World Book and Copyright Day" on 23 April to promote reading, writing and the protection of intellectual property. Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died on that day in 1616, rendering it a significant date in literary history.

"As vectors of creation, information and education, [books] allow every culture to print their essential features and to see the identity of others. As windows on the diversity of cultures and bridges between civilizations, beyond time and space, books are a source of dialogue, a means of exchange and a source of development", said UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura.

UN General Assembly President Jan Kavan emphasized the importance of printed books despite the recent availability of digital reading materials. "Books have been precious tools for documenting and transmitting learning and knowledge", he said on World Book Day. "Each recorded piece of information has allowed succeeding generations to add to this repository of knowledge, thus, mankind has progressed to our present level of...