World Book and Copyright Day (23 April): A Statement by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO)

Abstract

This article examines the significance of World Book and Copyright Day as a cultural and intellectual occasion that renews awareness of the book’s role in shaping individuals and preserving the intellectual memory of societies. The text argues that, despite the transformations brought about by audiovisual media and modern communication technologies, the book remains the most durable medium for transmitting knowledge, deepening understanding, and cultivating civilizational awareness. It also highlights the close relationship between reading and cultural development, while drawing attention to the challenges facing the book industry in the Arab world, particularly in publishing and distribution, which calls for stronger institutional support and book-friendly cultural policies.

The article further develops its legal dimension by incorporating a legislative framework governing the protection of intellectual works, copyright, and legal deposit procedures, thereby linking the symbolic celebration of the book with the legal protection of intellectual production. Accordingly, the article offers a combined cultural and regulatory perspective and advocates closer coordination between cultural and legislative institutions in order to safeguard authors’ rights, support the circulation of books, and strengthen reading culture across the Arab sphere.