Proclamation of 23 April “World Book and Copyright Day”

Abstract

This document presents UNESCO’s formal proclamation designating 23 April of each year as World Book and Copyright Day, framing it as an international initiative intended to strengthen the place of the book in the dissemination and preservation of knowledge while also reinforcing awareness of copyright protection within the global cultural sphere. The text is grounded in the view that books remain among the most powerful instruments for transmitting knowledge and safeguarding intellectual heritage, and that promoting their circulation and reading contributes to collective cultural awareness as well as to values of understanding, tolerance, and dialogue among peoples.

The proclamation further indicates that the idea of establishing a Book Day was inspired by the experience of several UNESCO member states and by the demonstrated effectiveness of book fairs and related cultural events in encouraging reading and spreading culture. The choice of 23 April also carries symbolic significance because of its association with the 1616 deaths of Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. As such, the document functions as a concise but foundational international text that integrates the cultural value of books with the legal and moral importance of copyright, establishing an annual occasion for the promotion of knowledge, creativity, and cultural diversity.