The International Nonviolence Organization (Free Muslim), affiliated with the Global Foundation of the Supreme Religious Authority Ayatollah Shirazi, may Allah prolong his life, issued a message marking International Literacy Day.

The message reads as follows:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

On the occasion of International Literacy Day, the International Nonviolence Organization (Free Muslim) addresses the governments of the world, international organizations, and civil society with an urgent humanitarian and human rights appeal. It stresses that the spread of illiteracy in all its forms, including educational and digital illiteracy, is a fundamental obstacle to sustainable development and a major factor contributing to poverty, ignorance, and extremism.

First: Combating Illiteracy, A Path to Human Dignity and Peace.

The organization emphasizes that the right to education is a fundamental human right guaranteed by all international charters. It is impossible to speak of the rule of law or the establishment of a culture of nonviolence in a society where large numbers of people are deprived of even the most basic means of reading and writing.

Eradicating illiteracy is the first step toward liberating minds and empowering individuals to participate actively and consciously in decisions concerning their lives, future, and destiny.

Second: Contemporary Challenges and Digital Illiteracy.

The organization notes that the concept of illiteracy is no longer limited to its traditional meaning. In light of the rapid expansion of knowledge and the scientific and technological developments taking place around the world, it also encompasses digital and technical illiteracy.

Accordingly, the organization calls for greater efforts and increased resources to establish advanced educational infrastructure that ensures every child, young person, and adult has access to knowledge, particularly in disadvantaged areas, developing countries, and regions affected by war and conflict.

Third: Strategic Recommendations and Proposals.

Supporting education budgets: Allocate an adequate share of government budgets to education and combating illiteracy, with particular attention to the education of girls and women, who account for the largest share of the world's illiterate population.

Launching volunteer initiatives: Encourage civil society organizations and cultural figures to implement national and local campaigns for adult education and to help integrate adults into the development process.

Linking education with the values of peace: Incorporate concepts such as tolerance, nonviolence, and intercultural dialogue into basic educational curricula and literacy programs, with the aim of protecting future generations from extremist and destructive ideologies.

In conclusion, the International Nonviolence Organization (Free Muslim) reaffirms its commitment to defending every person's right to knowledge and education. It calls on everyone to unite their efforts to create a world free from illiteracy and ignorance, so that societies may be built on awareness, reject violence, and choose peace.