Literature and Poetry

UNESCO promotes activities in the field of Literature and Poetry via its international network of field offices, non-governmental organizations and national or regional poetry societies.

The Organization's main partner in matters of literature is the International PEN Federation. The main programmes being implemented with its cooperation are as follows:

• Exchange of information and expertise in the field of literature
• Promotion of literature for improved international cooperation (International PEN Magazine, pdf)
• Protection of writers against censorship
• Improvement of authors' circumstances, particularly those of women
• Protection of linguistic rights and endangered languages

March 21 was proclaimed World Poetry Day at the 30th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris in 1999.

The idea of taking international action for the promotion of poetry has led to recognition of and given fresh impetus to national, regional and worldwide initiatives in favour of poetry. The main aim of this action is to encourage linguistic diversity through poetic expression and to provide endangered languages with an opportunity to be heard in their communities. The principal instrument in this respect is the World Poetry Directory which has been giving information about poetry activities worldwide since 2000. This website also lists festivals, prizes, magazines and associations, and provides links to other major websites presenting poetry activities in UNESCO's Member States, Associate Members and non-Member States.

For the celebration of World Poetry Day 2005, homage was paid to  the Hungarian poet, Attila Joseph,  on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The activities of the International Information Exchange Centre on Literary Translation, and those relating to young people’s literature and reading, help to complete the picture.