Today, 23 April, is World Book and Copyright Day. This year’s event coincides with the 80th anniversary of Index Translationum, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is observing the day under the theme “Books, Translation, Reading and Copyright”. In a message to mark the event, the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, recalls as follows:
"Translation is the first step towards the rapprochement of peoples, and is also a decentralizing experience, teaching diversity and dialogue. Translation is one of the driving principles of our creative diversity, which enriches each language through contact with all the others."
By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.
23 April is a symbolic date for world literature, since 23 April 1616 was the date of death of Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. 23 April is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
Further information on the day, the theme and Index Translationum is available at: www.unesco.org
