World Book and Copyright Day is a celebration to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, on 23 April, celebrations take place all over the world to recognize the scope of books – a link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures.
23 April is an important date in world literature, it is the date on which several prominent authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. UNESCO chose this date at its General Conference in Paris in 1995 to pay recognition to books and authors around the world, acknowledging the contribution of authors around the world to culture and the importance of books to readers.
The International Authors Forum (IAF) plays an important role in advocating for the rights of authors around the world, including their rights to fair compensation for their work and protection of their copyright. On World Book and Copyright Day, IAF emphasises the importance of preserving authors’ creative works, which serve as the core foundation of the publishing industry and provide readers worldwide with cultural enrichment. Books, in all their forms, give us an opportunity to learn and stay informed. They offer us an insight into otherness while entertaining and enlightening us about the world.
IAF CHAIR, John Degen stated: “ I’ve learned one very important thing in the international networking I do through IAF – while the world’s authors have a diversity of concerns based on domestic traditions, markets, and peculiarities, all authors and all literatures benefit from strong copyright laws, evolving contract terms, and the respect of book readers and users that World Book and Copyright Day represents. Happy WBC Day, and keep writing!
On this World Book and Copyright Day, let us recognise and celebrate the vital contributions of authors to our cultural heritage, and let us work together to ensure that their rights are protected, and their work continues to inspire and enrich us all.