Italian
The National Coordination of Teachers of Human Rights, on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, established by UNESCO with Resolution 3.18 of the 28th General Conference, intends to celebrate the immense value of reading as a tool for empowerment, inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and defense of the fundamental rights of the human person.
ROME. April 23rd is not just a symbolic date commemorating the passing of writers such as Cervantes and Shakespeare: it is a universal call to recognize books as a common good, accessible to all, and copyright as a protection of creativity, identity, and freedom of expression. In a time where information is increasingly fragmented and digital, rediscovering books as spaces for reflection and in-depth study becomes an educational and social challenge.
Reading is an act of resistance against indifference, ignorance, and hatred. Every word written is an open window into the humanity of others. In school classrooms, promoting reading means building aware citizens, capable of critical thinking, empathy, and responsibility. The discipline of Human Rights finds its natural ground in books: every narrative is a piece of the world, every author is a witness of a time, every story is an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of justice, freedom, and dignity.
In 2025, reading among young Italians presents a complex scenario, characterized by challenges related to increasing digitalization but also by positive signs indicating a renewed interest in books.
According to the Kids Observatory of the Italian Publishers Association (AIE), children between 10 and 14 years old spend an average of 1 hour and 43 minutes reading per week, while they spend 10 hours and 28 minutes on their smartphones. This data highlights a significant disparity in the use of free time, with technology often prevailing over traditional reading.
Despite the overall decline, young people aged 15 to 24 show a greater propensity for reading compared to other age groups. In 2024, 74% of 18-24 year-olds and 73% of 15-17 year-olds stated that they had read at least one printed book in the last year, percentages higher than the national average of 66%.
Youthful readers continue to play a leading role in the Italian publishing scene. In 2023, girls under 18 years old accounted for nearly 75% of purchases within their age group, up from 61% in 2021. This positive trend is also reflected in the 18-24 age bracket, where women make up two-thirds of book buyers.
Youth in Italy continue to visit libraries and bookstores, albeit to varying degrees. In 2022, 23.5% of young people aged 6 to 24 have visited at least one library, a figure higher than the national average. Furthermore, the presence of young people in physical bookstores has almost doubled compared to 2021, exceeding 10% in the 18-24 age group.
Significant differences in reading diffusion persist among different Italian geographical areas. In 2024, the Northwest recorded 35.8% of printed book sales, while the South and the Islands stopped at 19.3%. These disparities highlight the need for targeted cultural policies to promote reading in underserved regions.
In 2025 data shows an ambivalent picture: on one hand, reading among young people is threatened by the predominance of digital devices; on the other hand, there are encouraging signs, such as the increase in reading among girls and the frequency of libraries and bookstores.
The Coordination emphasizes the importance of designing school paths that intertwine literature, rights, and active citizenship, enhancing authors who have fought with words for truth and freedom. Think of Anne Frank, Primo Levi, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Rigoberta Menchú: their pages have changed consciences, overcome barriers, ignited hopes.
On this day, we wish to pay tribute to the figure of Pope Francis, who has always recognized in culture and the written word a privileged way to promote human dignity. From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has emphasized education as a key to peace, stating that “education is an act of love, it is giving life.”
His encyclicals – from Laudato si’ to Fratelli tutti – are texts that transcend denominational boundaries and stand as ethical manifestos of our time. In particular, Fratelli tutti represents a powerful appeal to build a culture of encounter, dialogue, and global solidarity. It is a book that should be read in schools, discussed in classrooms, and experienced in civic projects.
Pope Francis teaches us that every word can be a bridge, every page can turn into a universal embrace. His constant reference to social justice, the protection of the most vulnerable, and respect for differences make his teaching an essential reference point for human rights education.
In an era where intellectual property is often violated and digital superficiality risks replacing the depth of reading, it is essential to educate about respect for copyright, not as a constraint, but as recognition of the value of creative work. School should be the place where one learns to cite, attribute, value, and share with awareness.
Therefore, we invite all teachers of Human Rights and related areas to dedicate the day of April 23 to educational initiatives on the theme of books and words: collective readings, author meetings, reflections on encyclical texts, copyright workshops, and shared writing moments.
In a world torn apart by wars, inequalities, and environmental crises, the written word remains one of the last frontiers of freedom. Cultivating, protecting, and spreading it is an educational and civil duty.
