World Book and Copy Right Day 2018: Know its history and why is it celebrated

World Book and Copy Right Day are observed by the United Nations every year on April 23. It is an annual event organised to foster a global appreciation for reading and to promote writing, publishing and familiarity with copyright laws around the world.

This event was first held in 1995 at the behest of the UN’s UNESCO General Conference held that year in Paris. 

The 2018 edition is entitled ‘Reading, it’s my right!’, and it will be an opportunity to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

History of this Day:

This is a symbolic day for world literature as on this day in 1616 that Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. It is also the birth or death day of other notable authors including Manuel Mejia Vallejo, Josep Pla, Vladamir Nabokov, Maurice Druon and Haldor K Laxness.

In order to pay tribute to authors and books, UNESCO's General Conference selected this day.

What is World Book Capital?

Each year, UNESCO and the international organizations representing the three major sectors of the book industry - publishers, booksellers and libraries, select the World Book Capital for a one-year period, effective April 23 each year.