To:       United Nations Secretary-General

UN Headquarters
First Avenue at 46th Street
New York, NY 10017

From:   The Undersigned

            Illiteracy is a global problem that prevents human beings in many nations from applying their full potential to their daily lives. In places like Asia and Africa today, illiteracy handicaps over half the population. We, the undersigned, believe illiteracy is a 100% curable disease. We urge the United Nations to declare illiteracy a disease so it can be diagnosed and treated like other diseases. This is important because illiteracy is the root cause of poverty and hunger. Unless the global community combats illiteracy, we will never end poverty and hunger.

            If illiteracy is declared a disease, its eradication will be viewed with the same urgency as malaria, cholera, polio, and HIV. By reducing the illiteracy rate 1% each year in Asia, Africa, and some countries in South America, an average literacy rate of 90% can be achieved worldwide by the year 2050. The United Nations successfully eradicated smallpox with help from the global community. The opportunity to eradicate another disease is available and possible. We can eradicate the disease of illiteracy from the world by 2050 if the global community, under UN leadership, makes it a priority.

            The inability to read and write deeply impacts the lives of millions of people, especially in Asia, Africa, and a few countries in South America. Men and women of all cultures are hurt by the lack of skills they need to improve their lives and communities. With the support of the United Nations, we want to change the world view of illiteracy. Illiteracy is not just a problem of reading and writing. It is a disease that must be cured for world peace and prosperity.

Sincerely,