A/RES/54/122 Page 2 Convinced that literacy, especially functional literacy, and quality education represent a lifelong necessity for all and serve as an investment in human and social capital and a major tool for the empowerment of people, Recalling its resolution 53/153 of 9 December 1998, entitled “United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education, 1995–2004, and public information activities in the field of human rights”, Confident that the International Literacy Year and the World Conference on Education for All, held at Jomtien, Thailand, in 1990, resulted in increased awareness and support for literacy efforts and became a turning point in the struggle for a literate world, Underlining the importance of sustaining and further promoting the progress achieved since the International Literacy Year and the Jomtien Conference, Welcoming the Amman Affirmation, adopted at the mid-decade meeting of the International Consultative Forum on Education for All, held at Amman from 16 to 19 June 1996,4 the report of the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization5 and the Hamburg Declaration on Adult Learning, adopted at the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education, held at Hamburg, Germany, from 14 to 18 July 1997,6 Recognizing that, despite the significant progress in basic education, especially the increase in primary school enrolment coupled with a growing emphasis on the quality of education, major problems, both emerging and continuing, still persist which require even more forceful and concerted action at the national and international levels so as to achieve the goal of education for all, Urging Member States, in close partnership with international organizations, as well as nongovernmental organizations, to promote the right to education for all and to create conditions for all for learning throughout life, 1. Takes note of the interim report of the Secretary-General and of the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, entitled “Progress towards the goal of education for all: the year 2000 Assessment”;7 2. Reaffirms that basic education for all is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy; 4 A/52/183–E/1997/74, annex. 5 Learning: The Treasure Within (Paris, UNESCO, 1996). See United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, document ED/MD/101, part III. 6 7 A/54/128–E/1999/70. /...