A/RES/52/84 Page 2 Convinced that literacy, especially functional literacy and adequate education, represents an indispensable element for the development and harnessing of science, technology and human resources for economic and social progress, Recalling its resolution 49/184 of 23 December 1994, entitled "United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education", and taking note with satisfaction of resolution 1997/7 of 22 August 1997 of the Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities of the Commission on Human Rights on the realization of the right to education, including education in human rights,5 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, 6 the final communiqué of the mid-decade meeting of the International Consultative Forum on Education for All, adopted at Amman in June 1996, which reaffirmed the necessity for and possibility of bringing the benefits of education to all, 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, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization entitled "Progress report on the implementation process of the education for all objectives";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; 3. Acknowledges the efforts of the mid-decade review of progress towards achieving the goals of education for all in identifying both continuing and emerging challenges, and stresses the need to meet those challenges and to accelerate the efforts to meet the basic needs of people of all age groups, particularly girls and women; 4. Appeals to all Governments to step up their efforts to eradicate illiteracy and to direct education towards the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 5. Also appeals to all Governments to redouble their efforts to achieve their own goals of education for all by setting firm targets and timetables, where possible, including gender-specific education targets and 5 See E/CN.4/1998/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/50, chap. II, sect.A. 6 A/52/183, annex. 7 A/52/183. /...