The theme for this year's observance of United Nations Day is taken from the United Nations International Literacy Decade, an initiative that seeks to increase global literacy levels by 50 percent by the year 2015. 

Evidence shows that increasing levels of literacy--particularly literacy among women--is a determining factor in reducing infant mortality rates and in improving child health. As a result, the Literacy Decade, launched in January 2003, will be a vital part of realizing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. 

Today, there are over 860 million illiterate adults worldwide, over 110 million children have no access to education, and countless children and adults who do attend school fall short of the required level of education to be considered literate in today's complex world. 

Education is a fundamental human right. It is the key to sustainable development and peace and stability within and among countries, and thus an indispensable means for effective participation in the societies and economies of the twenty-first century, which are affected by rapid globalization. It is the most effective way of achieving higher economic growth and an improved standard of living.

Literacy programs - and education in general - are critical to breaking the cycle of poverty and discrimination. Today, one in five adults over the age of 15 is illiterate. Two-thirds of them are women. 

Studies have shown that women with some education are more productive than those with none; are more empowered to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS, and to campaign against harmful practices like female genital mutilation; marry later, have fewer children, and feed and look after themselves and their families better. Their survival rate is higher, and their daughters are themselves more likely to go to school.

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"Global Communities: Building a Bridge to Literacy" is the theme of this year's celebration of United Nations Day held on Friday, October 24. Education students from The Franciscan University of the Prairies joined Mayor protem Darrell Smith in marking the 58th anniversary of the founding of the UN and honoring the UN's Literacy Decade, 2003-2012. Jesse Gabel, Clinton, raised the UN flag that will fly all week at the Riverfront Veteran's Memorial. Jill Hesse, Albany, Ill., led the "Prayer for Peace," and Beverly Gruhn, Milledgeville, Ill., led the "Prayer for the United Nations." This is the 14th year that the celebration of UN Day has been sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton. 

WHEREAS, the United Nations was founded in 1945 and the anniversary of its founding is observed each year on October 24, and

WHEREAS, one of the principal mandates of the U.N. - "To achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural or humanitarian problems" - remains valid today, and

WHEREAS, "Global Communities: Building a Bridge to Literacy" is the theme for the 2003 United Nations Day and the United States and her citizens must continue to work with the United Nations in order to provide a coordinated, multilateral effort in both assessing the current problem of global illiteracy and in determining the strategies and mechanisms best suited for achieving the goal of universal primary education, 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAMETTA K. WYNN,

MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CLINTON, IOWA,

do herby proclaim OCTOBER 24, 2003, as

UNITED NATIONS DAY IN CLINTON, IOWA