(September 22, 2008) 262 of authors, playwrights and screenwriters from 49 countries have signed up to a joint letter demanding United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, and world leaders take action to ensure all children have the opportunity to attend school.

The letter, initiated by Save the Children, targets world leaders who will meet on September 25^th 2008 in New York to discuss how to accelerate action towards achieving the Millennium

Development Goals. The Millennium Development Goal on education - that by 2015 every child is receiving primary education - will be missed unless urgent action is taken by those with responsibility, power and political will.

"781 million people are illiterate worldwide. Those 781 million people cannot understand a voting form, or the label on a medicine bottle. They cannot read a

newspaper. They are denied the dignity the ability to read and write brings to people's lives," states the joint letter.

72 million children are missing out on an education, and the opportunity to become literate. Over half of these children, 37 million, live in countries affected by conflict. War in these countries has destroyed schools, forced teachers to flee, and caused education systems to collapse.

 "As writers, we know the power of words. We believe it is unacceptable for anyone not to have the opportunity to become literate. As a global community we must ensure that all children are guaranteed the opportunity to attend school," declared writers such as Philip Pullman.

"It is a rare occasion that the world's writers come together with such a passionate call to action," said Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Secretary General of the International Save the Children Alliance. "With hundreds of writers taking a stand to demand education for all children, it demonstrates the global urgency and importance of this issue."

Save the Children has been inviting writers to speak out on behalf of children as part of its Rewrite the Future campaign which aims to change the lives of the many children missing out on education simply because they are born in countries affected by armed conflict. Save the Children has taken direct action to improve the quality of education for 5.7 million children affected by

conflict, and has brought the issue of education in situations of emergency and conflict onto the international agenda, calling on the international community to take action.

The writers' support is reminiscent of 1919 when Eglantyne Jebb, the founder of Save the Children, persuaded writers such as George Bernard Shaw, Thomas Hardy and Sigmund Freud to speak out for the injustices suffered by children.

Notes

• For media queries at the Millennium Development Goals Call to Action in New York on 25 September, contact Sue Rooks sue.rooks@save-children-alliance.org +1 212-370-2462
• Save the Children is the world's leading independent children's rights organisation, with members in 27 countries and operational programmes in 120. Save the Children fights for children's rights and delivers lasting improvements to children's lives worldwide. Find out more at www.savethechildren.net