International Poetry Day: The exaltation of the word made art

Since 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), at its annual meeting in Paris, established March 21 as World Poetry Day.

The purpose is to help sustain the diversity of languages through the poetic word, to give linguistic manifestations threatened with extinction the possibility of expressing themselves in their respective communities and contexts.

It also seeks to support poetry through different mechanisms and involves a return to the oral tradition of poetic recitals, the promotion of their teaching, the re-establishment of the dialogue between this genre and theater, dance, music, painting and other disciplines, supporting small publishers and creating an attractive image of poetry in the media.

Poets from all countries have left imperishable verses for the defense of human rights, equality between men and women, respect for cultural identities. Today too, poetry carries a breath of freedom and dignity in the face of violence and oppression.

In Venezuela, the National Government has supported poets and those who edit, translate, print or disseminate poetry. They have done so by protecting the diversity of cultural expressions and preserving poetic recitations embedded in the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, as well as many other ways to embellish our country and build peace.

Mazo News Team