Honorary UNESCO ambassador Laura Bush pushes women’s literacy to improve lives worldwide

Laura Bush promotes women’s literacy

UNITED NATIONS — Former First Lady Laura Bush says that teaching more women around the world to read and write can dramatically improve their lives and those of their children.

Bush, a UNESCO honorary ambassador, focused Tuesday on the importance of educating women in developing nations during an International Literacy Day event at U.N. headquarters.

The former librarian says that literate, educated women are more engaged members of society and can take better care of their children’s education and health.

About one in five adults today is illiterate, and about two-thirds of those are women.