The World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education (WCECCE) brings together ministers, officials and stakeholders engaged in setting policy around the education and care of children from 0 to 8. IFLA is represented at the conference by chair of the Library Services for Children and Young Adults Section, Marianne Martens.

The conference this year is held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and will look to reaffirm the right of every young child to quality care and education from birth and urge Member States to renew and expand their commitment to and investment in ensuring that access of all girls and boys to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.

As set out by UNESCO on the conference website, early childhood fundamental rights and services are the foundation for achieving positive child development, family well-being, lifelong learning, and sustainable development; therefore, all nations should give their highest priority to providing quality early childhood care and education by 2030.

IFLA will be there, underlining the essential role libraries play in supporting the development and school-readiness of younger children by helping build literacy and reading skills, as well as providing spaces for wider learning and discovery.