(By Cristiana Missori) (ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 8 - With 95 million illiterate people, of whom 75 million aged between 15 and 45, the Arab world confirms itself on the first place in the global ranking of the countries whose citizens do not know either to read or write. These are the merciless data presented in Rome this morning during the conference titled "Literacy in the Mediterranean", organised at the Chamber of Deputies as part of the celebrations for the International Literacy Day, called by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. "One out of three citizens is illiterate", Arab League Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ALESCO) director Mongi Bousnia reminded. This is double the world average (16%). Women are the most affected by the phenomenon, actually 46.5% do not know either to read or write. And also most of those who live in the villages and in the most depressed areas of the Arab world have never had a chance to sit at the school desks. The main causes for that phenomenon," Bousnia pointed out, "are surely the excessive birth rate", as the close correlation between exponential demographic growth and the rise of illiteracy rate (71%) shows in the five most populated states which are part of the 28 countries part of ALESCO. It is not only the demographic boom but also the abject poverty which afflicts these people, as well as the disinterest of the Arab governments which have ignored the literacy issue too long. "In the past thirty years we made many efforts to reduce the rate of the people without education, but the road to go is still very long," Bousnia said. In relative terms, the data speak of a constant drop. In 1970 the rate of illiterate adults in the Arab states was 75%, in 1990 it was 48.7%, in 2000 it was 39.9%, while in 2007 the average of illiterate people in this area of the world is around 30%. "Nevertheless, in absolute terms, the number of illiterate Arab citizens is growing at a skyrocketing speed," Bousnia said. From 50 million illiterate in 1970, there were 60 million in 1990s, to the current 95.5 million out of the 335 million citizens of those states. There have been many common efforts - also of the economic type . taken since the 1960s by the Arab governments, but the road is yet to be climbed. "Eradicate illiteracy is a way to increase security in the Mediterranean area," the ALESCO director said. Here, he believes, the role of the woman is fundamental for fighting against the mentality of hatred and violence which lies on the basis of terrorism. However, investment in literacy programmes is needed. "Tunisian President Ben Ali has launched an appeal to the rich oil-producing countries so that their governments allocate one dollar per each barrel of crude in projects to fight illiteracy in the Arab states," Bousnia said. Not only the institutions, but also the Arab civil society, with its non-governmental associations and organisations, can give its contribution. It is thanks to the NGOs that the poor people in Egypt come close to education, Raafat Abdel Baki, delegate of the Egyptian Education Ministry, explained during the day of study organised by the National Union to Fight Illiteracy, by the Observatory of the Mediterranean and the University of Castel Sant´Angelo. With 17 million illiterates, Egypt is the Arab state with the highest number of illiterate people. (ANSAmed).