This document discusses the issue of literacy, especially for women, around the world. It notes that illiteracy is a major problem that affects many people's lives, especially in parts of Africa and Asia, by limiting opportunities and access to information. Some of the key barriers to increasing literacy mentioned are lack of access to education due to costs, gender disparity with more girls unable to attend school, and low quality of education in some areas. The document provides statistics on the number of illiterate people, especially women, in different global regions to illustrate the scope of the problem. It suggests some ways to help address this issue, such as through tutoring, donating books or building schools.