This critical review of the fourth CONFINTEA in Paris was to analyze the importance of literacy as ‘the right to learn’ and to find the implication for the lifelong education. Through critical review of the relevant literatures to achieve the purpose, the final report of the fourth CONFINTEA was analyzed for the literacy as ‘the right to learn’. The results of the review were as followings: first, literacy was the right to learn freely. The freedom of learning meant to be free to participate learning activities, to have opportunities, and to choose learning contents as Delor(1996) claimed ‘learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to be.’ Second, literacy was the right to access to learning resources in remote areas through correspondence courses, radio and other low-cost methods. Especially women’s illiteracy was stressed as fundamental learning right for pre-requisite individual and social development. Third, literacy was the right to develop for lifelong of individual. From birth, people start to learn till their death consistently within the context of natural and social environment to develop their coping ability. From these results, literacy is the fundamental right to learn though whole life of people, and the key for their survival and lifelong education. Without literacy, it is hard to make formal and non-formal education for social, political, economical, and cultural development. Literacy is essential for the right to learn to be and a basic key to keep peace with international understanding.