World Heritage Committee to inscribe new sites and examine conservation of sites already on the List

The World Heritage Committee will consider the inscription of 32 sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List during its next session, from 16 to 27 June in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Cambodia)

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World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day is a time to celebrate our common treasure, which makes the Earth habitable for people by providing and regulating the climate, weather, oxygen, food and many other environmental, social and economic benefits.

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Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Oceans Day, 8 June 2013

The oceans constitute a single great body of interconnected seas that covers 71% of the earth’s surface. Oceans are the source of life and continue to play a crucial role in the lives of seven billion human beings. Several million people depend directly on the oceans for their food, travel and work. Oceans regulate the climate and provide half of the oxygen that we breathe.

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Bringing the “fair” back into play - World conference of sports ministers to discuss ways of cleaning up sport and making it accessible for all

Fighting corruption and manipulation in sport, increasing public investment, and with it the impact and standards of mega events and the provision of equal access to physical education and sport for all, will be the focus of the International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS V), to be held in Berlin (Germany) from 28 to 30 May.

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Twelve sites added to UNESCO’s World Biosphere Reserve Network

The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), which met in Paris from 27 to 30 May, has added 12 sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The additions bring the total number of biosphere reserves to 621 in 117 countries.

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Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 June 2013

Don’t let our future dry up

We estimate between 100 to 200 million people live in arid and semi-arid areas with limited freshwater resources. By 2025, two-thirds of them will experience serious water stress – facing pressure from population growth, agricultural production, as well as rising salinity and pollution. The impact of climate change will increase water scarcity, increasing also the frequency of hydrological extremes.

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Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June 2013

The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year, while 870 million people remain under-nourished. Such waste is unacceptable at a time when millions go hungry. With a rising impact on our environment, we must develop more sustainable methods of food production. We need to think about what we eat in order to save our planet.

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Putting a stop to homophobic bullying: a year of action

“My grades fell dramatically. I started skipping school. I often stayed in bed and cried.” This testimony is typical of the experience of many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students around the world. These young people are often denied their right to education because of discrimination and violence based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

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The Hangzhou Declaration: Heralding the next era of human development

Calling for a new approach toward sustainable development, the "Hangzhou Declaration" advocates for placing culture at the heart of public policy. The Declaration urges governments, civil society and the private sector to harness the power of culture in addressing the world’s most pressing developmental challenges, such as environmental sustainability, poverty, and social inclusion.

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Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity, 22 May 2013

We have not finished exploring the beauty of our planet’s biological diversity, nor have we fully gauged its role in humanity’s well-being and survival – yet we have begun to destroy it. This day of action is an opportunity to step up our mobilization to preserve biological diversity and to ensure that its benefits are shared by all.

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Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, 21 May 2013

Less than one thousand days from the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals, we must do everything to accelerate progress. Culture and cultural diversity are not part of the internationally-recognized development goals – but they are key accelerators for meeting them.

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Call for nominations for the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science

Jointly funded by the Kalinga Foundation Trust, the Orissa Government of India and the Indian Government, the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization is an international distinction to reward the efforts of a person who has had a distinguished career as writer, editor, lecturer, radio/television programme director or film producer, which has enabled him/her to help to interpret science, research and technology to the public.

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The presentation of a publication entitled “Applied Art of Uzbekistan: Traditions and Innovations”

The presentation of a publication entitled “Applied Art of Uzbekistan: Traditions and Innovations” will be organized by the UNESCO Office in Tashkent on 21 May 2013.

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