Bring out the best in our shared humanity

Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that peace must be built.
UNESCO uses education, science and culture to inform, inspire and engage people everywhere to foster understanding and respect for each other and our planet.

Forest Whitaker, received the Honorary Palme d'Or at the 75th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday night

UNESCO celebrates Forest Whitaker's decade of action as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and as UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation.

On the 10th anniversary of his commitment for peace with UNESCO, the Organization celebrates his action and impact for the service of humanity.

UNESCO

Latest News

Director-General calls for an investigation into death of journalist Francisca Sandoval in Chile

May 18, 2022

UNESCO modernises its digital ecosystem

May 17, 2022

UNESCO highlights African cinema at the 75th Cannes Film Festival

May 16, 2022

War in Ukraine

UNESCO is scaling up the delivery of emergency support to people across Ukraine in its fields of competencies.

daily updates

Revive the Spirit of Mosul

50 years celebrating life

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme was created in 1971 with a vision: promote a sustainable connection between people and nature.
In 2021, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves will unite in its diversity pay a tribute to those who have shaped the programme into this quest for a more harmonious living in each of the world's ecosystems. It's about life!

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UNESCO

Our History

75 years of history in the service of peace!

A history in the service of our common humanity.

With the birth of UNESCO in the aftermath of two world wars, a simple but firm conviction was settled: political and economic agreements between states are not enough to build lasting peace. UNESCO therefore recognises that reconciliation and development require stronger foundations, deeply rooted in social interactions, and built on intellectual and moral solidarity.

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UNESCO

Our Priorities

UNESCO has identified key challenges for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the improvement of the human condition.

Futures of Education

Knowledge and learning for the future of humanity

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Open Science

Closing the Global Knowledge Gaps to Build Back Better

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Ethics of AI

AI plays a role in billions of people's lives

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Revive the Spirit of Mosul

Mosul is one of the oldest cities in the world.

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Li Beirut

Rebuilding heritage, culture and education #ForBeirut

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Covid 19 - Response

Promote global solidarity

Discover UNESCO's endeavours.

Take a look at our networks, stories and human driven-data.

Kid streets of ethiopia world heritage site

Our Networks

Discover our flagship networks and their peace-building endeavors.

1154

World Heritage Sites

of exceptional cultural and natural value.

629

Intangible Heritage Elements

in 139 countries.

727

Biosphere reserves

in 131 countries.

3.9 billion

people live in cities

discover the Creative Cities Network.

169

UNESCO Global Geoparks

in 44 countries.

Our Stories

Find out how UNESCO is making an impact and building resilience in local communities around the world.

Listening to the voices of girls and women

Magdalena Cox Xum is the youngest of a family of four girls and five boys living in San Andrés Xecul in Totonicapán, Guatemala. In this region, only 35% of school-age girls attend primary school and 1% of girls aged 12 to 21 pursue secondary education.

Helping young girls realize their potential and dreams

Marshet Zelalem grew up in a rural village in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. In elementary school, she lacked confidence and felt she could not do as well as the boys in her class.

Lake Chad Initiative Creates Green Jobs for Local Communities

Enabling the inhabitants to live and work serenely on the shores of Lake Chad is the ambitious goal of the BIOPALT (Biosphere and Heritage of Lake Chad) project.

In Albania, rebuilding trust in journalism

According to journalists themselves, trust in the media is low in Albania. The loss of their audience has caused the media to become dependent on the powerful or the rich, who in turn buy "the truth".

Our Data

As the official statistical agency of UNESCO, the UIS produces a wide range of indicators in UNESCO’s fields of action by working with national statistical offices, line ministries and other statistical organizations.

UIS homepage

World Inequality Database on Education

17%

of 19-year-olds

are still in primary school in Haiti due to late enrolment

80%

of children living in rural areas in low-income

countries transition to lower secondary education compared to 91% of those in urban areas

13%

of the poorest

in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school compared to 70% of the richest