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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.

UNESCO mission and mandate

Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

It's about life! 50 years reconnecting people and nature

Latest News

Director-General calls for investigation into killing of journalist Antonio de la Cruz in Mexico

July 4, 2022

Culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

July 1, 2022

Education: UNESCO calls for "global mobilization”

June 30, 2022

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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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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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

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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.

738

Biosphere reserves

in 134 countries.

3.9 billion

people live in cities

discover the Creative Cities Network.

169

UNESCO Global Geoparks

in 44 countries.

12,000

ASPnet member schools

in 182 countries

850

higher education and research institutions

in 117 countries as part of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs network

220+

UNEVOC Centres

situated in more than 140 UNESCO Member States worldwide

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