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Strengthening the partnership between UNESCO and the European Union for a sustainable future: Highlights from the European Union Day at the Partners Forum
The Partners Forum takes place to leverage the collective wisdom and expertise of key stakeholders, showcase results and strengthen partnerships. Today, the European Union Day celebrates the strategic partnership between UNESCO and the European Union which takes the shape of a wide range of cooperation through projects, policy dialogues and events undertaken across the world.
The European Union Day provided an engaging platform to showcase the impact of the strategic partnership between UNESCO and the European Union. This partnership is a testament to collaborative efforts across various projects, policy dialogues, and events that extend across the globe. The day was divided into three informative sessions, each shedding light on critical aspects of this partnership.
Fostering a Human Rights-Based Digital Transformation
The first session emphasized the importance of upholding fundamental freedoms and human rights in the digital world, marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. This session highlighted the UNESCO-EU partnership as a catalyst for a human rights-based digital transformation, driven by a multistakeholder approach to tackle the challenges presented by digital technologies. Key areas of focus included promoting ethics in technologies and addressing digital inequalities, combatting online hate speech and disinformation, and the impact of digital technologies on quality education.
The session was introduced by Ms Zazie Schafer, Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning at UNESCO, Ms Christina Kokkinakis, Permanent Delegate of the European Union to UNESCO, and Ms Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences. The panel was composed of Peter Marien, Team leader Digital Governance, Science, Technology, Innovation and Digitalisation (DG INTPA F5), Guilherme Canela De Souza, Chief of Section, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO, and Manos Antoninis, Director, Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report.
Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The afternoon session featured personal stories of three individuals who are involved in UNESCO projects funded by the European Union: Ms Hamida Aman, Director of Radio Begum in Afghanistan, Ms Raissa Inbe, Teacher from Chad, and Rasheed Palacio, filmmaker from Belize.
UNESCO is grateful to the European Union for this longstanding collaboration. Three powerful testimonies will be sharing insights on how this partnership can make a difference in people’s lives.
Through engaging "Tedtalks," they reflected on their journeys, emphasizing how these projects not only improved their lives but also played a crucial role in advancing the SDGs. Their stories were a testimony to the tangible impact of the strategic partnership between UNESCO and the EU.
Empowering Youth to Address Global Challenges
The final session focused on engaging, empowering, and connecting young voices to strengthen the UNESCO-EU partnership. UNESCO's efforts in enhancing youth participation and contributions to sustainable development were showcased, demonstrating the potential of youth-led solutions in addressing global challenges, such as climate action, education through digital technologies, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
In this dialogue, Agnieszka Skuratowicz, Head of Unit, Youth, Education and Culture, Directorate General for International Partnerships (INTPA G3) engaged with young participants from the UNESCO Youth Forum to discuss the challenges facing young people and the solutions they offer, while also highlighting the EU Youth Action Plan's three pillars “Engage, Empower and Connect”.
Overall, the European Union Day underscored the significance of multilateral cooperation in addressing critical issues of our time. The partnership between UNESCO and the European Union exemplifies the power of collaborative efforts in promoting human rights, sustainable development, and youth engagement. As we move forward, the partnership will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world for all.
