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UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture awarded to poet Dunya Mikhail and actress Helen Al-Janabi

Dunya Mikhail an AmericanIraqi poet and Helen AlJanabi a Swedish actress of SyrianIraqi origin will be awarded the 18th UNESCOSharjah Prize for Arab Culture based on the recommendations of an international jury of experts

Transforming Education: an Imperative for the Future We Want

24 January 2022 Celebrating the power of education to uplift individuals and transform societies the global community honored teachers and champions for education Amidst the 3rd year of the global pandemic the fourth International Day of Education marked an increased focus on continuing learning and sent out a message of hope Coorganized by UNESCO and UN Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning under the theme Changing Course Transforming Education the celebration brought together diverse perspectives on the crucial triggers of transformations for a more equitable and inclusive education system In the opening segment moderated by Ms Stefania Giannini UNESCO Assistant DirectorGeneral for Education leaders and education advocates such as UN Secretary General UNESCO Director General President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly Chair of the Global Partnership for Education and the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN championed education as key driver for progress across all SDGs as well as peace and human rights UN leaders called on international communities to unite around education as a public good Mr Antonio Guterres UN Secretary General will convene the Summit on Transforming Education in September 2022 to identify innovative approach for the transformation of the national education systems

January 27, 2022

UNESCO cities mobilize against COVID-19

Over 50000 doctors from public hospitals in Beijing Peoples Repof China offer since January 2020 free consultations related to coronavirus on WeDoctor a private medical care platform An outdoor digital advertisement about social distancing during the COVID19 outbreak in Chicago USA In Rome Italy the international cinema festival Alice nella città launched the Cinema da casa initiative projecting movies on buildings so people could watch from home

January 18, 2022

Improving tsunami readiness around the South China Sea

The South China Sea region and its neighbouring basins including the Sulu and Celebes seas comprise one of the worlds most vulnerable areas to earthquakes and tsunamis owing to seismic activity in the Manila Cotabato and Negros and Sulawesi trenches

January 13, 2022

United Nations alert that education should be a clear priority

On 17 December 2021 United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution entitled Education for sustainable development in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called on member states to strengthen their efforts to prioritize education in the response and recovery from the pandemic Amidst COVID 19 continued crisis the international community agreed that the focus should be put on safely reopen educational institutions for inperson learning based on scientific evidence and in consideration of local contexts Member states also recommitted to prioritize students and educators health ensuring that reopening plans are equityoriented genderresponsive and inclusive mainstreaming education for sustainable development as key in building resilient systems United Nations General Assembly acknowledge the important Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development the outcome statement of the 2021 World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development organized by UNESCO and the Government of Germany as the next milestone in advancing environmental education It also reminded the international community of previously taken agreements under the 2014 World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development the World Education Forum 2015 and the Education 2030 Framework for Action UNESCOs leadership on Sustainable Development Goal 4 and on Education for Sustainable Development has been reiterated in this edition of the resolution as well Expressing concern on the impact of COVID19 on Education which exacerbated preexisting inequities between and within education systems the resolution also reaffirmed the importance of investing in accessible learning platforms and safely reopening schools as soon as possible It further appreciated success stories in the response to the COVID 19 schools closures such as concerted efforts by the Global Education Coalition UNESCO is called upon to continue its mandate role to lead and coordinate the Education 2030 Agenda particularly through the renewed Global Education Cooperation Mechanism a remodelled Sustainable Development Goal 4Education 2030 Highlevel Steering Committee to serve as the global education coordination body in the framework of the 2030 Agenda

December 21, 2021

Education to take center stage at the United Nations in 2022

On 29 November gearing up for major educations milestones in 2022 the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning met to discuss its strategic positioning to take forward the global education advocacy Ambassadors deliberated how to scaleup commitments on education and advance key stakeholders engagement in the year 2022 Chaired by HE Ambassador Kimihiro ISHIKANE Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN the Ambassadorial meeting also featured the participation of UNESCO Assistant DirectorGeneral for Education Ms Stefania GIannini and Dr Fernando Reimers Director of the Global Education Innovation Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education Opening up meeting HE Ambassador Ishikane voiced concerns on the global trends in education and the unprecedented shock caused by the COVID19 pandemic to the education systems worldwide Highlighting the driving force of education for development he commended the Group for being an active champion as it had raised visibility and ascertained the centrality of education for all sustainable development goals at the UN Headquarters Referring to momentum around education he stressed the need for the Group to reimage its role and become a stronger complementary player for mainstreaming SDG4 into the latest most pressing global issues such as peace climate change and digitalization Importantly the 4th edition of the International Day of Education 24 January 2022 is expected to kick off the preparatory process of the Transforming Education Summit as well as the indepth review of SDG4 by the High Level Political Forum thus paving the way for increased political will to ensure every child and young person goes to school and learns

December 1, 2021

UNESCO Windhoek +30 Declaration recognized in the UN Resolution on “Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity”

November 23, 2021

Hate speech and the Safety of women journalists

November 9, 2021

Hate-speech and the Safety of Women Journalists

October 26, 2021

International community rallies behind technological transformations for quality, equitable and inclusive education

New York 29 September 2021 At the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and UNESCO organized a virtual event titled Education and Technological Transformations for Humancentered Recovery Heeding the call of the United Nations General Assembly to leverage the potential of technological transformations for quality equitable and inclusive education the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations teamed up with UNESCO to organize a highlevel dialogue at the sidelines of 76th session of the UNGA Bringing together key stakeholders the event highlighted the unprecedented technological changes in education both as means to mitigate the negative impact of COVID 19 and as a trend to be reckoned with It also explored opportunities to unlock the potential of the Global Education Coalition to recover and further promote SDG4 through innovative technological solutions Chairing the meeting Ms Stefania Giannini Assistant DirectorGeneral for Education of UNESCO recalled the focus on reopening schools safely and brought the attention to the nearly 120 million learners who are still affected by school closures in 60 countries In this context she urged the international community to ensure access to distance and hybrid learning for all including by providing devices and training teachers She underscored the urgency to make education systems more adaptive and resilient to future shocks with an aim to make technology work for inclusion equity and quality in education Recalling the digital revolution happening during COVID19 pandemic she informed that UNESCO and partners are working to launch a Declaration on connectivity and education Recalling the importance of connectivity teachers and gender equality she emphasized the need to equip all students with digital skills as to also address exacerbated gender divides in access to technology She further highlighted that teachers as the most critical influence on learning must be supported with professional development to be able to use technologies effectively

September 30, 2021

Resilience and Inclusion: the Culture of Peace in Post-Covid Recovery

On 7th September 2021 the General Assembly held a Highlevel Forum on the Culture of Peace under the theme Transformative Role of The Culture of Peace Promoting Resilience and Inclusion in PostCovid Recovery Since 1997 the Culture of Peace remains one of the crucial items for the General Assembly and it became more relevant than ever with its scope expanded over the years Taking place at the time when humankind faces enormous challenges intensified by the ongoing COVID19 pandemic the Forum strived to address the widening inequality and the rising violence highlighting the imperative to implant the values of the Culture of Peace with particular attention to the younger generation The annual highlevel forum on the Culture of Peace also provided the opportunity to the Member States and observers to the General Assembly to renew their commitments to effectively implement the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace to build resilience and promote a fair recovery against the continued ravages of COVID19 In his opening remarks HE Mr Volkan Bozkir President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly pointed out how humanity was brought together by the pandemic He stressed the need to build on this shared sense of grief and anxiety and work together to not only tackle COVID19 but all other challenges that stand in our path When brought up the crisis in Afghanistan Mr Bozkir said that the international community will have to draw on its shared sense of humanity of empathy of compassion to go the extra mile and provide necessary humanitarian support Peace is much much more than the absence of conflict Peace is a conscious effort by each of us each moment to talk to listen and to engage It is a sustained effort to understand and overcome differences he added The opening segment also featured the remarks delivered by Ms Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti Chef de Cabinet of the UN SecretaryGeneral who highlighted the foundational role of Culture of Peace for building a better fairer more sustainable future for allthe future in which human rights are realized for every person She called attention not only to the devastating consequences of climate change and the threatening effects of the pandemic on health and economics but also to the rising conflicts and genderbased violence She also stressed the need for universal access to quality education and skills so that every child can look to the future with hope not fear Mr Eliot Minchenberg Director ai of the UNESCO Liaison Office in New York underlined that the very notion of Culture of Peace was born in UNESCO in 1992 and reaffirmed that the Organization together with its partners stands ready to build peace and overcome the challenges of today In addition to touching on the increases in hate crimes triggered by intolerance and misinformation and the effect of the COVID19 pandemic on economics he mentioned the impact of the climate change as both a cause and effect of conflict Mr Minchenberg also pointed out that education has been gravely affected particularly among girls and young women and stressed that economic and political arrangements are not enough to build peace and prosperity and that it must therefore be constructed upon the solidarity of humankind nurture by behaviors encouraged by education rooted in cultures Culture of peace is no longer limited to peace among people and nations but it includes also living in peace with nature making peace with the planet and all the living beings We must work together United to create fairer more inclusive and more sustainable societies We must harness the power of diversity as a source of creativity and innovation and equip individuals and communities with the skills they need to understand and cooperate with each other he concluded Also participating in the opening session was HE DR AK Abdul Momen Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh who among others suggested that the principles of Culture of Peace be mainstreamed in all pandemic recovery efforts and its concept is kept at the core to ensure timely implementation of Agenda 2030 HE Mr Miguel Ángel Moratinos High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilization stressed the importance of considering peace as a continued process and not a onetime feelgood action and highlighted that Goal 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies is more imperative now than ever before Click here to watch the recordings of the event

September 8, 2021

UNESCO calls for sharing of global science

September 3, 2021

Resilience and Creativity: Youth’s Contributions to the Post Pandemic

On 15th July 2021 the World Youth Skills Day was once again celebrated within the context of the COVID19 pandemic still heavily affecting the lives and particularly training and employment perspectives of young people around the globe The World Youth Skills Day 2021 Reimagining Youth Skills Post Pandemic a virtual event coorganized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the United Nations together with UNESCO ILO and the Office of the SecretaryGenerals Envoy on Youth celebrated the creativity and resilience of young generations This global observance gave youth the rightful recognition and visibility as the change makers of the future Youth representatives and key stakeholders discussed the pandemics impact on youth skills development and employment called upon governments to invest more in education and training and showcased initiatives undertaken to support young people in their endeavors and build resilience and integrity In his welcoming remarks HE Mr Volkan Bozkir President of the United Nations General Assembly recalled that 18 billion young people struggled to find work and employment and stressed out the importance of providing them with the necessary tools in order to reach their full potential and bring our societies forward He added that by investing in youth skills we are opening new gates for inclusive transformative pathways for a sustainable and resilient future Ms Jayathma Wickramanayake SecretaryGenerals Envoy on Youth delivered a message on behalf of the UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres She pointed out that young people were already facing disproportionate levels of unemployment and underemployment before the pandemic More than one out of five youth were not in employment education or training the majority of them being young women To recover better we must address the longstanding disparities and challenges faced by young people That means ramping up skills development and education with a particular focus on climate action sustainable development gender equality and inclusivity It is crucial to boost investments in Technical Vocational Education and Training broadband connectivity and digital skills I urge everyone to make the most of this framework and together build an inclusive fair and sustainable development for all she concluded At the first Interactive panel Skills for today and the future HE Mr Peter Mohan Maithri Pieris Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN presented his governments measures to ensure continuity in young peoples education and skills development As the Sri Lankan provided students with interest free loans to purchase laptops approximately 90 of them had participated in online learning courses during the pandemic despite a lack of experience and training the government has also established regional learning centers for children without internet facilities and supported teachers to ensure the continuity of learning Young people are the agents of change in our nations and their inclusion in peace security and economic and social development is key to fight against climate change achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and recover from the COVID19 pandemic he added Enriching the discussion from the labors perspective Ms Martha E Newton Deputy DirectorGeneral for Policy at ILO underlined the importance of the collaborative efforts notably between workers employers and different institutional bodies She also recalled that in 2020 ILO has endorsed a new 10year action plan aiming at strengthening policy responses and scale up impact to address the current situationas well as ensure a better future of work for young people through a transformative humancentred approach We really are counting on you We need your energy and we need your creativity I grew up with a model be the change you want to see Ms Newton said The second interactive panel of the World Youth Skills Day focused on the role of partnerships in scaling up youth skills development and in ensuring the continuity of learning During his presentation HE Mr Francisco Duarte Lopes Permanent Representative of Portugal to the United Nations pointed out that unemployment and underemployment have adverse and longlasting consequences for individuals especially for young people He highlighted two initiatives implemented by the government of Portugal to foster youth skills postpandemic the Youth plus digital to align professional training with the real needs of the labour market and Youth impulse initiative to tackle youth unemployment through hiring incentives for small and mediumsized companies internships and financial support to encourage entrepreneurship Portugal is strongly committed to implement programmes aiming at improving digital competencies and employability for young people and we stand ready to continue cooperating learning and exchanging experiences with other countries and stakeholders he concluded Mr Borhene Chakroun Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems at UNESCO underscored UNESCOs important work in assisting governments to build resilient education and training systems Mr Chakroun warned that the TVET sector has been heavily affected by learning losses because of insufficient public allocations and to the fact that TVET delivery through distance learning is further complicated due to its focus on handsontraining In order to encourage more significant investment in TVET it is important to embrace the cooperation and partnership with the variety of private sector as UNESCO did with both big companies like Microsoft IBM and Huawei and also with smaller organizations We observe great interest and expectations related to TVET training of youth but unfortunately the investment is insufficient This proves that at the institutional level governments were not prepared to properly address the remote learning believes Mr Chakroun He added that UNESCO is continuously engaged to support policy actions tackling inequalities and promoting equal opportunities in education skills and employability starting by the most vulnerable groups including women and girls Through its Global Skills Academy GSA the Organization is aiming at equipping 1 million youth with employability skills One of its recent initiatives to endorse entrepreneurship amongst young women is well reflected through the online mentorship programme WomenDior providing female students from 15 countries with technical and vocational education skills and helping them to become the new generation of leaders Representing Dior Ms Emmanuelle Favre Senior Vice President for Human Resources highlighted five core values the young women are acquiring during the programme including selfcare awareness autonomy and creativity Watch the recordings of the event here