Search | UNESCO

New resources to counter COVID-19 conspiracy theories through critical thinking and empathy

August 13, 2020

ECLAC and UNESCO publish a document analyzing the challenges for education engendered by the pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean

August 24, 2020

As a new academic year begins, UNESCO warns that only one third of students will return to school

August 31, 2020

UNESCO warns that the funding gap to reach SDG4 in poorer countries risks increasing to US$ 200 billion annually due to COVID-19 if we do not take urgent action

© Tom MerilionSave The Children

September 4, 2020

While the COVID crisis increases inequalities, UNESCO recalls that reading is the basis of development

© Centro Universitario de Participación Social

September 7, 2020

Major progress in UNESCO’s development of a global normative instrument on the ethics of AI

When UNESCOs Member States decided to launch the process of developing a global recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence AI in November 2019 the United nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres congratulated the Organization for taking up this challenge declaring that artificial intelligence is a critical frontier issue for the whole UN system and the whole world

September 17, 2020

UNESCO showcases education responses to Covid-19 Crisis at UN General Assembly

September 23, 2020

1.37 billion students now home as COVID-19 school closures expand, ministers scale up multimedia approaches to ensure learning continuity

Paris 24 March As school closures impact nearly 80 of the worlds student population UNESCO on Monday convened an online meeting of an ad hoc group of education ministers who shared information about scaledup measures deployed in their countries to support teachers parents and students in coping with home learning They also pointed to emerging challenges that require global cooperation

UNESCO rallies international organizations, civil society and private sector partners in a broad Coalition to ensure #LearningNeverStops

At a time of when 87 of the worlds student population is affected by COVID19 school closures UNESCO is launching a global education coalition to support countries in scaling up their best distance learning practices and reaching children and youth who are most at risk

UNESCO mobilizes 122 countries to promote open science and reinforced cooperation in the face of COVID-19

UNESCO on 30 March hosted an online meeting of representatives of ministries in charge of science all over the world Participants included 77 ministers including governmental secretaries representing a total of 122 countries as well as Mariya Gabriel European Commissioner for Innovation Research Culture Education and Youth Sarah Anyang Agbor African Union Commissioner for Human Resources Science and Technology Moisés Omar Halleslevens Acevedo former Vice President of Nicaragua and Dr Soumya Swaminathan the World Health Organizations Chief Scientist The objective of the meeting was to exchange views on the role of international cooperation in science and increased investment in the context of COVID19 The key issue of open science for which UNESCO has been working on an International Recommendation since November 2019 was a major topic of discussion UNESCO DirectorGeneral Audrey Azoulay called on governments to reinforce scientific cooperation and integrate open science in their research programmes to prevent and mitigate global crises The COVID19 pandemic raises our awareness of the importance of science both in research and international cooperation The present crisis also demonstrates the urgency of stepping up information sharing through open science The time has come for us to commit all together the DirectorGeneral declared According to Ms Swaminathan Chief Scientist at WHO collaboration is really critical for knowledge and data sharing as well as in advancing COVID19 research At a time when trade and transport barriers are impeding the movement of critical materials it is important to underline that science be allowed to lead the global response to this pandemic Ms Anyang Agbor of the African Union stressed that Africa needs a stronger research enterprise that mobilizes academia and the public and private sectors The African Union at the end of 2019 acknowledged Open Science as a gamechanger in addressing inequalities The international scientific community has been mobilized around the emergency for several weeks notably by sharing and making universally available the results of research and an unprecedented reform of their working methods major scientific journals have made content regarding the virus accessible to all more than 1000 research articles have been published in open access in response to WHOs appeal international research consortiums were established in a matter of days allowing for rapid progress including the sequencing of the viruss DNA over just a few weeks We all depend on science to survive concluded Marcos Pontes Minister of Science Technology Innovation and Communication from Brazil Regarding open science the agenda of the meeting featured The pooling of knowledge measures to support scientific research and the reduction of the knowledge gap among countries The mobilization of decisionmakers researchers innovators publishers and civil society to allow free access to scientific data research findings educational resources and research facilities The Reinforcement of links between science and policy decisions to meet societal needs The opening of science to society while borders are closed Media Contact Clare OHagan cohaganunescoorg 33 01456 81729 Global Consultation on Open Science Towards a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science For more information on the Open Science Roadmap For the list of participating countries UNESCO Global Education Coalition

UNESCO experts urge collective responsibility to protect vulnerable persons in global battle against COVID-19

UNESCOs International Bioethics Committee IBC and World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology COMEST have issued a joint statement to guide policy makers and inform the public about essential ethical considerations that need to be addressed during the global fight against the COVID19 pandemic

UNESCO supports culture and heritage during COVID-19 shutdown

UNESCO is launching initiatives to support cultural industries and cultural heritage as billions of people around the world turn to culture for comfort and to overcome social isolation during the COVID19 sanitary crisis which is hitting the culture sector hard The global nature of the COVID19 crisis is a call for the international community to reinvest in international cooperation and intergovernmental dialogue said Audrey Azoulay DirectorGeneral of UNESCO UNESCO is committed to leading a global discussion on how best to support artists and cultural institutions during the COVID19 pandemic and beyond and ensure everyone can stay in touch with the heritage and culture that connects them to their humanity On Thursday UNESCO launched a global social media campaign ShareOurHeritage to promote access to culture and education around cultural heritage during this time of mass confinement UNESCO is also launching an online exhibition of dozens of heritage properties across the globe with technical support from Google Arts Culture The Organization will furthermore provide uptodate information through an online map on its website and through social media on the impact of and responses to COVID19 on World Heritage sites which are partly or fully closed to visitors in 89 of countries due to the pandemic UNESCO will also share firsthand accounts by World Heritage site managers who are particularly well placed to bear testimony on the impact of COVID19 on the sites they manage and the communities living around them Children around the world will be invited to share drawings of World Heritage properties giving them the chance to express their creativity and their connection to heritage Once the immediate crisis is over the Shareculture and ShareOurHeritage campaigns will be maintained to share reflection on measures to safeguard World Heritage sites and promote sustainable tourism On World Art Day 15 April 2020 UNESCO in partnership with electronic music pioneer UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and CISAC President Jean Michel Jarre will host an online debate and social media campaign the ResiliArt Debate bringing together artists and key industry actors to sound the alarm on the impact of COVID19 on the livelihoods of artists and cultural professionals The debate organised in partnership with CISAC the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers is designed to inform the development of policies and financial mechanisms that can help creators and communities overcome the crisis Creators and creative workers around the world are encouraged to join the ResiliArt Debate on social media and invite fellow artists to showcase the work they produce during confinement On 22 April UNESCO will bring together the worlds Ministers of Culture in an online meeting on COVID19 and its impact on culture Building on the Forum of Ministers of Culture UNESCO hosted on 19 November 2019 the meeting will help Ministers exchange information and views on the impact of the health crisis on the cultural sector in their countries and identify remedial policy measures appropriate to their various national contexts Now more than ever people need culture said Ernesto Ottone R Assistant UNESCO DirectorGeneral for Culture Culture makes us resilient It gives us hope It reminds us that we are not alone That is why UNESCO is doing all it can to support culture to safeguard our heritage and empower artists and creators now and after this crisis has passed The closure of heritage sites museums theatres and cinemas and other cultural institutions is jeopardizing funding for artists and creative industries and for the conservation of extraordinary places and the livelihoods of local communities and cultural professionals COVID19 has put many intangible cultural heritage practices including rituals and ceremonies on hold impacting communities everywhere It has also cost many jobs and across the globe artists most of whom rely on ancillary activities to supplement income from their art are now unable to make ends meet More information on UNESCOs response to COVID19 in the field of culture can be found on the UNESCO website here

UNESCO Futures of Education Commission urges planning ahead against increased inequalities in the aftermath of the Covid-19

The COVID19 health crisis has resulted in school and university closures affecting over 90 of the worlds students Even more drastic disruptions loom on the horizon according to an independent International Commission on the Futures of Education appointed by UNESCO DirectorGeneral Audrey Azoulay in September 2019 Even when schools reopen the emerging economic recession threatens to exacerbate inequalities and could rollback progress made in expanding educational access and improving the quality of learning globally the commission warned during an online meeting on 9 April Chaired by the President of Ethiopia SahleWork Zewde the International Commission for the Futures of education brings together thought leaders from the worlds of politics academia civil society education and business The COVID19 crisis has underscored the importance of the Commissions mandate to reflect on how knowledge and learning need to be rethought in an increasingly uncertain and fragile world During its special meeting dedicated to the COVID19 crisis the Commission issued a Joint Statement on how education needs to be protected and transformed for our shared future and common humanity In her remarks to the Commission UNESCO DirectorGeneral Audrey Azoulay noted that We now see that online distance learning cannot be the sole solution as it tends to exacerbate already existing inequalities that are partly levelled in school settings This will be of interest for this Commission whose task is rethinking the future of education including appropriate articulation between distance and classroom learning President SahleWork said At my age I have seen a multitude of effects caused by various crises But with the current global pandemic I am not sure we have drawn the pivotal lessons from the past required to mitigate the illeffects of the disruptions caused to our lives COVID19 does not discriminate and is redefining our reality We should respond with humility solidarity and empathy According to the Commission as humanity looks for ways to transform the world for the better after the worst health crisis in a century we must rethink social policies including education and address longstanding issues of structural inequality poverty and exclusion An impending global recession is likely to have drastic consequences for the funding of education and other public services as well as for individuals lives and livelihoods During this time global commitments to education must be maintained and resources directed to those who have been hardest hit socially economically and educationally The Commission urges that crisesin global health and educationbe addressed through solidarity empathy and appreciation for our common humanity See Statement by the Futures of Education