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The projection is among the findings of The State of the Global Education Crisis: A Path to Recovery, published by the World Bank, the UN Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  $17 trillion. That’s how much this generation of students risks losing in lifetime earnings due to COVID-19 school… Continue reading COVID-19: Students face $17 trillion loss in lifetime earnings

The colourful characters from  DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls movie franchise are encouraging their fans to become food heroes through eating healthier, and reducing food waste.  As part of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the bright-eyed bushy-haired children’s favourites have joined the United Nations, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Foundation, in a global digital campaign that mobilizes action for a healthy diet and sustainable living, and adds these actions… Continue reading DreamWorks Trolls join UN campaign for healthier eating, sustainable living 

All the Member states of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted on Thursday a historic agreement that defines the common values and principles needed to ensure the healthy development of AI. Artificial intelligence is present in everyday life, from booking flights and applying for loans to steering driverless cars. It is also… Continue reading 193 countries adopt first-ever global agreement on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Since the creation of the World Wide Web, we have had access to more information than ever before. However, we are also bombarded with dangerous disinformation. The UN’s Verified campaign has launched an online course to help us decide which is which, and protect vulnerable people from potential harm. It has become increasingly apparent that,… Continue reading Are you sure you want to share that? Sorting online fact from fiction

In her address to the summit, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, commended young activists everywhere for “challenging discrimination, injustice and inequalities… pushing the world forward”. But their campaigning work often came at a cost, Ms. Bachelet cautioned, noting how in many countries, young people “face attacks, intimidation and harassment”. Young activists often… Continue reading Don’t be afraid to be the change, fearless youngsters tell activists summit

Following pandemic-driven school closures, five UN agencies threw their strong support behind an international coalition to improve the nutrition, health and education of school-age children around the world. In a joint declaration on Tuesday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World… Continue reading UN backs plans to ensure regular, healthy school meals for every child in need by 2030

Sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine, and promoting a peaceful settlement to the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, are among the goals of the 2021 UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East, which began on Tuesday.  The two-day event is taking place online and brings together journalists, media experts, think tanks, diplomats and academics from across… Continue reading ‘We cannot lose hope’, UN chief tells media seminar on peace in the Middle East

Now, an astronaut coach and the founding director of the Netherlands-based Inner Space Training, the world’s first and only space training to mentally prepare commercial astronauts for flight, Ms. Howard is empowering girls to reach for the stars in the international space industry and pursue careers in the still male-dominated field.  A mentor with the… Continue reading Feature: Woman mentor empowers girls to reach for the stars in space careers

Imagining a new future for education by 2050, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is asking three questions: What should be continued? What should be abandoned? And what needs to be creatively invented afresh?   In its new global report published on Thursday, entitled Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education, the agency is proposing answers to these three essential… Continue reading New UNESCO education report calls for ‘new social contract’ 

At least 200 million boys and girls, live in 31 countries which do not have the resources to deal with remote learning during any future emergency school closures, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said in a study released on Thursday.  More than half, or 102 million, are students in 14 countries which either fully or partially closed their classrooms for at least… Continue reading Millions missing out on remote learning during emergencies: UNICEF

More than half the population of Latin America and the Caribbean has not been vaccinated against COVID-19, a senior official with the regional arm of UN health agency WHO said on Wednesday.  Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Assistant Director at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), was speaking during the agency’s regular media briefing on the pandemic.  Thanks in… Continue reading Latin America and Caribbean sees COVID-19 progress, but must remain vigilant

The UN Secretary-General warned on Tuesday that “hatred takes root in the soil of ignorance” of historical facts, science, and the human qualities which “bind all people together.”  Antonio Guterres was speaking at the Global Education Ministers Conference on addressing hate speech through education. Remembering the horrors of the Second World War and the genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia and Cambodia, he argued that “denial of historical or scientific facts… Continue reading UN Chief: ‘We need to make lying wrong again’, curb hate speech 

The attack marked the second consecutive week that a Shia mosque in the country has been targeted, following a blast last Friday in the northeastern city of Kunduz, which left more than 100 worshippers dead.  I condemn in the strongest terms the despicable attack on the Imam Baragah mosque in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. The perpetrators… Continue reading UN condemns ‘despicable’ suicide attack at mosque in southern Afghanistan

The pair received the award for their efforts to defend freedom of expression in their respective countries, and the Nobel committee called them “representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal”.  Mr. Muratov is the co-founder and editor of Novaya Gazeta, which has stood up for press freedom and freedom of speech in Russia for decades. Six journalists who… Continue reading Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov won’t keep ‘a single cent’ of his prize money 

An ambitious project to raise awareness about rising insecurity and mass displacement in the Sahel has resulted in an original musical score from Mali songwriter Vieux Farka Touré.  In partnership with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Mr. Toure’s A Song For The Sahel, highlights the crisis in many countries of the… Continue reading Mali maestro’s message of peace to Sahel region’s youngsters drawn to extremism

When COVID-19 closed schools in Basra, southern Iraq, the academic prospects for many schoolgirls were put at risk. On International Day of The Girl Child, we look at a UN program which is helping girls in the region to keep learning. When COVID-19 closed schools in Basra, southern Iraq, the academic prospects for many schoolgirls were… Continue reading ‘It will help me to achieve my dream’: Helping Iraqi girls stay in school

Africa’s film and audiovisual industries could create over 20 million jobs and contribute $20 billion to the continent’s combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, said on Tuesday in a new report highlighting this untapped potential.  The African Film Industry: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth is the first-ever mapping of the sector, which currently employs some… Continue reading Landmark report highlights untapped potential of Africa’s film industry

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated education systems throughout the world, making the year even more difficult for youngsters already embroiled in emergencies and protracted crises, according to a new UN-backed report launched on Tuesday, coinciding with World Teachers Day. UN-supported Education Cannot Wait (ECW) – the first global fund dedicated to education in emergencies… Continue reading UN-backed initiative reached 4.6 million children in ‘crisis within a crisis’

For the education system to recover from the COVID pandemic, it requires more investment in the well-being, training, professional development and working conditions of the world’s 71 million educators, UN agencies chiefs said on Monday, just ahead of World Teachers’ Day.   “Today we celebrate the exceptional dedication and courage of all teachers, their capacity… Continue reading Teachers are driving force behind ‘global education recovery’ from COVID-19

Based on the core belief that “humanity is deeply interconnected” and “we are one”, the new performance piece, “King Clavé” is adding some musical inspiration to this year’s 20th anniversary of the historic Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) against racism around the globe.   “Rhythm is at the center of humanity. One who knows rhythm knows the world”, said American percussionist Mickey Hart, best known as one of the… Continue reading ‘We are one’: musical performance ‘King Clavé’ reveals that we are ‘interconnected’   

This year’s International Day of Peace has been marked by the release of new stamps featuring music icon and peace campaigner, John Lennon, by the UN Postal Administration (UNPA), as the UN General Assembly High Level Week gets underway. It’s a reminder that as K-pop sensation BTS take UNGA76 by storm with their message of hope and youthful idealism… Continue reading John Lennon, stamps inspiring message of peace, on UN’s big week

The Gilgamesh Dream Tablet – one of the oldest surviving literary works in history – is to be returned to Iraq by the United States later this week, the UN agency for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), said on Monday. Made of clay and priceless, the Gilgamesh Tablet features inscriptions in Sumerian, a civilisation of ancient Mesopotamia.… Continue reading UNESCO hails return of looted ancient Gilgamesh tablet to Iraq

A new 11,000 square metre ‘ephemeral fresco’ created by Swiss artist Saype, has set the stage at UN Headquarters in New York, to welcome world leaders for the General Assembly High Level Week. It shows two children building the world of the future using origami, highlighting the participation of young people.  “World in Progress II is perfectly suited… Continue reading UNGA76: Giant eco-friendly artwork set to inspire world leaders

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday welcomed the news that secondary schools are due to reopen in Afghanistan on Saturday, after months of closure due to COVID-19, but stressed that girls must not be kept from the classroom. “We are deeply worried”, UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement, “that many girls may… Continue reading UNICEF stresses Afghan girls must not be excluded from school

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says the world is facing an education crisis due to the COVID pandemic, that has left nearly 77 million children shut out of the classroom for the past 18 months.   This Thursday, the UN agency is closing down its social media channels for the next 18 hours to send one message to the world: #ReopenSchools for in-person learning as… Continue reading 77 million children have spent 18 months out of class: #ReopenSchools, urges UNICEF 

“Schools must be places of learning, safety and peace”, he said, lauding education as not only providing knowledge and skills but also transforming lives and driving development for people, communities and for societies.  Nevertheless, he added, “year after year, this fundamental right comes under attack”.  Stretching the imagination  The top UN official encouraged the participants to imagine being a child in a classroom eager to learn, or a teacher… Continue reading Protecting education, means ‘we protect the future’: UN chief 

As the school year begins for millions of children in Europe and Central Asia, UN health and child experts on Monday issued a series of COVID-19 risk reduction measures to ensure that in-person lessons can go ahead, despite rising infection rates. In addition to calling for all school staff to be included in nationwide coronavirus vaccination plans,… Continue reading COVID jabs needed for educators and kids to keep schools open: WHO, UNICEF

Afghanistan faces a “cultural disaster”, following the fall of Kabul to Taliban forces, a UN Special Rapporteur said on Tuesday, in a statement urging countries to provide urgent assistance to human rights defenders, including those working on women’s and cultural rights, as well as artists, trying to flee the country.  “It is deplorable that the… Continue reading Protect human rights defenders in Afghanistan, says UN rights expert

Young people are on the “frontlines of the struggle to build a better future”, the UN chief said on Thursday, International Youth Day. “They are tackling inequities in food security, biodiversity loss, threats to our environment and much more”, Secretary-General António Guterres spelled out in his message for the day. And noting that COVID-19 pandemic… Continue reading Youth need ‘seat at the table’ to lead struggle for better future: Guterres

Young people in Beirut, which was devastated by an explosion in a warehouse at the city’s port on 4 August 2020, have been pitching in to get the Lebanese capital back on its feet, with support from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). With no employment prospects in sight, Rafah found it hard to stay positive,… Continue reading Beirut’s youth rebuild the Lebanese capital, brick by brick