Category: Culture & Education

23 March 2024Culture and Education In the face of escalating conflicts and humanitarian crises, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is set to embark on his annual Ramadan solidarity trip, commencing this weekend in Cairo, Egypt. The trip, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, takes place amid turbulent times, particularly with the ongoing conflict in… Continue reading UN’s Guterres begins solidarity mission to Egypt and Jordan amid regional crises

21 March 2024Culture and Education On World Poetry Day, marked on 21 March, and #ThrowbackThursday, we looked at some poetry in motion in the General Assembly’s Third Committee on social, humanitarian and cultural affairs. UN rumour has it that the unofficial tradition began almost 40 years ago, when a delegate from the United Kingdom requested the floor… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: Poetic traditions at the UN

The new resolution, tabled by Pakistan, calls for, among other things, concerted action to fight ongoing violence against Muslims and requests the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. The world body created the International Day through a resolution adopted following attacks on two mosques Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 51 people dead on… Continue reading UN calls for united action to combat rising Islamophobia

At Beabo Primary School in Ambovombe in the south of Madagascar, teams of students are in competition to cook the tastiest and most nutritional meal using locally available products which hopefully will encourage their parents and others to change to healthier diets. Fifteen-year-old Marie-Eliane is one of six junior chefs who have produced an impressive… Continue reading Student gastronomes plan recipe for Madagascar’s future

The Global teacher shortage alert was issued at a meeting on Monday of the International Task Force on Teachers for Education in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession announced a new set of recommendations to safeguard future learning for all. Quality education for ‘learning societies’ “Now, more than… Continue reading UN issues global alert over teacher shortage

Global perspective Human stories UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Brazilian footballer Vinícius Junior, newly-appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Education for All during a ceremony at the Real Madrid training centre. During her visit, the UN education, science and culture body UNESCO‘s Director-General Audrey Azoulay presented the 23-year-old winger with a letter of appointment, acknowledging his exceptional… Continue reading Following in Pelé’s footsteps, Vinícius Junior appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador

25 January 2024Culture and Education Shakira has long helped raise awareness for the rights of the world’s most vulnerable children, so on the heels of the International Day of Education, marked annually on 24 January, we took a look at the Grammy-award winning singer’s work with the UN. The youngest ever Goodwill Ambassador for the UN… Continue reading Stories from the UN Archive: Shakira speaks up for children

Sitting in a small, windowless room in a government building in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed loops another audio tape onto the dilapidated machine and presses a few buttons. He’s beginning a time-intensive process to digitize some seven decades of unique historical recordings belonging to the government-run Radio Mogadishu. One down, a couple… Continue reading Good morning, Mogadishu! Preserving Somalia’s cultural history, one tape at a time

Pramila Patten, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, called for the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of all those who remain in captivity. Ms. Patten met this week with the mother of one of the young women taken hostage who expressed the pain, despair and helplessness that families are facing as they… Continue reading Gaza: UN expert on sexual violence in conflict reiterates grave concern for hostages

6 December 2023Culture and Education The UNESCO committee that protects so called Intangible Cultural Heritage met in Botswana this week to add new entries to the UN culture agency’s list of world treasures, some of which must be “urgently” safeguarded. Convened in the town of Kasane, the Intergovernmental Committee is considering new entries to UNESCO’s Lists… Continue reading Opera, glass blowing, poncho weaving and more: UNESCO celebrates world’s cultural heritage

Bursting with translation anticipation, a quirky UN contest has had translators, interpreters, students, and lovers of a good multilingual idiom challenge submitting entries from around the world to the 2023 St. Jerome Translation Contest. On hiatus for three years, the contest is back and participants from across the world were limbering up for a new… Continue reading No meaning lost in translation: The UN’s quirkiest contest

Audrey Azoulay was speaking on Friday in Beijing, China, where she co-chaired the award ceremony for the 2023 UNESCO Prize for the Education of Women and Girls, alongside the agency’s Special Envoy, Professor Peng Liyuan. She appealed for an “intensification of global investments in favour of girls and women’s access to education”. Striving towards equality … Continue reading UNESCO chief calls for ‘intensification’ of investment in girls’ education

26 September 2023Human Rights Forced separations and language policies for Uyghur and other minority Muslim children at State-run boarding schools in China’s Xinjiang region carry the risk of forced assimilation, three UN independent human rights experts said on Tuesday.  Classroom teaching at these institutions is almost exclusively in Mandarin, with little or no use of… Continue reading Rights experts warn against forced separation of Uyghur children in China

According to the UN health agency, the tobacco industry’s approach has resulted in increased use of e-cigarettes, with nine out of 10 smokers starting before the age of 18 – and some as early as 11.  “Considering that children spend nearly one-third of their waking hours in school, and much of the peer pressure they… Continue reading Ban smoking and vaping in schools worldwide urges WHO

Primary school girls and boys walk to a UNICEF-supported community centre in Shahristan District in central Afghanistan. 18 September 2023Culture and Education The international community must ensure that every girl in Afghanistan has an opportunity to learn, the head of the UN fund for education in emergencies said on Monday – the second anniversary of… Continue reading Taliban urged to uphold Afghan girls’ right to education

18 September 2023Culture and Education The number of children missing out on any schooling has increased by six million, bringing the total to 250 million, according to new figures released on Monday by the UN Education, Science, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The increase is partly due to the mass exclusion of women and girls from education… Continue reading UNESCO: 250 million children now out of school

9 September 2023Culture and Education With a staggering hike in attacks targeting schools and hospitals, and over seven million refugee children out of school, the UN chief called on Saturday for a new push to defend vulnerable students and teachers worldwide. Marking the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it… Continue reading Repel intensifying attacks on schools, urges Guterres

8 September 2023Migrants and Refugees More than seven million refugee children are out of school globally according to UN data – that’s more than half the world’s population of displaced, school-aged children. “With the displaced population rising every year, there is a significant and increasing proportion of the world’s children who are missing out on… Continue reading UNHCR: more than 7 million refugee children out of school

2 September 2023Culture and Education Afghanistan’s Logar province is one of the most conservative areas in the country. Even before the decision of the de-facto authorities to suspend girls’ access to beyond primary education, most families did not let their girls go to school. Most girls and women in this province are illiterate. More than… Continue reading From the Field: Literacy classes for Afghan girls and women

The study provides a global analysis of the potential exposure of occupations and tasks to generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the possible implications for job quantity and quality. It was written by three social scientists at the UN agency who predict the new technology will likely complement and not destroy jobs by automating some tasks… Continue reading AI tools like ChatGPT likely to complement jobs, not destroy them: ILO

15 August 2023Culture and Education The UN fund that ensures children can continue learning during emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), launched a campaign on Tuesday to elevate the voices of young Afghan girls deprived of their basic right to education.   #AfghanGirlsVoices comes precisely two years after the de facto Taliban authorities… Continue reading Afghan girls’ voices for education echo loudly through new global campaign

4 August 2023Culture and Education The UN launched on Friday a policy brief on transforming education, which lays out a set of proposals to create inclusive and truly learning societies, and to understand education as a global public good. The brief recognizes that education faces both a crisis of access as well as a crisis… Continue reading ‘Transforming education’: Ensuring children and societies are learners

19 July 2023Women UN Women and FIFA have come together just ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand to advance gender equality in football, and help end abuse and discrimination on and off the pitch. The tournament is expected to be watched by more than two billion people – the… Continue reading UN teams up with FIFA at Women’s World Cup in score for gender equality

17 July 2023Human Rights Indigenous Peoples have the ancestral wisdom to guide humanity towards a more sustainable use of the Earth’s resources, yet they are systematically discriminated against and excluded, UN rights chief Volker Türk warned on Monday.  He was speaking in Geneva at the annual meeting on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, referencing in-depth… Continue reading Devastating rights violations against Indigenous people must end

The Pakistani education advocate – who was shot by the Taliban for her activism – was speaking exactly 10 years after her landmark ‘Malala Day’ address to youth at UN Headquarters in New York, where she called for global action against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism. Passionate message UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed introduced Malala, saying… Continue reading In Nigeria, UN deputy chief and Malala champion girls’ right to education

18 June 2023Human Rights With hate spreading lightning fast on social media and “mega spreaders” using divisive rhetoric to inspire thousands, the United Nations is calling for concerted global efforts to combat hate speech. Hate speech reinforces discrimination and stigma and is most often aimed at women, refugees and migrants, and minorities. If left unchecked,… Continue reading We must work together to reign in ‘toxic and destructive’ hate speech

12 June 2023Culture and Education The head of the UN’s cultural agency UNESCO, announced on Monday that the United States has decided to rejoin the organization next month, after having stopped all funding in 2011, and announced its complete withdrawal from the agency, which also champions education and science, almost six years ago. UNESCO Director-General… Continue reading United States commits to rejoin UN cultural agency

10 June 2023Culture and Education One of the world’s most celebrated poets is also one of the closest to the heart of the UN. Kahlil Gibran wrote The Prophet a century ago, and this milestone was marked at a special exhibit at the UN, which is also celebrating 75 years since the adoption of the… Continue reading Century-old call for equality resonates today

Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović were convicted by the court – part of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) which took over from the ICTY – in 2021, for their roles training death squads accused of ethnic cleansing during the conflict that saw the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.… Continue reading UN commends Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, as final judgement is delivered

 Brazil: Caçapava Geopark Caçapava UNESCO Global Geopark in Brazil. For the Guarani, an indigenous people in Brazil, this geopark is “the place where the jungle ends”, located in Rio Grande do Sul State in southernmost Brazil. Its geological heritage, which consists of mining sulfide metals and marble, has been vital for the region’s economic development.… Continue reading UNESCO names 18 new Global Geoparks

Niloofar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi and Narges Mohammadi have been named as the laureates of the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize at a time when women journalists are increasingly under threat.  “Now more than ever, it is important to pay tribute to all women journalists who are prevented from doing their jobs and who… Continue reading Imprisoned Iranian women journalists receive UN press freedom prize

The appeal comes in his message ahead of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated annually on 3 May, in line with a 1993 UN General Assembly resolution.    The focus this year is on the connection between press freedom and overall human rights.  A global problem  “Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and… Continue reading Freedom of the press under attack worldwide

14 April 2023SDGs Without $97 billion in extra funding, a range of countries will fail to meet their 2030 national education targets, a new UN report revealed on Friday, calling for an urgent review of financing. The paper Can countries afford their national SDG4 benchmarks? by the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report of the UN… Continue reading New UNESCO report reveals $97 billion barrier to reaching education targets

The Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of expression said she was encouraged by the Government’s plans to reform media laws in line with international standards.  However, she was also alarmed by “the toxic public discourse, from politicians or public officials and amplified by tabloids, scapegoating the media, human rights defenders, ethnic minorities, LGBTI… Continue reading Serbia urged to uphold freedom of expression while also countering hate speech

“The history of slavery is a history of suffering and barbarity that shows humanity at its worst,” he said.  “But it is also a history of awe-inspiring courage that shows human beings at their best – starting with enslaved people who rose up against impossible odds and extending to the abolitionists who spoke out against… Continue reading Fight slavery’s ‘racist legacy’ through education: Guterres

With myriad objects casting a new light on some of the darkest pages of history, Slavery: Ten True Stories of Dutch Colonial Slavery has been brought to the UN by Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum. “It’s baffling to me that there are a lot of countries still apologizing for slavery,” Daniela Paredes,18, from Cancun, Mexico, told UN News… Continue reading Ground-breaking exhibit on slavery gives new generation ‘hope for humanity’

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, appointed by the UN Secretary-General in 2016 as a United Nations Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding, recently played their first concert at UN headquarters in New York, at a special event organized to demonstrate that when people listen to each other, both musically and in other ways, great results can be… Continue reading Musicians promote ‘empathy, fraternity, solidarity’ between Israelis and Palestinians

Amina Mohammed was visiting the École Pays-Bas, in a suburb of the capital Niamey, which less than two years ago, burned to the ground, after the straw it was made from caught fire, amid searing temperatures and a suspected electrical wiring fault. A total of 21 children died in the inferno – nine boys, and… Continue reading In Niger, UN deputy chief highlights power of partnership to forge schools for the future

More than 4,300 people participated in the Internet for Trust Conference, organized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which will launch the guidelines in September.  The three-day event marked the latest phase in the global dialogue to develop regulatory solutions for social media to improve the reliability of information and promote human… Continue reading Internet for Trust Conference discusses guidelines for online platforms

22 February 2023Culture and Education Almost a year into the war in Ukraine – and amid new missile strikes targeting the eastern city of Kharkiv on Wednesday – top rights experts issued a strong appeal for the deliberate destruction of the country’s cultural treasures by Russian forces to stop.  According to humanitarian workers, at least… Continue reading Ukraine: deliberate destruction of culture must stop, say rights experts

Commemorating the world’s languages – all 6,700 of them – since 1999, the Day aims at celebrating ways of showcasing the world’s linguistic tapestry, committing to the preservation of the diversity of languages as a common heritage, and working for quality education – in mother tongues – for all, said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the… Continue reading Celebrating the world’s rich ‘linguistic tapestry’, UN officials call for realizing multilingual education on Mother Language Day

Alima from Burkina Faso wants to be a police officer, Awa from Mali dreams of being a nurse, and 11-year-old María Gabriela from Ecuador hopes to go to veterinary school. Although their names are not real – to protect them – their dreams are. Right now, 222 million young dreamers like Alima, Awa and María… Continue reading Dreams in crisis: Children send world leaders postcards from the edge

Lending his support to a call for more funding for education in emergencies spearheaded by the UN global fund Education Cannot Wait (ECW) the UN chief insisted in a video message that no-one should be denied their chance to learn. A full 222 million children today experience blighted education today, Mr. Guterres noted. To help them, 18… Continue reading 78 million children don’t go to school at all, warns UN chief in call for action

The six-hour-long documentary “The US and the Holocaust”, released in 2022, sheds light on the catastrophic consequences of hate speech and disinformation, and the desperate bid for freedom by millions of Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. Taste of freedom What does freedom taste like? Joseph Hilsenrath, a young Jewish boy evacuated to the US during the… Continue reading Shuttering ‘rabbit holes’ of hate: Holocaust survivors send powerful message in new documentary

World Radio Day, observed annually on 13 February, celebrates the power of the medium.  The theme this year is ‘Radio and Peace’, highlighting its role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.  “Since it was developed about a century ago, radio has proven to be an exceptional means of communication, debate and exchange – indeed, it is… Continue reading World Radio Day celebrates a ‘unique instrument of peace’

It is estimated that some 584 million children have limited or no access to basic drinking water services at school.    Nearly half live in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the study by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP).  A supportive environment  Furthermore,… Continue reading Education: More investment in school health, nutrition, will realize childhood potential

3 February 2023UN Affairs On the occasion of the International Day of Human Fraternity, observed on Saturday, the UN chief called for renewed commitment to forge an “alliance of peace” amid a surge in hate speech, sectarianism and strife. The International Day of Human Fraternity celebrates the values that “are the glue that hold our… Continue reading UN chief: Build ‘alliance of peace’ on International Day of Human Fraternity

The war in Ukraine, has resulted in high food and energy prices, global hunger, and inflation – just one example of the way that crises, affecting millions around the world, including children, affect each other. The report, “Prospects for Children in 2023: A Global Outlook”, also looks at a range of other significant areas, from… Continue reading Eight trends that will impact children in 2023

Thaw Lay, a high school student from Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, knew that this school year would be unlike any other. “I was excited, but I also knew that things would be a little different, when school reopened later this year”, he recalls. Thaw Lay and his fellow students face unprecedented levels of disruption… Continue reading Learning lessons from COVID-19 in Myanmar

This year’s commemoration highlights the critical contribution teachers have made in ensuring that learning continues during the global pandemic, as well as their crucial support to the mental health and wellbeing of students.  “In this crisis, teachers have shown, as they have done so often, great leadership and innovation in ensuring that #LearningNeverStops, that no… Continue reading Reimagine education to achieve quality learning for all, UN and partners urge

23 September 2020Human Rights This year’s International Day of Sign Languages is being commemorated in the midst of a pandemic that has “disrupted and upended lives everywhere”, including those of the deaf community, the UN chief said on Wednesday. In his message for the day, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed encouragement that some countries have been… Continue reading Sign of the times: COVID-19 response and recovery must be accessible says Guterres

The UN was founded 75 years ago, at the outset of the nuclear era, to provide “a global platform for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, to secure peace and to safeguard the future for generations”, said Secretary-General António Guterres in a video message on Thursday to the high-level meeting on digital cooperation Asking the… Continue reading Guterres advocates for digital world that ‘strengthens human rights, advances peace’

Sport is synonymous with values such as tolerance, respect and team work, and aligns with the UN’s founding goal of creating a better world for all, the head of the Organization’s Office of Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, told participants.  This explains why terrorist groups seek to hijack sporting events, with incidents such as the March 2009 attack… Continue reading UN and partners promote sport as a tool to prevent violent extremism

11 September 2020Law and Crime Prevention Following the gruesome death of a Mexican journalist specializing in crime reporting, who was found beheaded on Wednesday, UN chief António Guterres has issued a statement condemning the increasing number of attacks made on media workers worldwide. The Secretary-General is appalled at the continued and increased numbers of attacks against journalists and media workers around the… Continue reading Guterres condemns killing of journalists, following beheading of Mexican crime reporter

António Guterres shared the startling figure in an address to mark the first observance of the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.  “In addition to depriving millions of vulnerable learners from accessing education, this violence has serious adverse effects, including increased drop-out rates, prolonged educational disruption, child recruitment into armed groups, early pregnancy and sexual… Continue reading Attacks on education during times of conflict must stop: UN chief

8 September 2020Culture and Education With 1.4 billion people around the world lacking basic literacy skills, the head of the UN cultural agency on Tuesday urged all those involved in learning, to mobilize the investments needed that could unleash each person’s potential.  “At a time when we need to reinvent a world of hope, literacy… Continue reading International Literacy Day: Celebrate educators, invest in learning potential

1 September 2020Culture and Education Classes for more than 450 million students starting the new academic year are expected to be entirely remote – or for some, a mix of distance and in-person learning – the UN education and cultural organization (UNESCO) has said.  UNESCO, the lead UN agency for education globally, also highlighted persisting… Continue reading ‘Emergency’ for global education, as fewer than half world’s students cannot return to school

Speaking at an event in support of press freedom in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that around 1,000 journalists have been killed in the last decade – and that nine in 10 cases “are unresolved”. Her comments, on the eve of the trial of alleged accomplices of extremists who killed 12 people at… Continue reading Attacks on journalists are attacks on all civil society: UN rights chief

27 August 2020Culture and Education For at least 463 million children whose schools closed due to COVID-19, “there was no such a thing as remote learning,” the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday, as the agency launched a new report outlining the limitations of remote learning and exposing the deep inequalities… Continue reading Globally, 1 in 3 children missed out on remote learning when COVID-19 shuttered schools

The devastating blasts rocked the Lebanese capital and wreaked havoc throughout the city, killing close to 200 people, injuring thousands of others, and leaving around a quarter of a million homeless.  It also impacted some 8,000 structures, including 640 historic buildings, approximately 60 of which are at risk of collapse.  Standing shoulder-to-shoulder In unflagging solidarity… Continue reading UNESCO launches Beirut recovery fund for culture, heritage and education

24 August 2020Culture and Education Polio, a deadly, debilitating, yet easily curable disease, is eradicated in most countries, but is still endemic in Pakistan, partly due to a reluctance to vaccinate amongst some parts of the population. Dennis Chimenya, a health worker with the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is part of a team trying to… Continue reading First Person: Fighting anti-vaccination rumours in Pakistan

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF urged governments on the continent to promote a safe return to the classroom while also limiting spread of the virus.  “Schools have paved the way to success for many Africans. They also provide a safe haven for many children in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive,” said Dr… Continue reading COVID-19: African countries urged to promote a safe return to school

19 August 2020Culture and Education A group of 275 former world leaders, economists and business leaders on Wednesday, urged the G20 group of leading industrialized nations to help stop the pandemic from leaving tens of millions of children from becoming known as the “COVID generation”, denied a proper education. Gordon Brown, the UN Special Envoy… Continue reading G20 countries urged to stop ‘COVID generation’ from being locked out of the classroom

13 August 2020Health Nearly 820 million children worldwide do not have basic handwashing facilities at school, putting them at increased risk of COVID-19 and other transmittable diseases, according to a report published on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF. “Access to water, sanitation and hygiene services is essential… Continue reading Coronavirus and schools: Access to handwashing facilities key for safe reopening

12 August 2020SDGs Commemorating International Youth Day, top UN officials have called on leaders around the world to “do everything possible” to enable young people to reach their fullest potential. Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, which has upended young peoples’ lives and aspirations and heightened their vulnerabilities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the younger generation’s resilience,… Continue reading UN praises resilience and vision of younger generation, marking International Youth Day  

UN News spoke to Ms. Kauka as part of the International Labour Organization’s photography project “Dignity at Work: The American Experience” ahead of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which is marked annually on 9 August. “I have been teaching my students how to produce kapa which is a traditional cloth made from the… Continue reading First Person: COVID-19 helping Hawaiians to ‘recognize the importance of heritage’

Describing education as “the key to personal development and the future of societies”, António Guterres issued recommendations to get children back in the classroom in a policy brief launched alongside a new global campaign called Save our Future. “As the world faces unsustainable levels of inequality, we need education – the great equalizer – more… Continue reading UN chief outlines ‘bold steps’ for education in the face of COVID-19 disruption

The Human Rights Council-appointed experts are urging authorities to preserve the “outstanding universal value” which resulted in the 1,500-year-old basilica, World Heritage Status, according to a press release. Avoid division “It would be an historic mistake at this difficult global moment to take actions which divide religious and cultural groups in Turkey and beyond, rather than uniting them”,… Continue reading Keep Turkey’s Hagia Sophia ‘a space for meeting of cultures’, UN rights experts urge

In their written appeal, the three Special Rapporteurs also maintained that the Government was not meeting its commitments on information sharing and transparency, after it stopped releasing statistics on COVID-19 cases at the end of April. Shrinking civic space Urging the authorities to drop measures “that further curb civic space”, they cited in particular the Basic Rights… Continue reading Rights experts call on Tanzania to end ‘crackdown’ on civic space

“Today is a day of celebration for an intellectual game that for centuries has managed to entertain, stimulate and sometimes even confound millions of us, the world over”, Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General of UN Global Communications said, at a virtual commemorative event. “And as we celebrate, we remind ourselves of the special value that a game… Continue reading First-ever World Chess Day, helps calm nerves during COVID-19 pandemic

During a roundtable discussion held online on Monday, top UN officials, education ministers, and young refugees, together with representatives from the private sector and non-governmental organizations, highlighted growing needs on the ground – during the crisis and beyond. “Even before COVID-19, refugee children were twice as unlikely as other children to attend school”, said Audrey… Continue reading COVID-19: UN and partners work to ensure learning never stops for young refugees

10 July 2020Culture and Education As the Turkish President signed a decree on Friday converting the ancient Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque, the UN cultural agency (UNESCO) said that it “deeply regrets the decision” made “without prior discussion”, having earlier in the day called on the State to abide by its “legal commitments and… Continue reading UNESCO expresses deep regret over Turkey decision to change status of historic Hagia Sophia

9 July 2020Humanitarian Aid The iconic Bob Marley song One Love is to be re-released with the blessing of the musician’s family to support children whose lives have been upended by COVID-19, the UN said on Thursday. The fundraising initiative comes as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that an additional 6,000 children could die… Continue reading Reggae classic ‘One Love’ re-issued to help children upended by COVID crisis

2 July 2020Economic Development Young entrepreneurs who want their work to have a positive impact on their communities, urgently need more help from governments if they’re to succeed and resist the COVID-19-fuelled economic downturn, UN economists said on Thursday. Amid worsening global employment prospects owing to the pandemic, the UN Department of Economic and Social… Continue reading Helping youth enterprise take off, will bring sustainable returns, say UN economists

1 July 2020Culture and Education The UN on Wednesday revealed the existence of an illicit trafficking scam in African cultural artefacts, which are being sold to unsuspecting buyers, thanks to the entirely fake UNESCO stamp they come with. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is warning art lovers who may be approached to buy… Continue reading UNESCO urges caution over fraudulent African artefacts, sold in its name

30 June 2020UN Affairs The UN is asking people to make the same judgement calls they’ve been applying to social distancing, to social media, and take extra care before sharing. That’s the latest message from the United Nations’ Verified initiative, which wants people around the world to pause before sharing emotionally charged content on social… Continue reading Pause before sharing, to help stop viral spread of COVID-19 misinformation

Released at the start of what is being heralded as a “decade of action” for education, as the world grapples with the COVID-19 crisis, the 2020 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report illuminates how countries are putting diversity at the core of their education systems, with varying degrees of success. “It has never been more crucial… Continue reading Universal, inclusive education ‘non-negotiable’

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and is now practiced in various forms around the world. The word “yoga” derives from Sanskrit and means “to join or unite”, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. Countering depression, anxiety As the global outbreak of COVID-19 has upended lives across… Continue reading On International Yoga Day, UN spotlights power of ancient practice to help ease COVID stress

He called for countries to deliver education systems “that can support equal societies, dynamic economies and the limitless dreams of every learner in the world.” Data from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) shows that some 244 million boys and girls are still out of school this year. Additionally, 70 per cent of… Continue reading UN chief calls for worldwide commitment to transforming education

The impact of the conflict only compounds the two years of education lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than eight years of war for children in the east of the country.  UNICEF issued the appeal on the International Day of Education, which is marked annually on 24 January.  No ‘pause button’  Schools provide… Continue reading Ukraine war disrupts education for more than five million children: UNICEF

The agency announced on Thursday that it was dedicating the International Day of Education on 24 January, to the country’s women and girls.  “No country in the world should bar women and girls from receiving an education. Education is a universal human right that must be respected,” said Director-General Audrey Azoulay.   “The international community… Continue reading Afghan girls and women made focus of International Education Day: UNESCO

Children from the poorest households benefit the least from national public education funding, according to the study, which examines data from 102 countries.  Currently, the poorest 20 per cent of learners benefit from only 16 per cent of public funding for education, while the richest benefit from 28 per cent.  In low-income countries, the breakdown… Continue reading Poorest learners benefit the least from public education: UNICEF

15 January 2023Culture and Education The Moroccan city of Fez, which recently hosted the Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, has long been a melting pot of religions and cultures. Its 200-year-old Jewish cemetery symbolizes the centuries-long coexistence of diverse communities in the city. Before he died, Johanna Devico Ohana’s father asked… Continue reading The Jewish cemetery of Fez, a symbol of cultural harmony

29 December 2022Culture and Education Pelé, the Brazilian football legend, who many regard as the greatest player of all time, has died in hospital in Sao Paulo at the age of 82. He had been undergoing treatment for colon cancer since last year. The UN education and culture organisation which champions the power of sport across… Continue reading UNESCO ‘deeply saddened’ over death of football legend, Pelé

On Friday, the UN launched the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to help them survive, and protect them from extinction.  The Organization has long advocated for indigenous peoples, who are the inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment.  A benefit for all  Preserving their languages is not… Continue reading UN launches 10-year survival plan for endangered indigenous languages

In its new report, What works to prevent online violence against children, WHO focuses on ways of curbing the grooming of youngsters via the Internet, sexual image abuse – and cyber aggression and harassment in the form of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, hacking and identity theft.  What works also showcases strategies and best practices to better protect children. … Continue reading UN health agency outlines ‘clear direction’ for reducing online violence against children 

30 November 2022Culture and Education Holy Week in Guatemala, traditional tea preparation in China, and the artisanal knowledge surrounding France’s iconic daily bread loaf, the baguette, are among the latest cultural practices and expressions to be recognized by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They were inscribed on the Representative List of the… Continue reading UNESCO: French baguettes, Chinese tea ceremony, join protected heritage list

Speaking at a joint press conference, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative of the UNAOC, and Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, spoke about the Forum and its results. They also hailed the large, high-level participation that enriched the dialogue that took place during the two-day gathering.  ‘People are… Continue reading Fez Forum concludes with spotlight on Morrocco’s model of tolerance and co-existence

Mr. Guterres was speaking at the opening of the 9th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) which is taking place in Fez, Morocco.  “The forces of division and hate are finding fertile ground in a landscape marred by injustice and conflicts,” said Mr. Guterres calling for the creation of an alliance of… Continue reading At Fez forum, UN chief calls for global ‘alliance of peace’ recognizing inclusion and richness of diversity

21 November 2022Culture and Education Patents, trademarks and designs reached record levels in 2021, with Asia driving growth in intellectual property, the UN agency dedicated to those types of assets said on Monday. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), despite the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic, this bucked previous economic downturn trends. Latest… Continue reading Global intellectual property filings reached new records in 2021: WIPO

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.    The Secretary-General underscored the importance of a free press, which he said is vital to a functioning democracy, exposing wrongdoing, navigating our complex world, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)… Continue reading Intimidated, jailed, abused: Threats against journalists harm us all, warns UN chief

22 October 2022Culture and Education Eugenio Gastelum has been obsessed with video games since he was a kid. And now, he’s managed to turn his passion into a career, as the first-ever UN video game expert, using the popular game Minecraft, as a tool to help communities improve their public spaces. “If you do something… Continue reading ‘How I became the first UN video game expert, and landed the best job in the world’

And the price of inaction and staying on the couch, will be severe, WHO said – around $27 billion in extra healthcare costs. The Global status report on physical activity 2022, measures the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity across all ages and abilities.  Data from 194 countries show that… Continue reading Time to get off the couch, WHO warns, as 500 million risk developing chronic illness

The bell is ringing for the start of a new school year in many countries, but inequalities in access to education are keeping some 244 million children out of the classroom, according to data published on Thursday by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

The statement comes in their joint message to mark World Teachers’ Day, celebrated annually on 5 October. The international community has committed to transform education – a process that must be led by teachers. A critical partner That’s the firm belief expressed by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UN educational and cultural agency, UNESCO; Gilbert F. Houngbo,… Continue reading World Teachers’ Day highlights need to transform education

The UN’s labour agency welcomed on Monday, the first ever global agreement on working conditions and rights of professional football players in both the men’s and women’s game. “Free, independent, strong and representative employers’ and workers’ organizations, together with trust, commitment and respect by the governments for the autonomy of the social partners are key… Continue reading ILO welcomes first global agreement on professional footballers’ rights

Girls in Afghanistan have been forced out of high school, ever since the Taliban returned to power a year ago. A United Nations-backed initiative is training girls to help others in their situation, educating their peers until they are able to return to formal schooling. year after the Taliban takeover, 17-year-old Mursal Fasihi is still… Continue reading Forced out of school, but refusing to give up on education in Afghanistan

“I regard myself as a lifelong student…Without education, where would I be? Where would any of us be?”, he asked those gathered in the iconic Generally Assembly Hall.   Because education transforms lives, economies and societies, “we must transform education”.   Downward spiral  Instead of being the great enabler, the UN chief pointed out that education is… Continue reading Education transformation needed for ‘inclusive, just and peaceful world’ – UN chief

Marking one year since Afghanistan’s de facto rulers decreed that girls should be excluded from high school, UN chief António Guterres has urged the Taliban “to “let them back in” without delay. In a strong personal appeal, the UN Secretary-General tweeted on Sunday that the past 12 months represented “a year of lost knowledge and… Continue reading Afghanistan: UN repeats call for Taliban to allow girls full access to school

Education systems around the world need “more, not less money” the UN chief told journalists on Saturday during a joint press stakeout on the Transforming Education Summit and the International Finance Facility for Education. Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking alongside his Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, drew attention to the critical issue of innovative… Continue reading Education financing is imperative for “peaceful, prosperous, stable societies’ – UN chief

Just a few hours before the start of the crucial Transforming Education Summit, UN Children’s Fund UNICEF on Friday, warned that globally, only a third of 10-year-olds are estimated to be able to read and understand a simple written story. This shocking statistic represents a 50 per cent decrease from pre-pandemic estimates. “Under resourced schools, underpaid and under-qualified… Continue reading Transforming Education Summit: Halt the crisis, or risk failing an entire generation

As the Transforming Education Summit kicks off on Friday, during the opening week of the 77th UN General Assembly session in New York, Ingrid Macdonald, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia-Herzegovina, reflects on the important progress that the United Nations has made in supporting the authorities efforts to advance more equitable and inclusive education across… Continue reading Reimagining education in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Resident Coordinator Blog

World leaders arriving at UN Headquarters for next week’s High Level General Assembly meetings, will be greeted by a powerful and striking new mural from renowned Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, focusing attention on climate change and stewardship of the planet. Spreading along the First Avenue entrance just above New York’s iconic 42nd Street, and rising… Continue reading Brazilian artist’s mural ‘for the planet’ proves big draw for UN General Assembly

One of the centrepieces of the opening week of the new General Assembly session is an event aimed at focusing fresh attention on the global crisis surrounding learning, and proposing solutions to make education fit for the Twenty-First Century. Ahead of the event, UN News spoke to Leonardo Garnier, the Special Advisor charged with making… Continue reading INTERVIEW: Transform education, and avoid a global learning crisis

The report features new data analyses covering more than 100 countries and territories, which reveal in headline terms, that boys are up to 1.3 times likely to get the maths skills they need, compared to girls. False expectations No girl should be left behind. We must help every child learn the foundational skills they need to… Continue reading Girls being ‘failed by discrimination’ and stereotyping in maths class: UNICEF

Racing driver Sir Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is backing a fresh call from the UN on Tuesday for all refugee children and youth to be given access to a full quality education. He’s one driving force behind the release of a new report from UN refugee agency, UNHCR, revealing the urgent need… Continue reading Lewis Hamilton lines up with UNHCR in equality drive for refugee children’s education

Education is a fundamental human right and “an essential driver for achieving peace and sustainable development”, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored on Friday, the International Day to Protect Education from attack. “Unfortunately, this right continues to fall under attack, especially in conflict-affected areas,” he said in a statement commemorating the day. “Classrooms must remain places of peace and… Continue reading Classrooms must be places of ‘peace and learning’, UN chief says on education protection day

The development is occurring in a context where Israeli authorities are increasingly limiting what she called human rights “eyes and ears on the ground”.  Search for solutions  Although the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) in Palestine has been operating for 26 years, the 15 international staff there “had no choice but to leave” in 2020,… Continue reading Visa refusal for UN human rights staff in Palestine part of wider ‘worrying trend’: Bachelet

On Tuesday, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, issued its Annual Results Report, which revealed that despite global upheaval, the fund and partners have continued to expand their response. Results to Date  The Report indicates that ECW investments have reached close to 7 million children… Continue reading UN fund reports ‘solid results’ empowering girls and boys in crises with opportunity of quality education

International Youth Day celebrates “the power of partnerships across generations,” the UN chief said in his message for the day. Commemorated annually on 12 August, Secretary-General António Guterres noted that this year’s theme – “Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages” – reminds us of “a basic truth” that “we need people of all… Continue reading UN chief’s Youth Day message: People of all ages need to ‘join forces’ for a better world

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the pandemic has caused many additional problems for 15 to 24-year-olds who’ve experienced “much higher” unemployment losses than older workers since the global health emergency was declared in early 2020. Young women have struggled more than their male counterparts to find work, while Arab nations are expected to… Continue reading Young workers have been hit hardest by COVID fallout, says UN labour agency

From Ethiopia to Chad and Palestine, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN’s fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, is helping millions of boys and girls affected by conflict around the world to pursue their dreams. ECW offers affected children and youth an opportunity to learn free of cost – in safety and without… Continue reading Children affected by conflict cannot wait for their education

Amid the education crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations is partnering with leading children’s charity Theirworld and others in the sector, to launch the #LetMeLearn campaign, urging world leaders to listen to the voices of young people and put in place the plans and finance required to provide a quality education for every… Continue reading UN and partners roll out #LetMeLearn campaign ahead of key education summit

The UN chief in his message to mark Monday’s International Day in honour of Nelson Mandela, hailed the first Black President of post-Apartheid South Africa and racial justice icon, “a giant of our time”, who remains a “moral compass” for us all. Secretary-General António Guterres described the champion of a free and democratic South Africa who spent nearly… Continue reading Guterres hails healer and ‘mentor to generations’, Nelson Mandela

Young people must be recognized around the world as “drivers of change” and empowered to become “fully engaged in decisions affecting their future,” said Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday, World Youth Skills Day. From climate change to conflicts to persistent poverty, young people are “disproportionately impacted by interlinked global crises,” his Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake,… Continue reading Champion young people as ‘drivers of change’, UN chief urges

Scientific research and academic freedom are under threat, they warned, following reports that research submitted by scholars from sanctioned countries were being disqualified from publication.  “We are gravely concerned at the growing negative impact of existing sanctions regimes on academic and scientific research, as well as on initiatives of international academic cooperation, adversely affecting the… Continue reading Sanctions having negative impact on scientific research, rights experts warn

A shocking new UN report released on Tuesday indicates that the number of crisis-impacted school-aged children requiring educational support has grown from an estimated 75 million in 2016, to 222 million today. The UN global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), outlines that of those 222 million girls and boys, as… Continue reading 222 million crisis-hit children currently require educational support

It was the fourth stop of her tour of Central Asia, having previously visited Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Coalitions must be built “According to official statistics, one in three women has experienced domestic violence at some point in their lives”, said the Deputy UN chief, opening a meeting with representatives of civil society organizations involved… Continue reading Kazakhstan: ‘Only together’ can ‘silent pandemic’ of gender-based violence be overcome, says Deputy UN chief

More than 33 million new jobs need to be created by 2030 in the Middle East and North Africa region by 2030, if the world’s largest unemployment hot spot is to be substantially improved, four United Nations agencies said on Monday. The joint-release by the UN labour agency, ILO, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the… Continue reading Middle East and North Africa: addressing highest rates of youth unemployment in the world

An investigation must be held into the killing of well-known Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh, senior officials from across the United Nations said on Wednesday.  The veteran Palestinian-American journalist, 51, was fatally shot while reporting on an Israeli military operation in the West Bank town of Jenin.  We are appalled at the killing of… Continue reading UN officials call for probe into killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

“The intergenerational gap in power, influence and trust constitutes one of the biggest challenges of our time”, said UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake. The Be Seen, Be Heard campaign, which partners with The Body Shop International, seeks to create long-term structural changes that foster the inclusion of youth in decision-making. “With the climate crisis, global… Continue reading New UN campaign aims to bring more young voices to halls of power

In the fast-changing world of work, the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted on Thursday just how important dialogue between workers and management is to the global post-pandemic recovery – and to keeping people’s wages fair. After two years of COVID-19 lockdowns and amid increasing pressures on the classic “9 to five” business model – from zero-hours… Continue reading Collective bargaining in the workplace, essential for global recovery: ILO

The study by UN Women and the international humanitarian organization CARE, is based on surveys and interviews with people in 19 regions in Ukraine, conducted between 2 and 6 April.  After more than two months of war in #Ukraine, women & minorities are facing immense hardship when it comes to health, safety & access to… Continue reading Ukraine war: Reports reveal women are stepping up, impact on education

Journalists and media workers are facing “increasing politicization” of their work and threats to their freedom to simply do their jobs, that are “growing by the day”, said the UN chief, marking World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday. The day shines a spotlight on the essential work they do, bringing those in power to account, with transparency,… Continue reading Threats to media workers’ freedom ‘growing by the day’, UN chief warns

More and more young women and girls are highlighting the importance of access and safety in the digital world. Marking International Girls in ICT Day, on Thursday, UN agencies have issued a call to action to ensure equal access to digital learning opportunities. The International Girls in ICT Day is observed annually during the last… Continue reading Tech needs girls, and girls need tech

The UN published promising news in the global fight for gender equality and opportunity on Wednesday, showing that when it comes to mathematics, girls are now performing as strongly as boys in the classroom – although there are plenty of barriers holding them back. The finding, from the UN agency UNESCO, followed analysis of primary… Continue reading Girls’ performance in maths ‘starting to add up to boys’, says UNESCO

Selected among 142 entries from 63 countries, the top three winners come from Syria, Ghana, and China, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) winners sent the message globally that young people are stepping up to innovation challenges, using their energy and creativity to steer a course towards a better future. Smart devices, rice threshers and… Continue reading Young innovators win video competition with ideas for a better future

“From the streets of every corner of the world to the online arena, we have seen powerful demonstrations of youth commitment to equality, climate action and human rights,” she said, adding that they are demanding a seat at the table and holding Governments and businesses to account for their inaction. UN experts joined youth leaders,… Continue reading Young people key for COVID recovery and a sustainable future

Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, said armed groups in some parts of the country are targeting the very communities who were most victimized during the half-century-long civil war, which officially ended with the signing of a historic Final Peace Agreement in 2016.  “Violence is… Continue reading Success of Colombia peace process hinges on ending violence: Mission chief

Although girls have more difficulty accessing education and make up most out-of-school children at the primary level, challenges facing boys are increasing at later stages, according to a report published on Wednesday by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Leave no child behind: Global report on boys’ disengagement from education, sheds light on… Continue reading ‘Decisive steps’ needed to keep boys in school – UNESCO report

At the UN Human Rights Council on Friday, Member States adopted a plan of action to tackle disinformation, at the request of Ukraine and with widespread – but not universal – support. Officially sponsored by Ukraine, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the UK and US, the draft resolution presented to the Geneva forum emphasised the primary role that… Continue reading UN’s rights council adopts ‘fake news’ resolution, States urged to take tackle hate speech

Now entering its third year, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to hold back some 405 million school children worlwide from a full return to the classroom, according to a new report released on Wednesday by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). And as 23 countries have yet to fully re-open schools, many children are at risk of… Continue reading COVID-19: Education risks becoming ‘greatest divider’

Loay Elbasyouni is a Palestinian electrical engineer on the NASA team that designed Ingenuity, an innovative robotic helicopter that landed on Mars in 2021. He talks to UN News about his journey, from a UN-run school in the Gaza strip, to the US space agency. “I have always been passionate about the environment, and having… Continue reading First Person: From Gaza to the Red Planet

The UN’s top rights official  urged the United Kingdom on Friday to reconsider proposed changes to its border policy, warning that suggested reforms would criminalize vulnerable people for entering the country irregularly.  The draft law was introduced as the Nationality and Borders Bill in the House of Commons last July by Home Secretary Priti Patel,… Continue reading UK border reform bill treats vulnerable newcomers like criminals: Bachelet 

The business model of the news media is ‘broken’ and with it, our fundamental right to information is at risk, a new UNESCO report examining global trends in freedom of expression warns.  In the past five years, both news audiences and advertising revenues have moved in huge numbers to internet platforms, with only two companies… Continue reading Social media poses ‘existential threat’ to traditional, trustworthy news: UNESCO

The report, Impact of COVID-19 on the welfare of households with children, presents findings from data collected in 35 countries, and notes that households with three or more children were most likely to have come up short, with more than three-quarters experiencing a reduction in earnings. Going without food “Families cannot afford food or essential healthcare services.… Continue reading Crash in family incomes during COVID will increase inequality for generations

In full costume and make-up, drag queen Madame Bonjour JohnJ, is teaching children that it’s ok to be different, during storytelling sessions in their native Tokyo. Born Jun Araki, JohnJ never felt comfortable in the female gender they were born into. At elementary school, they would wear trousers under their school uniform skirts and on… Continue reading Drag queen story hour: tales of acceptance and dreams

A new project launched on Monday by two UN agencies aims to improve the diet of school-age children by supporting the development of nutrition standards for school meal programmes. In many countries school meals represent a significant portion of children’s daily diets, the partners said, and it is vital that they directly contribute to nutrition… Continue reading New initiative to improve nutrition standards for school meals

Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO Director-General, highlighted how four out of 10 children worldwide do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best, meaning the foundation for their learning is more fragile. Cultural and linguistic diversity is of the utmost importance to build sustainable societies. For #MotherLanguageDay, we want to see… Continue reading Protect linguistic diversity on International Mother Language Day

Camilo Vergara is one of hundreds of young Colombians benefiting from a UN programme aimed at pulling victims of the country’s former conflict out of poverty, and into stable employment. Camilo Andrey Vergara was born in 1989 in a rural area of Antioquia, in western Colombia. Raised among coffee and cocoa plantations, his early life… Continue reading Training offers a way out of poverty for young victims of Colombian conflict

To better understand this decision, and on the occasion of World Radio Day on 13 February, which is being celebrated under the theme “Radio and Trust”, UN News spoke to the ITU‘s Director of Radiocommunication, Mario Maniewicz, who began by explaining the medium’s importance in Africa. This interview was conducted in French and has been… Continue reading Radio: The universal medium that leaves no one behind

To mark the occasion, the birthday in 1946 of the United Nations Radio service, we reached out to two veteran broadcasters and journalists, who recently retired from UN News.  Elena Vapnitchnaia was Chief of our Russian Unit, and Jerome Longue, the former Chief of our French Unit – both have served for many years in… Continue reading Veterans reflect on past, present and future of radio at the UN

More than four in 10 young Lebanese over just a 12-month period, reduced spending on education to buy basic food, medicine and other essential items, and nearly a third, have been forced to stop studying altogether. These are some of the disturbing statistics contained in a new report published on Friday by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)… Continue reading Lebanon crisis robbing young people of their futures: UNICEF

In remembering the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, along with the Roma and Sinti, and countless other victims of its “unprecedented horror and calculated cruelty”, he reminded that “our very name was coined to describe the alliance fighting the Nazi regime and its allies”. “The United Nations must always be on the… Continue reading UN remembers ‘unprecedented horror and calculated cruelty’ of the Holocaust

“Unless we take action, the share of children leaving school in developing countries who are unable to read could increase from 53 to 70 per cent”, António Guterres warned in a video message marking the International Day of Education, on Monday. The UN chief remembered the “chaos” that COVID-19 caused in education worldwide, noting that, at the pandemic’s… Continue reading ‘Global learning crisis’ continues says Guterres; millions still hit 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on education, laying bare a crisis that was already causing widespread concern well before the spread of the virus. Robert Jenkins, the Director of Education at the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is calling for a transformation in learning, amid warnings that the current system is failing millions… Continue reading Interview: As millions fall behind, how can we bridge the growing education gap?

Fifty-five journalists and media professionals were killed last year, latest UN data showed on Thursday, with nearly nine in 10 killings since 2006 still unresolved.  Impunity is “alarmingly widespread”, said the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  “Once again in 2021, far too many journalists paid the ultimate price to bring truth to light”, said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.   “Right now, the world needs independent, factual information more than… Continue reading 55 journalists killed in 2021, impunity ‘alarmingly widespread’ – UNESCO 

Once used as a prison by the ISIL terror network in Iraq, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency and partners have converted a former grim detention centre into a sunny space for youth. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Iraq Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Governorate of Anbar re-opened on 25 December, the… Continue reading Former ISIL prison transformed to bring joy and support to youth

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