04-08-2009 (Nairobi) East African young TV producers join the Global Network
Within the framework of UNESCO’s Global Network of Young TV Producer’s on HIV and AIDS, UNESCO’s Office in Nairobi, in collaboration with the East African Film Institute and the Development Through Media (DTM), organized a training workshop on HIV and AIDS for 10 young TV producers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
04-08-2009 (New York) Middle East seminar hears UN call for journalists to do more to encourage peace
Journalists can do more to broaden the public dialogue about the situation in the Middle East and help bridge the gap between Israelis and Palestinians, the United Nations’ public information chief has told a seminar on peace in the region.
03-08-2009 (Paris) New logo for the Memory of the World Programme
At its 9th meeting, which concluded in Barbados on 31 July 2009, the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme selected the winning design for the Programme. The entry was submitted by Heiko Huennerkopf and its symbolic depiction of the gaps within, or losses of, memory contributed to the decision of the Jury.
31-07-2009 (Bridgetown) Anne Frank’s Diaries, Royal Archives of Madagascar among 35 documentary properties added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
Thirty-five items of documentary heritage of exceptional value have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. This brings the total number of inscriptions since 1997 to 193.
28-07-2009 (Paris) Director-General condemns murder of Mexican journalist Ernesto Montañez Valdivia
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today condemned the killing in Mexico of Ernesto Montañez Valdivia on 14 July.
27-07-2009 (Almaty) UNESCO publishes Russian version of its training kit on education for sustainable development
UNESCO’s Office in Almaty has released the Russian version of Media as Partners in Education for Sustainable Development: A Training and Resource Kit, which was originally published in English in 2008. The kit was translated into Russian and adapted for the Central Asian context in cooperation with the Digital Informational Network on Environment and Sustainable Development in Central Asia and Russia (CARNet).
24-07-2009 (Almaty) Central Asian journalists study information security
A three-day training workshop on Strengthening Information Security Skills among Kazakhstani Journalists took place from 15 to 17 July 2009 in Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan. It was organized by the public fund Civil Initiative on Internet Policy (CIIP) and supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development Communication (IPDC).
23-07-2009 (Paris) New website to focus on media accountability in South-East Europe
UNESCO is launching a special website dedicated to Professional Journalistic Standards and Code of Ethics in South-East Europe. This new reference tool provides information on media legislation and regulation, including models for setting up and managing press councils, funding ideas and examples, and the description of existing press councils at the national level.
17-07-2009 (Paris) Interactive multimedia tools for youth to help combat HIV and AIDS
In order to respond to the HIV and AIDS pandemic, UNESCO, in collaboration with its partners, is developing a series of interactive multimedia tools, conceived as educational computer games. Aiming to facilitate access to HIV-preventive information for youth, these tools combine education, information and entertainment. They provide scientifically accurate, culturally appropriate and gender specific knowledge on HIV and AIDS.
16-07-2009 (Almaty) Scientists tell the climate change story in Central Asia
Scientists, university teachers and environmental activists learned how to communicate climate change issues in Central Asia in two recent UNESCO-sponsored workshops. The workshops in Almaty (1-3 July) and Dushanbe (6-8 July) were designed to improve the ability of experts to explain climate change research to policy makers and public audiences.
16-07-2009 (Quito) The Right to Information in Latin America: A Comparative Legal Survey just published
UNESCO’s Office in Quito releases a legal survey on the right to information in Latin America, comparing the currently existing laws in 11 Latin American countries: Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. Conducted by Toby Mendel, this study confirms UNESCO’s commitment to promote the right to information, in line with its strategic objective of enhancing universal access to information and knowledge.
15-07-2009 (Paris) Director-General deplores the killing of Honduran journalist Gabriel Fino Noriega and calls for lifting of restrictions on press freedom
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today deplored the killing of radio reporter Gabriel Fino Noriega in San Juan Pueblo in Honduras. Also, referring to the deterioration of press freedom in the country, the Director-General called for the lifting of restrictions imposed on the media over the recent weeks.
15-07-2009 (New Delhi) UNESCO-supported conference to focus on the role of media in a digital age
The 18th Annual Conference of the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC), organized in association with the Himgiri Nabh Vishwavidyalaya (HNV) and supported by UNESCO, opened yesterday in New Delhi, India. The AMIC Annual Conference is an important event on the Asian media calendar; it attracts eminent international speakers and participants from the media industry and academia.
13-07-2009 (Geneva) UNESCO calls for proposals for its pavilion at ITU Telecom World 2009
UNESCO calls for design proposals to prepare its pavilion “Empowering persons with disabilities through ICTs” at ITU Telecom World 2009, to be held from 5 to 9 October 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. Through its pavilion UNESCO aims to showcase successful ICT applications for people with disabilities in the area of education, sciences, culture, communication and information.
09-07-2009 (Paris) Nominations are sought for UNESCO-IPDC Prize for Rural Communication
UNESCO has launched a call for nominations for the 2009 UNESCO-IPDC Prize for Rural Communication. Potential submitters are invited to propose nominations in consultation with the National Commissions for UNESCO or with relevant non-governmental organizations maintaining consultative relations with UNESCO. The deadline for submitting nominations is 30 October 2009.
09-07-2009 (Paris) ICT changing the face of higher education
Cyber universities, the challenge of equal access and the growing carbon footprint of information and communication technologies were debated during a parallel session at the World Conference on Higher Education. The Conference, gathering close to 1,000 participants from 148 countries, opened on 5 July at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris with a call for higher education to address global development challenges.
09-07-2009 (Paris) UNESCO and African Union Commission collaborate on science and technology journalism
UNESCO and the African Union Commission (AUC) signed yesterday a Special Agreement to collaborate on journalism training on science and technology in Africa. The Agreement was jointly signed by Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, and Jean-Pierre Ezin, African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology.
06-07-2009 (Kigali) UNESCO and media success story: Radio Salus in Rwanda
Created in 2004 as a result of the collaboration between the National University of Rwanda (NUR) and UNESCO, Radio Salus is one of the first private radio stations to start broadcasting since 1994 genocide. Since its creation, it has received many accolades due to its demonstrated effectiveness and professionalism.
06-07-2009 (Manila) Journalism teachers from Southeast Asia review UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education
Journalism educators from Southeast Asia welcomed the UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education as a benchmark in preparing or revising journalism programmes in the region. This was one of the agreements arrived at by some 30 journalism teachers from the region who attended the two-day ASEAN Orientation Workshop on the UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education, held on 25 and 26 June 2009 in Pasig City, Philippines.
03-07-2009 (Paris) Director-General supports the G8 call on Tehran for respect for human rights
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today expressed strong support for the statement of the G8 Foreign Ministers, who, gathered in Trieste, Italy, on 26 June, urged “Iran to respect fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, as ensured by the international treaties it has ratified.”
01-07-2009 (Paris) Director-General condemns assassination of Philippines journalist Crispin Perez and calls for thorough investigation
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today condemned the murder of Philippines radio commentator Crispin Perez on 9 June in Occidental Mindoro.
01-07-2009 (Harare) Zimbabwean media benefit from climate change training
Twenty-five media professionals from electronic and print media outlets across Zimbabwe benefited from a Climate Change Training Workshop organized through a joint initiative between the UNESCO Office in Harare and the British Council in Zimbabwe, from 15 to 18 June 2009.
29-06-2009 (Paris) UNESCO recruits Advisors for Communication and Information in its Tehran and Cairo Offices
Two posts are presently open for recruitment at UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector: Advisors for Communication and Information in Tehran (Iran), and Cairo (Egypt).
26-06-2009 (Paris) UNESCO releases new publication on open educational resources
UNESCO has released its first openly licensed publication. Open Educational Resources: Conversations in Cyberspace brings together the background papers and reports from the first three years of activities in the UNESCO OER Community. Access the online edition – or buy the book!
26-06-2009 (Paris) UNESCO launches logo competition for World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
27 October has been proclaimed as World Day for Audiovisual Heritage by UNESCO’s General Conference to raise awareness of the importance of audiovisual documents and to draw attention to the urgent need to protect them. In order to promote the activities associated with the Day, UNESCO and the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual Archives Associations (CCAAA), are launching an international competition to design a logo that would give the celebration its own brand.
25-06-2009 (New Delhi) UNESCO helps draft democratic legislation in the Maldives
UNESCO, in collaboration with ARTICLE 19, is providing technical assistance to the Maldivian People’s Majlis (Parliament) to draft legislation to create an enabling environment for freedom of expression. Two draft laws – on broadcasting and freedom of expression – were provided to the Social Affairs Committee of the outgoing Parliament in April 2009. The draft bills have been forwarded to the new Majlis, elected on 8 May, with the recommendation of the outgoing Social Affairs Committee.
24-06-2009 (Pretoria) Community development project gets off the ground in South Africa
A teacher-training course, based on UNESCO's ICT Competency Standards for Teachers, will take place in Tugela Ferry, South Africa, from 29 June to 12 July 2009. This course, which is aimed at introducing school teachers in rural communities to computing and information literacy, is part of the Tugela Ferry project launched by the Department of Informatics of the University of Pretoria.
23-06-2009 (Montevideo) Fostering culture of non-violence through ICT
110 young people from Brasilia and Paraguay, together with 40 volunteering mentors, participated in a half-year pilot project initiated by the Brazilian Institute of Applied Technology and Innovation (ITAI) and the UNESCO Offices in Montevideo and São Paolo. The project aimed to foster a culture of non-violence among young people by using strategies of capacity-building for social and professional integration.
22-06-2009 (Split) UNESCO supports public service broadcasters from South-East Europe
Professionals from public service broadcasters in South-East European countries received two-day training on investigative reporting, which took place in Split, Croatia, on 4 and 5 June 2009. The training, supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), was organized in collaboration with the Eurovision News Exchange for South-East Europe (ERNO).
19-06-2009 (Windhoek) Namibian National Committee of the Memory of the World established
The National Memory of the World Committee for Namibia was established during a meeting organized on 17 June 2009 in Windhoek by the Namibian National Commission for UNESCO and the Namibian Ministry of Education.
