Transboundary cooperation offers UNESCO a new dimension for the development of its designated sites - both the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and the Natural World Heritage sites - , and provides a tool for the co-management of shared ecosystems, of which Transboundary Biosphere Reserves (TBRs) are key catalysts. The workshop aims to strengthen capacities of the concerned MAB National Committees and those who shall ensure a proper in-situ management of the future TBR.

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The special meeting of experts representing Ministries of culture from Member States of South-East Europe (SEE) to be held on 13 December 2013 will serve to discuss and pave the way for the effective implementation of the decision taken during the Annual Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South-Eastern Europe (CoMoCoSEE), concerning the establishment of a new, unified regional cooperation platform on culture at ministerial level, under the title “Council of Ministers of Culture of South-East Europe – Enhancing Culture for Sustainable Development”.

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The purpose of the event is to promote the involvement of local administrations within the identified demonstration case area of Alpago in Veneto Region, Italy, in order to enhance the collection of data and to validate Earth Observation (EO) imagery-based products for risk and vulnerability analysis and mapping. The identified hot spots for risk and the demonstrative test of the Alpago mountain area will be presented by representatives from the municipal authorities of the local communities of Chies, Farra, Pieve, Puos, and Tambre.

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Integrating GMES Emergency Services with satellite navigation and communication for establishing a flood information service (FLOODIS) is a collaborative project funded under FP7-SPACE-2013-1 within the framework of the SP1-Cooperation. FLOODIS will provide an accurate location-based application for portable devices. The proposed solution closes a critical gap for disaster management teams, civil protection, field/emergency response units to better address and mitigate crisis situations arising before, during, and after heavy flooding.

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Starting from 29 November up through 1 December, Gevorg Dabagyan, a major living expert, will give lessons in duduk, a double-reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood, conventionally called the “Armenian oboe”, inscribed in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (2008). The course of Armenian duduk is organised by the Studies and Documentation Centre of Armenian Culture of Venice, in cooperation with the Intercultural Institute of Comparative Music Studies of Giorgio Cini Foundation and UNESCO.

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Celebrated each year on 10 November, it offers an opportunity to demonstrate how science is relevant to our daily lives and to engage the scientific community, policy makers and the public. This year’s theme, Science for Water Cooperation: Sharing Data, Knowledge and Innovations, highlights the key role played by Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in addressing global water challenges.

• Celebration in: Italy (9 November 2013) | Montenegro (11 November 2013)
• Multimedia: UNESCO DG video message [3:07]

Together with my whole team, I would like to wish everyone a happy and peaceful holiday season! It has been our priority to enhance a constant dialogue and sharing of information with Member States and all our partners. News articles and page events published on our internet site present the great diversity of activities implemented in the South East European region.

Yolanda Valle-Neff
Director, UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, Venice (Italy)

• About our Office | Who we are | How we work

The training aims at developing capacities of young professionals from South Eastern Europe with regard to the restoration and conservation of wall paintings of the Ottoman period. Lectures and site work will address the principles of conservation and restoration of monuments, buildings decorations and artefacts, with a special focus on wall paintings, including insights into historical techniques of execution, deterioration processes, conservation treatments and methods, as well as maintenance requirements.

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Convention is a legally-binding international agreement that intends to ensure that artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a broad range of cultural goods, services and activities. The upcoming event  in Lviv, Ukraine,  aims to raise awareness of the challenges regarding policy development to promote the diversity of cultural expressions within the countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP).

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The Forum will provide a platform for expert representatives from the science, technology and business communities, educational institutions and all levels of government for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and practical experience in priority areas of renewable energy development in light of advanced Russian and International Studies, developments and best practices in the use of RES. REENFOR aims to develop scientifically and economically sound solutions to ensure effective promotion of innovative renewable energy technologies.

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Integrating GMES Emergency Services with satellite navigation and communication for establishing a flood information service (FLOODIS) is a collaborative project funded under FP7-SPACE-2013-1 within the framework of the SP1-Cooperation. FLOODIS will provide an accurate location-based application for portable devices. The proposed solution closes a critical gap for disaster management teams, civil protection, field/emergency response units to better address and mitigate crisis situations arising before, during, and after heavy flooding.

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This post-event of EuroMAB2013 will allow participants to share their experiences and exchange knowledge, good/best practices and lessons learnt in relation to ESD activities developed in and around biosphere reserves; it will focus especially on good practices and lessons learnt related to activities demonstrating the third function of a biosphere reserve, how it logistically supports ESD projects.

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• Education for Sustainable Development in Biosphere Reserves and other Designated Areas: A Resource Book for Educators in South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean

A meeting of experts from South East Europe, within the framework of the 22nd edition of the International Festival of Ethnological Film, to discuss how documentary films and other audio-visual productions may contribute to the safeguarding and viability of intangible cultural heritage. The round table will discuss the realization of a possible regional audiovisual production on intangible cultural heritage in South-East Europe – challenges and opportunities. Participating experts will include representatives of heritage safeguarding agencies, anthropologists, film makers and other individual practitioners.

• Full story | Tentative programme

The workshop on Transboundary Biosphere Reserves (TBRs), to be held within the 2013 EuroMAB Network Meeting, aims to enhance the capacity of EuroMAB countries to establish and manage their biosphere reserves, particularly transboundary ones, and to look at the transboundary potential within the EuroMAB network through innovative approaches to conservation and sustainable development. It will provide an opportunity to discuss added values of biosphere reserves in the integrated management of shared water resources.

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The school is oriented towards improving the quality/quantity of ethical science reporting by the SEE media and will contribute to increasing public awareness on the importance of scientific knowledge and towards developing a critical science journalism culture in SEE. International science media experts and science reporters from the region will be offered an opportunity to share and exchange information and data as well as laying the foundations to establish a regional forum/network to discuss emerging ideas and plans relevant to better societal understanding of science and technology.

• Full story  | PreAnnouncement | Programme

The event will gather science promotion professionals, practitioners and enthusiasts from our region to share experience, network and formulate the next steps towards strengthening the link between science and society. It is time to meet, discuss challenges and share experiences. The region is rich in creative people who share similar cultural background, so synergy should be easy to establish. It is an invitation to explore how to increase the scientific culture in the region and identify the short and long term strategic goals of science promotion.

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The international workshop will look at energy issues including energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in historical towns as part of global sustainability in the use of energy sources. Energy is increasingly at the core of global sustainability and climate change mitigation discussions. As energy demand continues to grow, the ability to address energy issues, including energy access, efficiency, and renewable energy sources, will be paramount in enabling development and climate change priorities to be met in a mutually reinforcing way.

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The  UNESCO School in South East Europe represents a unique educational opportunity to enhance capacity-building in sustainable energy by conveying in a single venue a substantial capital of knowledge developed in World Heritage sites in Europe. Experienced lecturers will highlight, through which methodologies, how to link advanced technologies in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy with the preservation of historical buildings, towns and natural settings.

• Full story  | Final Announcement

The course consists of theoretical and practical instructions in the techniques of underwater archaeological excavation, data processing and use of new technologies in underwater documentation. Archaeologists from ICUA and guest lecturers are conducting theoretical lessons, complemented by optional courses in specialty diving according to the requirements of the SSI or PADI system. Practical instruction takes place in the frame of underwater archaeological researches of ancient shipwrecks in Ližnjan, Pula environs, to prepare the participants to actively take part as a regular member of an underwater archaeological excavations team.

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Organized annually in partnership with Europa Nostra, the event serves to identify and promote the best museum, heritage and conservation projects in the world, and brings together museum and heritage professionals, institutions and professionals from a broad range of practice and interest in the field of heritage. It presents awarded, new or renewed institutions worldwide and a great number of exceptional projects hardly known to the international professional public. It offers a unique chance to see, hear, and meet representatives of professional excellence and gain insights into innovative contemporary practice.

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Within the second cartoon series of the H2Ooooh! Initiative, the UNESCO Venice Office encourages youth around the world to create and share their own stories on how to better safeguard and protect the precious natural resource of water. During the 24th Edition of the CIAK Junior International Film Festival, four cartoons were produced by the participants. Two are related to water issues and the other two to the Garbage Patch State. The videos are now on air on our YouTube channel.

• Full story  | H2Ooooh! initiative

Information on Prof. Eyüce’s passing was shared by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “His passing is a great loss to us and to the cultural and academic communities. Prof. Eyüce will be sorely missed in Venice where he was highly appreciated, not only for having enriched our work and for the positive impact he had during his two-year mandate as member of our Scientific Council, but also for his unique human qualities.  He will be warmly remembered.”, said Yolanda Valle-Neff.

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The 3-week course to take place in Albania, from 14 October to 1 November 2013 will consist of theoretical and practical (hands-on) activities aimed to introduce relevant conservation and restoration techniques, in compliance with internationally recognized conservation principles and standards. The course will include a one-week theoretical training module at the Tirana Regional Centre for the Restoration of Monuments, and a two-week field module in the city of Berat, UNESCO World Heritage site, focusing on the complex of the King's Mosque.

• Full story | Call for Applications Deadline extended until 16 September 2013.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of government institutions at all levels, international organizations, as well as ambassadors in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In her address, Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator and Chair of the UN Development Group, underscored how all the United Nations agencies wish to show how with joint efforts, with the local government, the development of the country is achievable. The building opening presents a symbolic act of cooperation strengthening between the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations.

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The site is inscribed on the World Heritage list since 1979. The buildings of Stari Ras are an impressive group of medieval monuments consisting of fortresses, churches and monasteries. The monastery at Sopoćani is a reminder of the contacts between Western civilization and the Byzantine world. A call for proposals has been opened for the preparation and facilitation of a capacity-building workshop for the finalization and implementation of the Management Plan for the World Heritage site Stari Ras and Sopoćani, Serbia. The extended deadline for submission of proposals is: 6 September 2013.

• Full story | Call for proposals

The exhibit is part of UNESCO’s global initiative “Culture: a Bridge to Development” and it seeks to enhance cooperation and dialogue among national history museums. It focuses on the constitution and evolution of modern nations in South-East Europe during the “long 19th century. It will be inaugurated at the Historical Museum of Serbia, on 9 September 2013 in the presence of Bratislav Petković, Minister of Culture and Media, Serbia. It will be on display until 6 November 2013 and travel to Romania in December 2013 and to other countries from South-East Europe in 2014-2015.  

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The UNESCO-funded “PreserVenice” website and smartphone app aimed at publicizing and protecting the unique collection of public art that adorns the streets and canals of the city of Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been released. The website showcases all of the 1098 coats of arms, 943 roundels, 394 reliefs, 173 sculptures, 109 street altars, 109 fountains, 75 crosses, 56 flagstaff pedestals, 32 decorations, 30 inscriptions and 25 fragments, for a total of 3,044 elements of Venice’s urban decor.

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UNESCO and the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe will organize a global meeting of category 2 centres active in the field of intangible cultural heritage at Sozopol. The meeting will be an excellent opportunity for the participants to take stock of the recent developments in the life of the Convention and the larger trends underway at UNESCO concerning category 2 centres.

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The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and State Museum will host a meeting of the international steering committee in charge of coordinating, under the auspice of UNESCO, the establishment of a renovated joint exhibit space within the ex-Yugoslav pavilion (Block 17). The meeting will allow experts to present selected items and discuss common approaches for the contents of the joint exhibit, as well as to consult archives and visit other national pavilions situated within the Memorial, a World Heritage site since 1979.

• Full story | Final report

The forum will serve to share best practices, exchange knowledge, as well as to outline a shared regional roadmap and common vision of the role of active UNESCO Chairs /UNITWIN Networks in the fields of science and culture in the region. Will participate representatives from Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey.

• Full story | Programme | Conclusions | Working documents

On display in Venice until 26 July, a project launched by Jean-Michel Armengol, Secretary-General of the Andorran National Commission for UNESCO, and Faust Campama Peleja. Art Camp contributes to a better understanding between states that have experienced violence, war and conflicts and to the sharing of culture and art in an atmosphere of mutual respect. It is an opportunity for artists from around the world to meet and create in a common manner. The festival promotes not only peace but also sustainable development, a value at the heart of the Organization.  

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This is the cultural event that the UNESCO Venice Office offers through art night venezia, organized by the University Ca' Foscari of Venice in collaboration with Venetian cultural institutions. The file rouge of this year’s edition will be "the value of women." The Office has developed for this year's theme an ideal narrative that depicts the value of women in various forms of art (visual art - cinematography – comics and cartoons - photography - theatre - music). The event will take place on Saturday, June 22, from 17.30 to 24.00, at Palazzo Zorzi.

• Full story | Leaflet

CIAK Junior calls upon youth from Europe and around the world to create an audio-visual product from start to finish, covering all phases, and taking part in the production of a short film. 4 out of the 7 short films in competition at the 24th Edition of the CIAK Junior International Film Festival focused on the issue of bullying in all its forms, in particular over the internet. In all the stories, diversity acceptance turned out to be the toughest challenge to face. UNESCO awarded a special recognition to the short film which best expressed the mission and mandate of the Organization: 'Look at me' (Israel).

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On the occasion of the Wasteland Performance, the Garbage Patch was symbolically recognized on 11 April as a federal state rises in the middle of the oceans. It is a territory that comprises five areas of man-made rubbish scattered in the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Land-based sources - such as agricultural run-off, discharge of nutrients and pesticides and untreated sewage including plastics - account for approximately 80% of marine pollution, globally. The Garbage Patch State will be on display in Venice from 29 May-24 November 2013.

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The main objective of the SEE River project is to reach a common agreement on river corridor management for harmonisation of both development and conservation interests. This will be achieved thanks to a close cooperation of experts from a wide range of fields and from different countries, and to the active involvement of stakeholders from local river areas and national or regional authorities. The project is introducing a new approach to river and land management by focusing on the river corridor as the selected, local river area where most pressures occur.

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The conference will analyze the integration of cultural diversity into a wide framework of public policies in South East Europe and the status of implementation and monitoring of UNESCO's Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005). The event will be structured in four thematic round tables: Integrating Cultural Diversity in Sustainable Development Policies; Promoting Cultural Policies; Strengthening the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; Promoting Mobility and Engaging Civil Society.

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The members of the Southeast European Network on Phytochemistry and Chemistry of Natural Products for Green and Sustainable Growth (SEE-PhytoChemNet) will discuss on the high potential existing in SEE for better sustainable usage of the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP’s) for economy growth and jobs creation. The role of Biosphere Reserves in the South East European region will be evaluated with local stakeholders and experts. Participation of NGOs, agencies and international institutions active in the region is also expected.

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The technical workshop of 14 May in Tirana is part of the planned activities of the EU-funded project IncREO-Increasing Resilience through Earth Observation, devised in support of emergency response management and risk-preparedness. It aims to provide actors responsible for disaster management, risk prevention, civil protection and also spatial planning with EO-based solutions, contributing particularly to an improved preparedness and mitigation planning for areas highly vulnerable to natural disasters.

• Full story | Programme

The meeting, entitled “New strategies for sustainable development, tourism and partnerships” will focus its debates on 3 topics: the status of implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the respective countries of the region; cases and best practices in promoting intangible cultural heritage as a driver for local sustainable development (tourism, private/public partnerships); and proposals for common action in the areas of training and capacity-building.

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Within the framework of its global initiative “Culture: A Bridge to Development”, UNESCO is supporting, in co-operation with the Balkanika Foundation, a new regional encounter on the iconic bridge of Lovech, Bulgaria. It will feature artistic events and round tables between writers, artists and policy makers on the new arts scene in South-East Europe, as well as on the role of cities in shaping a new agenda for creativity and cultural innovation. This event is the second of a series planned for the region, with a view to provide spaces for sub-regional and regional exchange among various cultural and political actors.

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The third meeting to renew the “Ex-Yugoslav” Pavilion in Auschwitz-Birkenau will be convened in Skopje and will serve to agree on chronologies and timelines, define a data reference document on deportees to Auschwitz, determine a mapping of existing documentation, archives and materials, agree on supporting collections, texts and materials that could be used for the common exhibit space which will be divided in 4 themes: Time and Space; Victims; Perpetrators and Collaborators; and, Resistants.

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Created in the belief that Nations and their History should not be a matter of division, and developed as a historic opportunity to place national histories in a global context, compare disputed narratives, and revive shared memories. National history museums from South-East Europe are coming together to put in perspective and compare their collections and their national histories. The exhibit,  structured around 8 thematic areas, presents shared key processes and experiences, common features and historical interactions, including with the rest of Europe.

• Full story | Media Advisory | Leaflet

The current development agenda is centered on the MDGs, which have an overall target date of 2015. The MDGs encapsulate 8 globally agreed concrete goals, with time-bound targets and indicators for measuring progress. At the 2010 High-level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly to review progress towards the MDGs, governments called not only for accelerating progress towards achieving the MDGs, but also for thinking on ways to advance the UN Development Agenda beyond 2015.

• Full story | Overview

Eleven countries will be represented at this second edition of the Forum. In the course of the debates and sessions, participating schools and students will present World heritage related projects that have been developed according to the standards and guidelines of the World Heritage in Young Hands Kit. An educational simulation of the work of the World Heritage Committee will also be represented during the Forum. Finally a Youth declaration will be adopted at the end of the Forum and presented to UNESCO.

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The exhibition "Visualizing Venice, new technologies for urban history" will be on show at Palazzo Zorzi (Castello 4930) in Venice, Italy, from 8-26 April 2013. It presents a cross-section of the studies by Visualizing Venice, an international, multidisciplinary research team focused on exploring new ways of “making” history using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and on testing the effectiveness of highly innovative communication systems in narrating urban change over time.  It reconstructs the last 3 years of Visualizing Venice’s research through a series of construction sites (“cantieri”).

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• Full story | Resource Book

IncREO - Increasing Resilience through Earth Observation is a collaborative project under the call FP7-SPACE-2012-1 in support of emergency response management and risk-preparedness. Its overall objective is to provide actors responsible for disaster management, risk prevention, civil protection and also spatial planning with EO-based solutions contributing particularly to an improved preparedness and mitigation planning for areas highly vulnerable to natural disasters and already noticeable climate change trends.

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The UNESCO Venice Office is renewing its cooperation with the 17th edition of the Sofia International Film Festival. The “Balkan Screenings” will present the latest films from South-East Europe for festival selectors, sales agents, distributors and international press. The programe includes a Balkan Competition (international competition of latest films from the region) and closed screenings of completed films and works in progress from the region seen for festival directors, distributors and sales agents.

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“Fifty years ago Italia Nostra invited heritage NGOs from other European countries to create Europa Nostra with the aim of joining forces in the effort to save Venice and other jewels of Europe’s heritage. Today, Europa Nostra and Italia Nostra come together in Venice to discuss with leading representatives of Italian private and public bodies ways in which we can give a new impetus to Europe-wide mobilisation for the safeguard of our cultural and natural heritage”, stated the Executive President of Europa Nostra.

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Support was given to the reconstruction of the country’s most valuable cultural heritage, including the mysterious Mithras Temple of Jajce in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Mithras Temple dated 4th century AD was officially open in Jajce on 4 December, 2012. The rehabilitation of the site was done within the MDG-F Joint Programme on “Improving Cultural Understanding in Bosnia and Herzegovina”  and extensive works were financed by the Government of Spain, the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Jajce Municipality and the Federal Institute for Protection of Cultural Heritage.

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A three-fold purpose for the official visit of the UNESCO Venice Office to the Republic of Moldova: the official inauguration of the new headquarters of the national Agency for Inspection and Restoration of Monuments, established with the support of UNESCO and of the Italian Government; consultations with high officials and ministerial representatives in the country on future cooperation with UNESCO; and, the participation in a workshop on e-Infrastructures within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Platform.

• Full story  | Photo Gallery

Since the historic high water of 1966 and the UNESCO report of 1969, 40 years of efforts have been devoted to the protection of this World Heritage site. The international conference scheduled on 21-22 February 2013, in Venice, will especially aim to take stock of the achievements and lessons learned since the inscription of Venice and its Lagoon on the World Heritage List, while at the same time allowing for a broader discussion on the future challenges for the management of the site, as well as for its sustainable development.

• Full story - Event postponed

UNESCO, in cooperation with the major media stakeholders, has developed a set of indicators to assess gender equality and women’s empowerment in media. These Gender-Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM) seek to address the intersection of women’s empowerment and media development. Its main focus is on the equality and gender dimensions of social diversity in the media. A two-day training with journalists will be held in Tirana to enhance their fair and balanced reporting of issues directly or indirectly related to WOMEN and not only.

• Full story | Programme

The international steering committee, in charge of coordinating the establishment of a joint exhibit space within the ex-Yugoslav pavilion (nr. 17) in the State Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau, will meet to discuss measures for the physical renovation of the pavilion, on the basis of the structural/static analysis commissioned by the Austrian National Fund for the Victims of National Socialism, and conveyed to the Auschwitz Museum. The objectives of this meeting resonate with UNESCO’s mission to promote Holocaust education, as well as the role of museums as tools for intercultural understanding, research and dialogue.

• Full story | Programme  | Final Conclusions