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    International Year of Biodiversity

    International Year of Biodiversity
    • © Judy

    At the start of 2010, International Year of Biodiversity, UNESCO is holding an inaugural event (21-22 January) and a scientific conference (25-29 January) at Headquarters. These activities aim to present what we know about biodiversity and raise awareness of the alarming rate of biodiversity loss.  More

    Education For All threatened by global financial crisis

    Education For All threatened by global financial crisis
    • © UNESCO/Marc Hofer
    • Learning to read in Uganda.

    The aftershock of the global financial crisis threatens to deprive millions of children in the world’s poorest countries of an education, warns the 2010 Education for All Global Monitoring Report. The report was launched 19 January in New York.  More

    Mobilizing for Haiti

    Mobilizing for Haiti
    • © UN Photo/Logan Abassi
    • A wounded woman is rushed to a UN helicopter.

    UNESCO is contributing to the United Nations’ Flash Appeal for Haiti. It is focusing on reactivating the educational sector, devastated by the earthquake.

    UNESCO’s 14-member team in Haiti has been accounted for; all are alive.  More

    Biodiversity is life

    International Year of Biodiversity
    • © UNESCO

    The UN has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity, aiming to cut the rate of biodiversity loss. During the Year, UNESCO will lead activities to raise awareness of biodiversity's vital role and catalyze international action for its sustainable use.  More

    UNESCO celebrates holidays and looks foward to the new year

    UNESCO wishes you a joyful holiday season and a happy and constructive new year. In 2010, the world will celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity and the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.  More

    Climate Change: UNESCO on all fronts

    Climate Change: UNESCO on all fronts
    • © Emma Gawen
    • The Tasman Glacier is retreating, resulting in the growth of this glacial lake.

    UNESCO has long contributed to our knowledge of climate change, focusing on key elements - e.g. collecting and sharing data, education, the social aspects of the problem. The Organization is participating in the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen (Denmark). On 16 December, Director-General Irina Bokova presented UNESCO's initiatives in this domain.  More

    Google and UNESCO announce alliance to provide virtual visits of several World Heritage sites

    Google and UNESCO announce alliance to provide virtual visits of several World Heritage sites
    • © UNESCO/M. Ravassard

    Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List – the historic centre of Prague in the Czech Republic and the old town of Cáceres in Spain, for example – can now be explored online, thanks to an agreement signed by UNESCO and the international corporation Google.  More

    The Power of Adult Learning: 6th International Conference on Adult Education

    The Power of Adult Learning: 6th International Conference on Adult Education
    • © South African Department of Education
    • South African literacy campaign

    What strategies for living and learning for a viable future? CONFINTEA VI is hosted by the Government of Brazil in Belém from 1 to 4 December. With more than 1500 participants, it provides an important platform for policy dialogue and advocacy on adult learning and non-formal education at global level.  More

    World AIDS Day 2009 : “Universal Access and Human Rights” this year's theme

    World AIDS Day 2009 : “Universal Access and Human Rights” this year's theme

    Universal access to prevention and treatment will not be possible “without fully respecting the universality of human rights, regardless of a person’s age, sex, ethnicity, occupation, religious beliefs and sexual orientation,” stresses UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in her message for 1 December, World AIDS Day.  More

    Number of researchers in developing countries is rising, but women still in minority

    Number of researchers in developing countries is rising, but women still in minority
    • © UNESCO/Niamh Burke

    The number of researchers, on the rise world-wide, jumped by 56% in developing countries between 2002 and 2007, according to a new study published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). In comparison, their number increased by only 8.6% in developed countries during the same period.  More

    Irina Bokova takes office as Director-General of UNESCO

    Irina Bokova takes office as Director-General of UNESCO
    • © UNESCO/M.Ravassard

    Irina Bokova issued a message on 15 November, her first day in office. "My goal is to lead the world to a new era of peace," she said. Ms Bokova begins her term with a visit to Doha (Qatar) on 16 November to address the first World Innovation Summit for Education.  More

    A wall comes down, a new world is born

    A wall comes down, a world is born
    • © Georges Malempré.

    The world celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakthrough for peace and democracy it symbolized. UNESCO Director-General-elect Irina Bokova issues a warning: “Too many walls remain,” she says. In the UNESCO Courier, Ukrainian author Andrei Kurkov talks about what happened after the Wall fell.  More

    Death of Claude Lévi-Strauss a loss to the whole of humanity, says UNESCO Director-General

    Death of Claude Lévi-Strauss a loss to the whole of humanity, says UNESCO Director-General
    • © UNESCO/D.Bijeljac
    • Claude Lévi-Strauss

    UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura today expressed his sorrow over the death of eminent French anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss, whom he described as one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century. Mr Levi Strauss worked closely with UNESCO from 1949 on. For his 100th birthday in 2008, the UNESCO Courier devoted a special issue to him.  More

    “Knowledge and Future”: 4th World Science Forum

    “Knowledge and Future”: 4th World Science Forum

    The Forum will focus on developments in science and science policies in the last decade and examine priorities for future action. It will be held in Budapest (Hungary) from 5 to 7 November, ahead of World Science Day for Peace and Development (10 November).  More

    The world pays tribute to Koïchiro Matsuura

    The world pays tribute to Koïchiro Matsuura
    • © UNESCO/M.Ravassard

    The international community paid tribute on 22 October to Koïchiro Matsuura, the outgoing Director-General of UNESCO. President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture and Communication, praised Mr Matsuura’s dedication and wisdom.  More

    Cultural diversity profitable, says new UNESCO Report

    Cultural diversity profitable, says new UNESCO Report
    • © UNESCO

    Companies that invest in cultural diversity, whether at the management, human resources or marketing level, can benefit economically from it. This is one conclusion of the UNESCO World Report Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, released 20 October.  More

    Close of UNESCO General Conference (6 to 23 October)

    Close of UNESCO General Conference (6 to 23 October)
    • © UNESCO/M. Ravassard

    Irina Bokova sworn in as Director-General of UNESCO

    Ms Bokova's investiture ceremony was held on 23 October, the last day of the 35th Session of the General Conference. The Director-General elect spoke of the “new humanism” she intends to promote.  More

    Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage: committee ends session in Abu Dhabi

    Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage: committee ends session in Abu Dhabi
    • © 2008 by Qufu Municipal Cultural Affairs Bureau
    • The Dragon Boat festival - China

    The tango (Argentina and Uruguay), India’s Ramman festival, Chinese sericulture and France’s Aubusson tapestries were among 76 new elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which now totals 166 elements. During the meeting, the Committee also launched the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, on which it inscribed 12 elements.  More

    Restored UNESCO Headquarters unveiled

    Restored UNESCO Headquarters unveiled
    • © Lucien Hervé

    The restoration of the modernist masterpiece that has served as UNESCO’s Headquarters since 1958 came to a successful end on Friday 25 September when the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, former Director-General Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow and French architect Jean-Loup Roubert inaugurated the born-again Paris landmark.  More

    Irina Bokova (Bulgaria) chosen as candidate to the post of Director-General

    Irina Bokova (Bulgaria) chosen as candidate to the post of Director-General
    • © UNESCO/M.Ravassard

    At the end of the 5th round of voting, the 58 members of UNESCO's Executive Board designated Irina Gueorguieva Bokova as candidate to the post of Director-General. When confirmed by the General Conference (on 15 October), she will be the first woman to head the Organization.  More

    UNESCO celebrates International Literacy Day

    UNESCO celebrates International Literacy Day
    • © UNESCO/M. Ravassard

    A presentation by former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush in her role as Honorary Ambassador for the UN Literacy Decade and a ceremony to award the 2009 UNESCO Literacy Prizes were among the varied events on UNESCO’s programme for International Literacy Day on 8 September. The spotlight this year is on the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and development.  More

    New International Guidelines spell out what sexuality education needs to teach

    New International Guidelines spell out what sexuality education needs to teach
    • © Francine Levieux/UNESCO

    Reducing HIV infection in young people and improving their sexual and reproductive health require effective education programmes. However, such programmes are still not available in many parts of the world. UNESCO and its partners have now developed new guidelines to address this problem  More

    Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

    Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
    • © UNESCO

    Respect, tolerance and dialogue are highlighted by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, in a message on the occasion of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, celebrated on 23 August every year.  More

    Women and literacy: Interview with Dr Lalage Bown

    Women and literacy: Interview with Dr Lalage Bown

    Professor Lalage Bown, expert on adult education and female empowerment, spent much of her career in Africa. Her research led to a groundbreaking 1990 report on women, literacy and development. She will be at UNESCO in Paris on September 8 to give the International Literacy Day Lecture on ‘Literacy and Empowerment’.  More

    Laureates of 2009 UNESCO Literacy Prizes announced

    Proclamados los ganadores de los Premios UNESCO de Alfabetización 2009
    • © Center for gender and education

    A newspaper produced entirely by women in rural India and other innovative literacy projects in Burkina Faso, Afghanistan and the Philippines have won the UNESCO Literacy Prizes this year, while a programme in Bhutan received an Honourable Mention. The laureates were proclaimed by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, on the recommendation of an international Jury.  More

    Exceptional documentary heritage added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

    Exceptional documentary heritage added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register
    • © AFF Basel, CH / AFS Amsterdam, NL
    • Anne Frank's first diary

    Anne Frank’s Diaries and the Royal Archives of Thailand and Madagascar are among 35 items of documentary heritage of exceptional value which have been added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. This brings the total number of inscriptions since 1997 to 193.  More

    Walking on the moon, 40 years later

    Walking on the moon, 40 years later
    • © UNESCO / R. Lepage
    • Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins visit UNESCO on 8 october 1969

    Only a few months after their historic voyage to the moon, American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins came to UNESCO to share their experience. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first moonwalk, UNESCO underlines that 2009, International Year of Astronomy, is the time to rediscover our place in the universe and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society.  More

    Babylon: update on damages

    Babylon: update on damage assessment
    • © UNESCO/T. Teneishvili
    • Ishtar Gate, Babylon

    The Ishtar Gate is one of the key structures of the ancient city of Babylon damaged during recent military use of the famous archaeological site in Iraq, says the new UNESCO “Final Report on Damage Assessment in Babylon”, released 9 July. The report, an exhaustive technical evaluation of present conditions at the site, lists recommendations for Babylon's future protection, restoration and management.  More

    President of Brazil receives Peace Prize at UNESCO

    President of Brazil receives Peace Prize at UNESCO
    • © UNESCO/Patrick Lagès

    President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was awarded the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize by Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, at the Organization’s Headquarters on 7 July, in recognition of his action for peace and equality of rights.  More

    UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education

    UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education
    • © UNESCO

    Rapid growth in student numbers, the surge in private provision, measures to promote equity - these and other key issues will be addressed as over 1,000 participants discuss the future of Higher Education and research at the 2009 Conference, organized at UNESCO in Paris from 5 to 8 July.  More

    La UNESCO amplía su Lista del Patrimonio Mundial con 13 nuevos sitios

    La UNESCO amplía su Lista del Patrimonio Mundial con 13 nuevos sitios
    • © UNESCO / Javier Cabildo Fajardo
    • La Torre de Hércules, España.

    El Comité del Patrimonio Mundial, que celebra en Sevilla su 33ª reunión presidido por María Jesús San Segundo, Embajadora y Delegada Permanente de España en la UNESCO, inscribió este año dos nuevos sitios naturales y 11 culturales en la Lista del Patrimonio Mundial. Además, retiró de la Lista el Valle del Elba en Dresde, Alemania, con lo que la Lista tiene en adelante 890 bienes inscritos.  More

    World Ocean Day 2009

    June 8: World Ocean Day 2009
    • © UNESCO

    The first United Nations World Ocean Day was celebrated 8 June under the theme “One Ocean, One Climate, One Future”. To mark the occasion, UNESCO has announced the nomination of French navigator Maud Fontenoy as the UNESCO and World Ocean Network Spokesperson for the Oceans.  More

    22 new sites join UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves

    New UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves sites
    • © A. Lotov

    The 21st session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) is taking place from 25 to 29 May 2009 on the Island of Jeju, Republic of Korea. Today the MAB-ICC decided to add 22 new sites from 17 countries to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) which now counts 553 sites in 107 countries.  More

    Celebration of World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (21 May)

    Celebration of World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (21 May)
    • ©Jingdezhen Institute of Ceramics

    Two famous calligraphers from different traditions will intertwine their writing to celebrate World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development at UNESCO. Among many other examples, Master Fan Zeng (China) and Jassan Makaremi (Iran) provide a poetic illustration of learning how to “better know each other and live together”.  More

    2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize is awarded to President of Brazil Lula da Silva

    2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize is awarded to President of Brazil Lula da Silva
    • © UNESCO

    The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was chosen on 13 May as the laureate of UNESCO’s 2008 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. The award ceremony will take place on 7 July.  More

    Post-conflict and natural disaster areas the focus of 8th annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors

    Post-conflict and natural disaster areas the focus of 8th annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
    • © UNESCO

    More than twenty UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors – influential celebrities who defend UNESCO’s ideals – will examine the best ways of promoting UNESCO’s activities in post-conflict and natural disaster zones, during their annual meeting organized at UNESCO Headquarters on 14 May.  More

    UNESCO Future Forum: prospects of knowledge acquisition

    UNESCO Future Forum: prospects of knowledge acquisition
    • ©all rights reserved

    UNESCO devoted the second session of its Future Forum to the role and impact of ICTs in the knowledge process and to their potential for enhancing education, the sciences and culture.  More

    Nollywood rivals Bollywood in film/video production

    Nollywood rivals Bollywood in film/video production

    A global cinema survey by UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics (UIS) says that India remains world’s leading film producer but Nigeria is closing the gap after overtaking the United States for second place  More

    Le Siège de l'UNESCO ouvre ses portes pour "La Nuit européenne des Musées" le 16 Mai

    La Nuit européenne des musées
    • ©UNESCO/M.Ravassard

    Le Directeur général de l’UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, a accordé pour la première fois le patronage de l’UNESCO à « La Nuit européenne des Musées » qui se déroulera le samedi 16 mai 2009.  More

    UNESCO celebrates World Press Freedom Day 2009

    UNESCO celebrates World Press Freedom Day 2009

    The media’s potential for promoting dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation was the theme of UNESCO World Press Freedom Day 2009, celebrated in Doha (Qatar) on 2-3 May. Events included a conference and the award ceremony of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, won posthumously by Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge.  More

    UNESCO celebrates books and reading

    UNESCO celebrates books and reading
    • © UNESCO

    After launching the World Digital Library with the Library of Congress and 32 other partners, UNESCO celebrated World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April in Beirut (Lebanon). Beirut is now World Book Capital for the next year while “The Big Read” activities recall that 776 million adults in the world cannot read or write.  More

    Director-General draws the attention of President Karzai to the importance of respecting equality between men and women

    Director-General draws the attention of President Karzai to the importance of respecting equality between men and women

    Koïchiro Matsuura has expressed grave concern over the possible entry into force of legislation adopted by Parliament on the personal status of the Shiite community in Afghanistan.  More

    Director-General of UNESCO concerned about crackdown on media in Fiji

    Director-General of UNESCO concerned about crackdown on media in Fiji

    Koïchiro Matsuura today voiced grave concern about the suspension of press freedom in Fiji under thirty-day Public Emergency Regulations that came into force on 10 April.  More

    UNESCO, Library of Congress and partners launch World Digital Library

    UNESCO, Library of Congress and partners launch World Digital Library

    UNESCO and 32 partner institutions have launched the World Digital Library, a website that features unique cultural materials from libraries and archives from around the world, at Paris Headquarters on 21 April.  More

    Murdered Sri Lankan journalist receives UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2009

    Murdered Sri Lankan journalist receives UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2009
    • © Reporters sans frontières

    The late Sri Lankan journalist and editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, assassinated on 8 January this year, is laureate of the 2009 UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize. The award ceremony will be held in Doha (Qatar) on May 3, World Press Freedom Day.  More

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Paris for meeting hosted by UNESCO

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Paris for meeting hosted by UNESCO
    • ©UNESCO/Andrew Wheeler

    After participating in the G-20 Summit in London, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came to Paris to attend the annual meeting of the CEB (UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination), hosted by UNESCO on 4-5 April.  More

    Director-General to G-20: “Invest in education”

    Director-General to G-20: “Invest in education”
    • © UNESCO/Katy Anis
    • School in Timor-Leste

    Koïchiro Matsuura, the Director-General of UNESCO, has written to the leaders of the Group of 20 nations, meeting in London this week, to plead the cause of education.  More

    50th Anniversary of Nubia Campaign

    50th Anniversary of Nubia Campaign
    • © UNESCO/Alexis N. Vorontzoff
    • Island of Philae

    UNESCO, Egypt and Sudan are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Nubia Campaign to save the 22 monuments of Ancient Egypt about to be flooded by the construction of the Aswan Dam: a defining moment of international solidarity.  More

    Teaching and learning for a sustainable future

    Teaching and learning for a sustainable future
    • © Centre for Environmental Education India
    • Samvardhan Project (India)

    The UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is taking place in Bonn (Germany) from 31 March to 2 April. Some 700 experts and stakeholders will exchange best practices and develop strategies during the event, which marks the midpoint of the UN Decade for ESD.  More

    World Water Day

    World Water Day

    World Water Day 2009 highlights Transboundary Waters. Its celebration on 22 March closes the World Water Forum in Istanbul (Turkey).  More

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