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Messages from the Director-General of UNESCO


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  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World - Environment Day - 5 June 2006 - ()
    29-05-2006 - Each year, World Environment Day provides us with an opportunity to consider the environment in which we live – the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we occupy, cultivate and enjoy. The environment provides us with a quality of life which is often taken for granted. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development - 21 May 2006 - ()
    21-05-2006 - On 21 May 2006, we will be celebrating for the fourth time the “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development”, proclaimed in 2002 by the United Nations General Assembly, following the adoption of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day - 3 May 2006 - (Office of the Director-General)
    06-05-2006 - On World Press Freedom Day, we remind the world of the importance of protecting the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and freedom of the press, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day - 23 April 2006 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    23-04-2006 - Since 1996, 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day, has brought several million people together in more than 100 countries of the South and the North in solemn celebration of the book’s multiple roles in the life of human societies. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - 21 March 2006 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    20-03-2006 - The celebration of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an occasion for each one of us to participate once again in the long history of those who are working for equal rights and human dignity. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Water Day 2006: ‘Water and Culture’ - 22 March 2006 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    17-03-2006 - In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March as World Water Day in worldwide celebration of this vital resource. The selected theme of World Water Day 2006 is ‘Water and Culture’. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Poetry Day 2006, 21 March 2006 - (La Porte-parole)
    17-03-2006 - The world constantly changes across time and space, from day to day, from one place to another. And human beings are no exception, for we too are in transformation. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Women’s Day - 8 March 2006 - ()
    08-03-2006 - Each year, International Women’s Day is a moment for taking stock of the progress made as well as the challenges ahead regarding the achievement of the UN system-wide goal of gender equality through women’s empowerment. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of International Mother Language Day - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    20-02-2006 - Language is much more than an instrument, considerably more than a tool. In structuring our thoughts, in coordinating our social relations and in building our relationship with reality, it constitutes a fundamental dimension of the human being. It is in and through language that we live. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2005 - ()
    08-12-2005 - Six decades ago, the United Nations was founded “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” and “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women”. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World AIDS Day, 1 December 2005 - ()
    30-11-2005 - The AIDS epidemic continues to take a heavy toll in Sub-Saharan Africa and threatens many other regions of the world. Comprehensive responses linking prevention with treatment are the best hope for weakening its grip and preventing it from expanding. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance, 16 November 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    16-11-2005 - Ten years ago, on 16 November 1995, the Member States of UNESCO adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and solemnly proclaimed an International Day for Tolerance, an initiative that was taken up by the General Assembly of the United Nations. More

  • Message de M. Koïchiro Matsuura, Directeur général de l’UNESCO, à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale de la science au service de la paix et du développement, 10 novembre 2005 - (La Porte-parole)
    08-11-2005 - Chaque année, la Journée mondiale de la science au service de la paix et du développement nous offre l’occasion d’accorder une attention particulière à la contribution de la science au développement durable et à l’amélioration des perspectives de paix. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17 October 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    17-10-2005 - Worldwide poverty was responsible for the death of an estimated 270 million people between 1990 and 2004, which is more than four times the number of deaths during the two World Wars. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Disaster Reduction Day , 12 October 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    07-10-2005 - Natural disasters are increasing in terms of frequency, complexity, scope and destructive capacity. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Literacy Day - 8 September 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    07-09-2005 - Today we celebrate International Literacy Day 2005. It is a day for recognizing the achievement of large numbers of men and women around the globe who have newly gained access to communication through the written word. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, 23 August 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    22-08-2005 - By 29 C/Resolution 40, the General Conference of UNESCO proclaimed 23 August of every year International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People - 9 August 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    08-08-2005 - In 2004 the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995-2004) came to an end. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Environment Day, 5 June 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    03-06-2005 - On 5 June, we will be celebrating World Environment Day, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. UNESCO very much welcomes the theme selected for World Environment Day 2005, namely, “Green Cities”. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, 21 May 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    20-05-2005 - On 21 May, we will be celebrating our creative diversity for the third year in succession. Cultural diversity is a driving force of development and thus a guarantee of peace and prosperity, fostering a constant dialogue which humanity needs now more than ever. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    02-05-2005 - World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to remind the world of the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom of the press, as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Without these rights, democracy cannot prevail and development remains unattainable. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day - 23 April 2005 - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    19-04-2005 - Ten years have passed since UNESCO proclaimed 23 April “World Book and Copyright Day”. The Day is celebrated by a growing number of partners and since its launch has shown itself to be a great opportunity for reflection and information on a significant theme. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Water Day (22 March 2005) - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    22-03-2005 - It can never be repeated enough that “water is life”, or that human society is facing a water crisis for which action must be taken today if we are to avoid deprivation, suffering and perhaps even conflict in the future*. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2005 - ()
    04-03-2005 - The theme chosen by the United Nations for the celebration of International Women’s Day this year is “Gender equality beyond 2005: Building a more secure future”. It is a theme that resonates strongly with UNESCO – with its values, programmes and vision. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO for International Mother Language Day - 21 February 2005 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    18-02-2005 - International Mother Language Day, which the international community has been celebrating with UNESCO every 21 February for the past six years, provides an especially meaningful opportunity for debate and action to promote all the languages spoken on our planet. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of Human Rights Day - 10 December 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    06-12-2004 - Over fifty years ago, when it adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the Governments of Member States “cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions”. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World AIDS Day - 1 December 2004 - ()
    25-11-2004 - Today, 60 per cent of 15–24-year olds living with HIV/AIDS are young women. In sub-Saharan Africa, 57 per cent of all those infected are women. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the Third Philosophy Day 2004 - 18 November 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    17-11-2004 - It has been said by many thinkers that the heart of philosophy is astonishment. Indeed, philosophy is born out of the natural tendency of human beings to wonder about themselves and the world in which they live. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance 16 November 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    15-11-2004 - International Day for Tolerance is one of those subtle symbols that affect people’s awareness and pave the way for a much-needed collective introspection. It compels us to reflect on the current state of a principle which we view as the surest foundation for our rights, freedoms and diversity. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Science Day for Peace and Development - 10 November 2004 - ()
    15-11-2004 - World Science Day for Peace and Development provides an opportunity for scientific organizations, scientists, governments and civil society to join together in reaffirming - in the words of the UN Charter - the crucial contribution of science to the promotion of “social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom”, including freedom from the scourge of war and conflict. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - 17 October 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    15-10-2004 - We all think of poverty as representing one of the greatest threats to the stability of the world. With 2.8 billion men and women living on less than two dollars a day, we have to devote ever more urgent attention to the impoverishment that is undermining our societies and eroding even the idea of human security. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Disaster Reduction Day 2004 - ()
    06-10-2004 - International Disaster Reduction Day is an opportunity to once again focus the attention of the international community on the vital and ever-topical question of natural disasters. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Literacy Day, 8 September 2004 - ()
    10-09-2004 - On 8 September each year for almost the last four decades, the world has celebrated International Literacy Day. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People - 9 August 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    09-08-2004 - As the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995-2004) draws to a close, the time has come for the international community to take stock of the past and mark out new paths for the future. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO on International Youth Day - 12 August 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    09-08-2004 - International Youth Day has been celebrated annually since 1999 as an occasion for focusing attention on the needs of all young people - defined by the United Nations to mean those aged between 10 and 24. More

  • Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Environment Day 2004 Wanted ! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive? (5 June 2004) - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    04-06-2004 - The world’s oceans and their adjacent seas, along with the living and non-living resources they contain, are essential for the survival of life as we know it. The sustainability of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the climate in which we live is dependent upon the health of our oceans and seas. More

  • Message by the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development - 21 May 2004 - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    18-05-2004 - On 20 December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly decided, by resolution 57/249, to proclaim 21 May World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. In 2003, we accordingly celebrated for the first time the wealth of cultural diversity throughout the world. More

  • Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, on the occasion of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    04-05-2004 - First of all, I would like to convey my warm greetings to all those who have come here for the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2004. I would like particularly to express my gratitude to President Marovic for his gracious hospitality and to the Serbian-Montenegrin Authorities for their offer to host this event on the occasion of this important celebration. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day - 3 May 2004 - (Bureau of the Spokesperson)
    03-05-2004 - In observing World Press Freedom Day, we draw attention to the crucial role that free, independent and pluralistic media play in the democratic process. Respecting the media’s independence and recognizing the fundamental right of press freedom, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are essential for transparency and the rule of law. These principles are equally important in rich and poor countries alike, in times of peace and in times of war. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day - 23 April 2004 - ()
    13-04-2004 - For almost ten years now, every 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day has involved a hundred or so countries and several million people in the promotion of books and copyright and in joint reflection on their irreplaceable roles in education, culture and the sciences throughout the world. More

  • Message by the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - 21 March 2004 - (UNESCO)
    19-03-2004 - The celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination assumes a particular dimension this year, in 2004, with the commemoration of a great historical tragedy: slavery and the slave trade. More

  • Message by the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Poetry Day - 21 March 2004 - ()
    17-03-2004 - Today, 21 March, we are all being invited to celebrate World Poetry Day. In a world overwhelmed by noise and slogans, poetry brings us a different way of telling its history, with its dreams and its divisions, thanks to the diversity of the world’s languages. More

  • Message by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2004 - (UNESCO)
    05-03-2004 - Women and AIDS

    International Women’s Day is an opportunity to focus on the unique contributions, problems and opportunities that women face all over the world. More

  • Message by the Director-General of UNESCO to mark International Mother Language Day - 21 February 2004 - ()
    23-02-2004 - This is the fifth year in a row that we have observed International Mother Language Day on 21 February. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (2004) - (Office of the Spokesperson)
    24-12-2003 - The slave trade and slavery constitute one of the darkest chapters in the history of the world. This dehumanizing enterprise, challenging the very basis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and roundly condemned by the international community, in particular at the Durban World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance which labelled it a “crime against humanity”, gives us all cause for thought and requires each and every one of us to exercise due vigilance. More

  • Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura on the occasion of the Conference on the Role of Science in the Information Society - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    11-12-2003 - It is a great pleasure and an honour for me to be here with you today on the occasion of this conference on “The Role of Science in the Information Society”. Allow me to express my appreciation to CERN and its management for this opportunity to share some reflections with you. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of Human Rights Day (10 December 2003) - (Office of the Spokeswoman)
    08-12-2003 - In a world disfigured by poverty, discrimination, exclusion, the deterioration of the environment and other ills, the realization of human rights for all is a common purpose which unites people from different continents, religions and cultures. More

  • Message from the Director-General of UNESCO to the participants in the Seminar on “The Centenary of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion: A Paradigm for Contemporary Hate” (Venice, 7-8 December 2002) - ()
    07-12-2003 - It is a bitter lesson of history that still today, one hundred years after it was created by the Russian Czarist secret police and despite its being exposed over and over again as a forgery, the document known as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion continues to exercise its terrible power as an instrument of anti-Semitism. More

  • Message of the Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World AIDS Day (1 December 2003) - ()
    26-11-2003 - Despite tremendous efforts, the rate of HIV/AIDS infection continues to grow and the impact of the pandemic remains alarming. More

  • Message of the Director-General on the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance ( 16 November 2003) - ()
    12-11-2003 - On 16 November 1995, the date of the fiftieth anniversary of the Organization, the Member States of UNESCO adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance in which they affirmed that tolerance is neither concession nor indulgence but rather respect and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. More

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