This Global Call is open across the world, building up to the Global MIL Week celebrations that will take place from 31 October to 5 November. The feature event for Global MIL Week be held in Sao Paulo Brazil from November 2nd – 5th 2016. Local events can take place during the year leading up to Global MIL Week, or be announced as events that will occur in your country or region around the period of Global MIL Week in November.

You can register your event HERE.

New Paradigms for Intercultural Dialogue

This year the theme of Global MIL Week is New Paradigms for Intercultural Dialogue.

Media and Information literacy (MIL) is increasingly important in the global communications environment.

It enables users to understand how traditional and new media can be platforms to promote the values of peace and dialogue.  Media institutions themselves can do more to recognize the need to empower audiences with this knowledge.

The role of other intermediaries such as libraries, archive, museums and Internet irrespective of technologies used is also essential for MIL.

As it was emphasized during the Second European MIL Forum, Media and Information Literacy is a discipline that enables life. It aligns with developing participatory global citizenship identities that are crucial for developing more humane and democratic societies.

How to celebrate Global MIL Week?

UNESCO is inviting organizations, institutions and individuals to organize a MIL Day in their communities by bringing together diverse actors committed to MIL (NGOS, MIL practitioners, local media, policy makers, students, teachers etc.).

Many local MIL Days or activities will make an echo from the São Paulo conference. Relevant education/training institutions are invited to organize special debates, lectures, or colloquium to promote MIL around the globe.

Communication, information and library science, and education departments can disseminate research findings on themes related to media and information literacy and intercultural dialogue.

Organizations can use social media to raise awareness about MIL in civil society and join the Global Alliance for Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL).

There are many more ways to mark Global MIL Week - take a look at all 10 ways to celebrate HERE.

The Global MIL Week 2016 is led by UNESCO in cooperation with General Assembly of the Global Alliance for Partnerships in Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL), UNAOC and the Media and Information and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) University Network.  Global MIL Week will be celebrated from 31 October to 5 November 2016 in São Paulo, Brazil.