On the International Day of the Girl, a project promoting girls’ education in low-income communities in Cambodia, and a Tanzanian mentoring initiative helping girls at risk of dropout through crucial school transitions have both been awarded this year’s UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women's Education. The two laureates, selected by the international jury of the UNESCO Prize are “Room to Read Cambodia’s Girls’ Education Programme” and the “Girls' Livelihood and Mentorship Initiative” (GLAMI) from Tanzania. Each laureate will receive an endowment of US$ 50,000 to advance its work.

Around the world, artists face daily challenges when creating and sharing their work. Often, the fundamental human right to freedom of expression is threatened. UNESCO’s 2022 Global Report, Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity – Addressing culture as a global public good, draws on global data and recommendations to help better protect artists worldwide. Video credits and details available here.

In shaping the future, and in the transformation of education, teachers and educators play a central role. As seen during the pandemic, most teachers had to re-organize and adapt teaching and learning processes, but also provided socioemotional and psychological support to students and their families. In 2022, World Teachers Day highlights the support teachers need to deploy their talent and vocation, and to rethink the way ahead for the profession. UNESCO celebrates teachers through a three-day event that will include the awarding ceremony of the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development.

Steven Kolber shares his knowledge with teachers around the world to help transform classrooms into interactive, inclusive learning environments.

Trusted news sources have seen a surge in demand during the COVID-19 crisis. But in many ways, they face many challenges and an uncertain future. Quality journalism costs money to produce and the financial impact of COVID-19 has led to what some have called an “extinction” of countless jobs in journalism, even leading to the closure of whole titles around the world.

Independent journalism—the kind that favours public interest over political or commercial agendas—relies on media viability. Without it, media pluralism and independence are at risk and trusted news becomes extinct. Discover why media viability matters to all of us. Learn more about how UNESCO is coordinating a global effort to ensure that information remains a public good.

At least 771 million young people and adults still lack basic literacy skills today. This year’s International Literacy Day will be celebrated worldwide under the theme “Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces” and will be an opportunity to rethink the fundamental importance of literacy learning spaces to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, nearly 24 million learners might never return to formal education, out of which, 11 million are projected to be girls and young women. We need to enrich and transform the existing learning spaces through an integrated approach and enable literacy learning as lifelong learning. This year’s International Literacy Day is an opportunity to rethink the importance of literacy learning spaces. How to build resilience and ensure quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all, will be discussed at the two-day hybrid event on 8- 9 September 2022.

The Jury of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize awarded the 2022 Prize to Ms Angela Merkel, former Federal Chancellor of Germany, in recognition of her efforts to welcome refugees.

In 2022, the World Heritage Convention marks its 50th anniversary. The 1,154 natural and cultural heritage sites in over 160 countries are the testament to the universal appreciation and achievement of this groundbreaking legal framework. UNESCO has launched a year-long programme to galvanize profound reflections on the future of heritage titled “The Next 50: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity and innovation.” The Next 50 culminates in Florence, Italy, with a major conference in November in tribute to the adoption of the Convention on 16 November 1972.

In 2018, UNESCO launched a flagship initiative to Revive the Spirit of Mosul. On the 5th anniversary of the liberation of Mosul from the shackles of violent extremism, UNESCO and its main partner, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), present the visuals of the Al-Nouri Mosque and the Al-Hadba Minaret, currently being reconstructed as they were. The mosque and the minaret will be rebuilt using the maximum of traditional materials and reusing the heritage elements that were found and collected in the rubble.

Following the evaluation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has designated Strasbourg (France) as World Book Capital for 2024.

Following the evaluation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has designated Strasbourg (France) as World Book Capital for 2024.

Many artists and cultural professionals face precarious employment conditions with short and unstable contracts that lack social protection. But art is essential to society and the world is richer for it. UNESCO advocates for artists and cultural professionals around the world.

The best defence against conspiracy theories is knowledge. Teachers can play a central role in building the resilience, knowledge and analytical skills needed to spot and debunk conspiracy theory narratives.

Brazilian Big Wave surfer Maya Gabeira is UNESCO's newest goodwill ambassador, appointed to the position of “UNESCO Champion for the Ocean and Youth.”