UNESCO

UNESCO today convened an extraordinary meeting to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage in #Lebanon, following the country’s request. The meeting - an extraordinary session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict – led to granting provisional enhanced protection to 39 cultural properties as well as the provision of an international financial assistance, totaling over 100,000USD for emergency operations on the ground. Read the full press release: https://unes.co/hwcqdi

WE’RE LIVE! Join us now for the UNESCO Master Class against Racism and Discriminations — a powerful conversation with Lilian Thuram, Xavier Mauduit, André de Jeu, Iris Maria Alexis Van der Veken, and Francis Mercier. Together, we’re exploring how education and dialogue can break down barriers, challenge prejudice, and inspire real change. Be part of the conversation, watch live, and take action for equality and inclusion: https://lnkd.in/evWAQgh6

How can education and dialogue break down racism and inspire real change? Tune on Wednesday 1 April 2026 for a powerful conversation with Lilian Thuram, Xavier Mauduit, André de Jeu, Iris Maria Alexis Van der Veken, and Francis Mercier, as they share bold ideas and personal insights on standing up against discrimination in all its forms. The UNESCO Master Class against Racism and Discriminations empowers learners and educators to challenge prejudice and to promote equality, inclusion, and respect through dialogue and education. Together, let’s learn, listen and take action. Learn more: https://unes.co/2yiwhj

Since 2000, access to education has expanded at an unprecedented scale worldwide. Global enrolment in primary and secondary education has increased by 30%, reaching 1.4 billion learners in 2024. It has also increased by 45% in pre-primary and by 161% in post-secondary education. Through the GEM Report UNESCO, the world’s leading reference on the state of education, UNESCO tracks these trends and highlights the importance of national context when setting education targets and designing effective policies. Explore more in the 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report on access and equity: https://lnkd.in/ec9yvM7v #GEMReport #YourStoryCounts

In times of crisis, people carry stories, resilience, and hope. UNESCO’s work in the State of #Palestine focuses on supporting people and communities at the heart of recovery and resilience. From education and journalism to mental health and social cohesion, these efforts contribute to strengthening systems and empowering people when it matters most. From #Gaza to the West Bank, our work continues #ForThePeople—grounded in hope, solidarity, and peace. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e5MMe7xw

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly across the private sector, opening up major opportunities for innovation, productivity, and growth. At the same time, ensuring that this transformation is guided by robust governance frameworks remains an ongoing challenge. A new report by UNESCO and the Thomson Reuters Foundation highlights this evolving landscape: - 44% of companies report having an AI strategy, often focused on accelerating adoption - 12% have policies in place to ensure human oversight of AI systems - 11% of companies evaluated environmental impacts, and only 7% evaluated the human rights impacts of their AI use These findings point to an important opportunity to better align technological advancement with stronger governance, transparency, and accountability mechanisms. There is increasing demand for #AI systems that are transparent, safe and inclusive, ensuring multilingual access, delivering tangible benefits across diverse communities, and maintaining human oversight at every stage of the AI lifecycle. That is why #UNESCO is working with partners across sectors to advance responsible AI frameworks and support their implementation, helping to build trust and ensure that AI benefits everyone. 🔗 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/e7q4haK7

📚 A global education network is shaping the citizens of tomorrow. Through its Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), UNESCO brings together nearly 10,000 schools in 166 countries, engaging over 320,000 teachers and 5 million students across all levels of education. ASPnet schools serve as hubs of innovation and dialogue, advancing education for sustainable development, global citizenship and intercultural learning. Across the network, learners are already putting these principles into action: ➡️ In Burkina Faso, students are leading initiatives to prevent school violence through conflict resolution. ➡️ In China, schools engage in immersive scientific research, from deep-sea laboratories to urban biodiversity surveys. ➡️ In Argentina, communities are working together to protect wetlands. ➡️ In Lithuania, students collaborate with artisans to preserve living heritage through creative media. Discover how these experiences translate learning into meaningful action at the local level while advancing global priorities: https://lnkd.in/ePNZ87Pf #TransformingEducation

UNESCO expresses its grave concern over recent developments affecting higher education institutions in the Middle East. UNESCO unequivocally condemns attacks against universities and educational institutions, and rejects in the strongest terms any threats or the deliberate targeting of such institutions as means of retaliation. Educational institutions must remain spaces dedicated to knowledge and international cooperation. UNESCO acknowledges the efforts undertaken to ensure the safety and continuity of higher education and calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, notably United Nations Security Council Resolution 2601. https://lnkd.in/ed3yjn3f

Behind out-of-school numbers lies another story: access to education has expanded significantly over the past two decades. The increase in enrolment is equivalent to more than 20 additional children entering school every minute. Some countries have made remarkable progress. Madagascar and Togo reduced out-of-school rates among children by at least 80%, while Morocco, Viet Nam, Georgia and Türkiye achieved comparable progress among adolescents and youth. These examples show that sustained policies and investment can significantly expand access to education. The GEM Report UNESCO is the global reference on the state of education, informing policy decisions and monitoring progress towards quality learning for all. Through this work, UNESCO brings stakeholders together and helps keep education high on the global agenda. Read the 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report “Access and equity: Countdown to 2030”: https://lnkd.in/ec9yvM7v #GEMReport #YourStoryCounts

Caring for our environment is a shared responsibility, and individual action can inspire collective change. If you are leading environmental initiatives in your community, apply for the UNESCO Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation! Established with the support of the Sultanate of Oman, the Prize highlights impactful initiatives in areas such as environmental research, education and training, awareness-raising, and the establishment and management of protected areas, including UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites and UNESCO Global Geoparks. Laureates receive international recognition, with the award presented at the World Science Forum in November 2026. Submit an application before 15 July 2026: https://lnkd.in/eErDi7gj