October 11, 2022
"Peace Monument" sculpture in the Garden of UN Headquarters, New York
Photo: A view of the “Peace Monument” sculpture in the garden of UN Headquarters. Croatian sculptor Antun Augustincic made this sculpture. It depicts a woman riding a horse with an olive branch in one hand and a globe in the other. September 29, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.
Source: United Nations, New York
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October 6, 2022
World Teachers' Day: UNESCO alarms about the global teacher shortage crisis.
Paris, October 5, 2022 — On World Teachers’ Day, Audrey Azoulay, Director-general of UNESCO, called governments worldwide to step up their support for teachers, warning that the profession is struggling to retain its workforce and attract new talent. Worldwide, 69 million teachers are needed to reach universal primary education by 2030.
UNESCO’s estimates indicate the need for an additional 24.4 million teachers in primary education and some 44.4 million teachers for secondary education to achieve universal primary education by 2030.
New UNESCO figures unveiled for 2022 World Teachers’ Day show that, in sub-Saharan Africa, 5.4 million teachers are needed at the primary level and 11.1 million at the secondary level for achieving the targets set by the 2030 Agenda. Southern Asia is the region with the second largest deficit. Here UNESCO projects that 1.7 million additional teachers will be needed at the primary level and 5.3 million at the secondary level.
In low-income countries, the first obstacle is the heavy workload. According to new UNESCO data, each primary teacher in these countries has an average of 52 pupils per class at the primary level, while the global average is 26. The ratio is exceptionally high in sub-Saharan Africa - 56 pupils per teacher - and Southern Asia - 38. In Europe and North America, there are only 15 pupils per teacher on average.
A lack of training amplifies supervision difficulties. In addition, teachers do not always have all the tools at hand to succeed in the classroom. For example, UNESCO data shows that about 26% of primary and 39% of secondary school teachers do not have the minimum qualification requirements in low-income countries, compared to 14% and 16% globally.
Non-competitive salaries also accentuate the vocational crisis. UNESCO data shows that 6 out of 10 countries pay primary school teachers less than professionals with similar qualifications. This criterion is particularly evident in high-income countries. In 5 out of 6 countries in this group, primary school teachers earn less than other comparable professionals. Three high-income countries have a commendable teacher salary policy: Singapore, with an average salary of 139% of similar professions, Spain (125%), and the Republic of Korea (124%).
World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5 to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of adopting the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, and teaching and learning conditions. In addition, the Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education.
Source: UNESCO
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October 2, 2022
MONDIACULT 2022: States adopt historic Declaration for Culture
• One hundred-fifty States unanimously adopted an ambitious Declaration for Culture on Friday at the end of a three-day conference convened by UNESCO. The text affirms Culture as a “global public good.” It reflects countries’ agreement on a joint roadmap to strengthen public policies in this field.
Photos: MONDIACULT 2022. UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development. Images provided by & copyright © UNESCO / Juan Luis M. Acevez.
Mexico, September 30, 2022 — MONDIACULT 2022, the most significant world conference devoted to Culture in the last 40 years, brought together nearly 2,600 participants over three days in Mexico City. At UNESCO’s and Mexico’s invitations, 150 States sent delegations to the conference, and 135 of them were represented at the highest level by ministers of Culture.
“Culture has a fundamental role in our societies. People can discover their common humanity through Culture and become free and enlightened citizens. Yet, despite progress, it still does not have the place it deserves in public policies and international cooperation. MONDIACULT 2022 is a powerful signal to change this. The Declaration adopted today is a commitment to action,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said.
In the Declaration, the fruit of ten months of multilateral negotiations led by UNESCO, States affirm for the first time that Culture is a “global public good.” Consequently, States call for Culture to be included “as a specific objective in its own right” among the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The text defines a set of cultural rights that need to be considered in public policies, ranging from artists’ social and economic rights to artistic freedom. Also included is the right of indigenous communities to safeguard and transmit their ancestral knowledge and protect and promote cultural and natural heritage.
It also calls for substantial regulation of the digital sector, notably of the major platforms, to benefit online cultural diversity, artists’ intellectual property rights, and fair access to content for all.
Stepping up the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property: In the Declaration, governments also commit to intensify the fight against illegal trafficking in cultural goods with increased international cooperation. They call on art market operators not to offer for sale objects whose provenance is not proven.
The emphasis on “unprovenanced” objects calls for protecting vulnerable archaeological sites. The Declaration mandates UNESCO to propose standard-setting instruments to meet these challenges.
On the same subject, Ms. Azoulay announced the creation by UNESCO and INTERPOL of a virtual museum of stolen cultural property. It will serve as an educational and pedagogical tool so that citizens can learn about the history of these works and help people research the provenance of pieces about which they are unsure. The virtual museum will be up and running by 2025.
A delegation headed by the Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal, represented India at UNESCO-MONDIACULT 2022 World Conference.
Source: UNESCO
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September 22, 2022
United Nations General Assembly Session 2022
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (right) meets with Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. September 21, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist.
Photo: Csaba Kőrösi (right), President of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, meets with Katalin Novák, President of Hungary. September 21, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Loey Felipe.
Photo: The high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to mark the commemoration of the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities” was held on the second day of the General Assembly’s general debate. September 21, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Ariana Lindquist.
Photo: A view of UN Headquarters and delegates of the high-level week of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly. September 20, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Manuel ElÃas.
Photo: Csaba Kőrösi (right), President of the seventy-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, meets with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India. September 19, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
Photo: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Goodwill Ambassador of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), spoke during the “SDG Moment 2022” and “Transforming Education Summit.”
The “SDG Moment “is an event during the UN General Assembly high-level week to highlight the promise of inclusion, resilience, and sustainability embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in times of crisis. Convened by Secretary-General António Guterres, the event is shaped by the narrative of the SDGs as our To-Do List for a better future for all on a safe and healthy planet. In addition, the SDG Moment features the Secretary-General’s SDG Advocates Co-Chairs, and SDG Dialogues focused on solutions for inequalities and climate and environmental challenges.Â
The Secretary-General had convened the “Transforming Education Summit” in response to a global crisis in education - one of equity and inclusion, quality, and relevance. Often slow and unseen, this crisis is devastatingly impacting the futures of children and youth worldwide. The Summit provides a unique opportunity to elevate education to the top of the global political agenda and to mobilize action, ambition, solidarity, and solutions to recover pandemic-related learning losses and sow the seeds to transform education in a rapidly changing world.Â
September 19, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Laura Jarriel.
Source: United Nations, New York
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September 18, 2022
United Nations Landmark Launch of Scoring for the Goals EventÂ
Photos: A landmark launch of the Scoring for the Goals event with the projection of images of Sustainable Development Goals on the UN Building. September 17, 2022. The United States of America. New York. UN Photo/Cia Pak.
Source: United Nations, New York
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September 9, 2022
The Managing Director of IMF calls on the President of India.
Photo: Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (September 9, 2022).
Photo: Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), met with Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, earlier today (September 9, 2022).
New Delhi, September 09, 2022 — Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), called on the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (September 9, 2022).
Welcoming Ms. Georgieva to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said that the world is passing through the third year of the Covid pandemic. She noted that multilateral institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank provided significant assistance to many low-income countries. She said that IMF has to play an essential role in maintaining the stability of the International Monetary System.
The President said that today, India is one of the fastest growing major economies in the world. India’s start-up ecosystem ranks high in the world. The success of start-ups in our country, especially the increasing number of Unicorns, is a shining example of our industrial progress. What is even more gratifying is that the development of our country is becoming more inclusive, and regional disparities are also reducing. The basic mantra of today’s India is compassion - compassion for the oppressed, compassion for the needy, and compassion for the marginalized.
Source: President’s Secretariat, New Delhi
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September 7, 2022
Message from Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on International Literacy Day, September 08, 2022
• Message from Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on International Literacy Day, September 08, 2022.
Source: UNESCO
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September 2, 2022
Ministry of Culture, India, celebrates the successful inscription of 'Durga Puja in Kolkata' on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021
Photos: UNESCO Headquarters Paris. The UNESCO Director-General handed over the “Certificate of inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage” to the Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO. Images provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Lily CHAVANCE.
New Delhi, India, August 31, 2022 — The Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Akademi, the designated nodal agency for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), in collaboration with the National Museum and National Museum Institute, organized the celebration of the successful inscription of ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity in 2021.
A mesmerizing dance ballet, Devi Rising, was presented by the renowned Odissi dancer and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Smt. Sharmila Biswas and her troupe from Kolkata. It enthralled the audience and the guests by depicting Devi Durga or the feminine shakti through aesthetically conceptualized choreography, music, costumes, and theme.
Ms. Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Mr. Tim Curtis, Secretary of UNESCO’s 2003 ICH Convention; Mr. Eric Falt, Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka; Ms. Ritu Sethi, ICH expert; Ms. Shikha Jain & Prof. Manvi Seth, National Museum Institute; Mr. Arvind Kumar, Director/ UNESCO, Ministry of Culture; Mr. Suman Kumar of Sangeet Natak Akademi, and officers from Ministry of External Affairs graced the occasion with their presence.
The Secretary, Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Culture Heritage, UNESCO, Mr. Tim Curtis, spoke about the developments in UNESCO’s 2003 ICH Convention. He stated that UNESCO will now accept ICH dossiers in the language of the practitioners, along with English or French, for evaluation.
Director and UNESCO Representative to Bhutan, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, Eric Falt, said, “I think it is essential to bring together all of the stakeholders and different groups involved in such nominations and this workshop.” He added, “I’m grateful to all of the other partners who have worked with us in the past few years to raise the importance and visibility of intangible cultural heritage.” He also mentioned that UNESCO is organizing an ICH workshop at the regional level in Udaipur, bringing several representatives from various countries.
Joint Secretary Ministry of Culture Ms. Lily Pandeya said, “India is a member of almost all of the UNESCO Cultural Conventions and Programs. In addition, India continues to strengthen the intercultural dialogue among nations with 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 14 intangible cultural heritage elements inscribed on Representative List, nine documentary heritage elements recognized in the International Memory of the World Register, and 6 Creative Cities.”
‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session in Paris, France, from 13th to 18th December 2021.
Source: India Ministry of Culture
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August 30, 2022
The American University in Cairo to receive the 2022 UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize
Photo: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. A section of the participants at the Opening of An Ambition to Transform Education. June 29, 2022. Image provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Lily CHAVANCE.
Paris. France, August 29, 2022 — UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has named the American University in Cairo’s Libraries and Learning Technologies, Rare Books, and Special Collections Library in Egypt as the laureate of the 2022 UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World Prize. She did it following the recommendation of an international jury of experts.
“The Rare Books and Special Collections Library is a powerful testament to how well-preserved, accessible documentary heritage can become a wellspring for understanding history and culture across regions. I congratulate them on winning this Prize,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
In its recommendation, the international jury of experts recognized the laureate’s unique expertise and outstanding work in preserving and enabling access to Egyptian documentary heritage of global significance. The Library will be presented with the Prize in a ceremony in Cheongju, the Republic of Korea, on September 2, during the 30th-anniversary celebration of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme.
• The Rare Books and Special Collections Library
Founded in 1919, the American University in Cairo (AUC) became actively involved in the preservation of cultural heritage in the 1950s when it acquired the collection of Sir Keppel Archibald Cameron Creswell, a pioneer in the study of Islamic art and architecture. It has since continued collecting and preserving rare books, drawings, and other documentary heritage, including, to name but a few, the papers, plans, and artifacts of notable Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy, the Van Leo Photographic Collection, and documents about the history of Egyptian women and society.
The University’s Rare Books and Special Collections Library has a conservation laboratory and digitization center, contributing to its important work in preserving Egyptian documentary heritage and making it accessible to scholars, students, and the public. By supporting research and collaborating with other institutions in Egypt and beyond, the Library has become an indispensable research hub for Arabic and African countries.
The UNESCO / Jikji Memory of the World Prize commemorates the inscription on the Memory of the World International Register of Buljo jikji simche yojeol, a Korean work considered the oldest book printed with movable metal type. Funded by the Republic of Korea through the City of Cheongju, the Prize recognizes efforts to contribute to preserving and accessibility to documentary heritage as the common heritage of humanity.
Source: UNESCO
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July 26, 2022
IMF (International Monetary Fund) publishes World Economic Outlook July 2022
Washington, DC, July 26, 2022 — IMF today published its World Economic Outlook for July 2022. The outlook for global growth has grown “gloomy and more uncertain,” the IMF’s chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas warned.
Increasingly gloomy developments followed tentative recovery in 2021 in 2022 as risks began to materialize. Global output contracted in the second quarter of this year, owing to downturns in China and Russia, while US consumer spending undershot expectations. In addition, several shocks have hit a world economy already weakened by the pandemic: higher-than-expected inflation worldwide—especially in the United States and major European economies—triggering tighter financial conditions; a worse-than-anticipated slowdown in China, reflecting COVID- 19 outbreaks and lockdowns; and further negative spillovers from the war in Ukraine.
“The outlook has darkened significantly since April. The world may soon be teetering on the edge of a global recession, only two years after the last one. Multilateral cooperation will be key in many areas, from climate transition and pandemic preparedness to food security and debt distress. Amid great challenge and strife, strengthening cooperation remains the best way to improve economic prospects for all and mitigate the risk of geo-economic fragmentation,” Gourinchas said at the launch of the quarterly update of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report.
The Fund is warning that elevated inflation, rising interest rates, a high US dollar valuation, the impact of the war in Ukraine, and a slowdown in Chinese growth are all factors leading to a downward revision in the forecast.
“In particular, a full shutdown of Russian gas flows to Europe or inflation pressures remaining more elevated than they’ve been in the past. And we’ve been repeatedly surprised by the persistence and the broadening of inflation in recent times and an increase in financial tightening around the world. And so if you put all these things together, we get a global economy, as I mentioned in my remarks, that gets close to 2% in 2023, where we think a lot of the vulnerabilities are where you have a lot of slowdown happening. And so 2% is a low number for the global economy. So that’s a sense in which we’re getting close, really close to a global recession,” he explained.
Persistent high inflation in the US and other big economies is leading central banks to hike interest rates. Meanwhile, there is a move to the safety of the US dollar, which means that emerging markets are especially hit with higher prices while also seeing the cost of servicing their debt increase. As a result, the temptation will be to push off reforms or to raise spending, but the Fund says that action now will head off more pain later.
“What is important here is that, in a sense, there is one overwhelming priority at this point: to bring back price stability in advanced economies and emerging markets. Many of them have seen elevated price pressure, whether we are in the baseline or whether we are in the alternative scenario. And in the alternative scenario, inflation pressures are pushing even higher, and there’s even more of a need for central banks and policymakers to address that issue. And this is critical because it’s necessary to plant the seed for future macroeconomic stability. So a stable macroeconomic environment requires that we bring down inflation in the coming year, year-and-a-half,” he answered.
Gourinchas also said there is still a path to a ‘soft landing’ in the US, meaning that the Federal Reserve can head off a recession through calibrated action.
“The current environment suggests that the likelihood that the US economy can avoid a recession is quite narrow. Under our current projections, for instance, for the US, the quarter… Q4 on Q4 growth rate in 2023 is only 0.6%. And 0.6%, that’s under our baseline. So you see, a small shock at this point could be enough to sort of knock off the US economy of a fairly low number and tilt it into recession. So it’s a very narrow, it’s a very narrow path at this point,” Gourinchas remarked.
Source: IMF (International Monetary Fund)
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— The editor holds certification in “Financial Market Analysis” from International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC.
IMF Growth Projections: 2022
— IMF (@IMFNews) July 26, 2022
USA🇺🇸: 2.3%
Germany🇩🇪: 1.2%
France🇫🇷: 2.3%
Italy🇮🇹: 3.0%
Spain🇪🇸: 4.0%
Japan🇯🇵: 1.7%
UK🇬🇧: 3.2%
Canada🇨🇦: 3.4%
China🇨🇳: 3.3%
India🇮🇳: 7.4%
Russia🇷🇺: -6.0%
Brazil🇧🇷: 1.7%
Mexico🇲🇽: 2.4%
KSA🇸🇦: 7.6%
Nigeria🇳🇬: 3.4%
RSA🇿🇦: 2.3%https://t.co/ldMsaieJUU pic.twitter.com/Ip06Wct3s4
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July 25, 2022
WIPO Director General Calls on WIPO Assembly Delegates to Transform IP into a Powerful Catalyst for Growth and Development.
- Hundreds of delegates from WIPO’s 193 Member States joined the July 14-22 WIPO Assemblies to negotiate the future of the global intellectual property (IP) ecosystem and WIPO’s activities in promoting the economic, social and cultural development of all countries.
Photo: Snapshot taken during the Sixty-Third Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the WIPO Member States, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 14-22, 2022. Image provided by & Copyright © WIPO. Photo: Pierre Albouy.
Photo: Delegates at the Opening of the WIPO Assemblies 2022. The Sixty-Third Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of WIPO Member States took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 14-22, 2022. Image provided by & Copyright © WIPO. Photo: Pierre Albouy.
Geneva, July 23, 2022: WIPO Director General Daren Tang opened the WIPO Assemblies with a call for delegates to keep working to transform intellectual property (IP) into a powerful catalyst for jobs, investments, business growth, and economic development.
Some 900 delegates from WIPO’s 193 Member States registered for in-person participation at the July 14-22, 2022, Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO. It was the most significant number of registrants for a WIPO Assemblies meeting since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“The invasion of Ukraine. Global inflation. Disruptions to food and energy supply chains. Our global situation remains extremely challenging. But despite these challenges, we cannot look back or stop our work of building the future of the global IP ecosystem,” said Director General Tang in welcoming the delegates.
“We as the global IP community must continue being fully committed to transforming IP from a technical vertical of interest only to specialists into a powerful catalyst for jobs, investments, and development that supports innovators and creators everywhere.”
Cabo Verde Prime Minister José Ulisses Correia e Silva and Colombia President Iván Duque joined Mr. Tang in welcoming delegates to the WIPO Assemblies.
Later, in the meetings, delegates considered the work of WIPO against the backdrop of solid growth in IP and innovation-related activities, as well as the increasing globalization of IP.
The Director General cited continued growth in IP filings, with international patent, trademark, and design applications filed via WIPO reaching record levels in 2021.
“IP continues to move from the periphery to the center, as businesses and economies use the crisis as an opportunity to reimagine, restructure and rebuild, using innovation and creativity as engines of growth,” Mr. Tang said.
Mr. Tang also noted WIPO’s strong financial position, with a surplus of nearly 245 million Swiss Francs for the 2020/21 biennium. “This puts us in a good position to invest these surpluses into capabilities, tools, and projects to continue supporting you strongly, even as the overall financial and macro-economic environment remains volatile and challenging,” he said.
On Tuesday, July 19, WIPO presented the first round of five winners of its new Global Awards program, recognizing exceptional enterprises and individuals using intellectual property to impact home and abroad positively.
A group of seven eminent jurors worldwide selected the winners from 272 submissions spanning 62 countries. The 2022 Global Awards focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, which constitute the backbone of the worldwide economy. The Global Awards program in subsequent years will vary and concentrate on different groups, including youth and women.
In his address, Mr. Tang gave delegates an overview of developments of the Organization’s new Medium-Term Strategic Plan 2022-26, which Member States had endorsed during the 2021 WIPO Assemblies.
“Our focus since then has been simple and single-minded - to translate them into concrete plans and actions to deliver the results and impact that you expect,” Mr. Tang told delegates.
He said that work had advanced in four key areas: Demystifying IP for people everywhere through new ways of engagement; bringing the global IP community together to share ideas, shape practices, and solve global challenges; providing services, data and knowledge to help business owners and policy-makers; and delivering impactful and concrete projects on the ground that allow innovators and creators to use IP for growth.
“Whatever our challenges and difficulties, the global IP community can and should draw on the dynamism, energy, and optimism of the innovators and creators that we support and continue on the transformation journey that we have started together,” Mr. Tang said in concluding his remarks.
Tatiana Molcean, Moldova’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, chaired the WIPO General Assembly.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information, and cooperation. A specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO assists its 193 member states in developing a balanced international IP legal framework to meet society’s evolving needs. It provides business services for obtaining IP rights in multiple countries and resolving disputes. It delivers capacity-building programs to help developing countries benefit from using IP. And it offers free access to unique knowledge banks of IP information.
Source: WIPO
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— The editor is a WIPO Academy alumnus.
The WIPO Assemblies 2022 just concluded
— World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (@WIPO) July 22, 2022
Thanks to all who participated in person and virtually, forging the future of innovation and creativity 🙌
â„¹ï¸ https://t.co/31ARfbHZz8#wipoGA pic.twitter.com/ndnTZz4urg
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July 21, 2022
UNESCO names Strasbourg, France, as World Book Capital for 2024
Photo: Strasbourg, France, World Book Capital for 2024. Image Credit: Kelly Lenfest.
Photo: Strasbourg, France, World Book Capital for 2024. Image Credit: Billy Wilson.
Paris, July 20, 2022: 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.
“In uncertain times, many turn to books as a refuge and a source of dreams. Indeed, books have the unique ability both to entertain and to teach. Therefore, we must ensure everyone can access knowledge and reflection through books and reading. Each year UNESCO designates a world book capital. After Guadalajara in 2022 and Accra in 2023, I am pleased to declare the designation of Strasbourg as World Book Capital for 2024,” UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced.
UNESCO and the World Book Capital Advisory Committee were impressed by Strasbourg’s strong focus on books to meet the challenges of social tensions and climate change, with programs like ‘Reading for the Planet.’ In addition, the city emphasizes books’ ability to encourage debate and discussion of environmental concerns and scientific knowledge, focusing on young people as change agents.
Strasbourg also got commended for its literary heritage and organized activities, highlighting many artistic disciplines, from music to theatre and illustration. In addition, the city has significant experience in organizing large-scale outward-looking events.
The celebrations will start on April 23, 2024, on World Book and Copyright Day.
• World Book Capitals
Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading for all ages and groups, within and across national borders, and to organize a program of activities for the year.
As the twenty-fourth city to bear the title since 2001, Strasbourg follows:
- Madrid (2001)
- Alexandria (2002)
- New Delhi (2003)
- Antwerp (2004)
- Montreal (2005)
- Turin (2006)
- Bogota (2007)
- Amsterdam (2008)
- Beirut (2009)
- Ljubljana (2010)
- Buenos Aires (2011)
- Erevan (2012)
- Bangkok (2013)
- Port Harcourt (2014)
- Incheon (2015)
- Wroclaw (2016)
- Conakry (2017)
- Athens (2018)
- Sharjah, (2019)
- Kuala Lumpur (2020)
- Tbilisi (2021)
- Guadalajara (2022)
- Accra (2023)
The UNESCO World Book Capital Advisory Committee comprises representatives of the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), International Authors Forum (IAF), International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), International Publishers Association (IPA), and UNESCO.
Source: UNESCO
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July 9, 2022
UNESCO Creative Cities will reunite in Santos, Brazil, for their Annual Conference
Photo: Boat at Sunset in Brazil. Image credit: Celso Castro Júnior.
Paris, July 9, 2022 — UNESCO, in collaboration with Santos (Brazil), a Creative City of Film, will be holding the XIV UCCN (UNESCO Creative Cities Network) Annual Conference from 18 to July 22, 2022. Delegates from member cities will meet again for the most important event of the Network.
Hosted for the first time in Latin America, the Conference will offer a unique occasion to strengthen the ties between cities worldwide. Furthermore, it will serve as a platform to reflect on the Network’s strategic objectives, in line with UNESCO’s priorities, and the global context of the post-COVID-19 recovery.
Under the theme “Creativity, path to equality,” this year’s Conference will focus on the role of culture and creativity in reducing social and economic inequalities and revitalizing urban spaces, notably for marginalized urban groups.
The official kick-off of the Conference will be a collective clean-up of the famous Gonzaga beach to emphasize the importance of building sustainable and environmentally friendly urban environments. This awareness-raising event will invite Mayors and delegates to take concrete action towards positively impacting the local ecosystem and call on cities worldwide to act for environmental resilience.
During the 5-day Conference, participants will exchange and work with one another through different activities, ranging from plenary sessions to cluster meetings. There will also be a special Integration Session for the new members, offering an excellent opportunity to obtain a general understanding of the Network and interact with other member cities and stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore the collaborative potential. The Conference will give special attention to a series of Transversal Thematic Panels around six themes in line with UNESCO’s global priorities:
- Advancing gender equality
- Empowering youth
- Strengthening climate action
- Fostering post-pandemic recovery
- Promoting technologies and innovation
- Reinforcing international cooperation through culture and creative initiatives
The Annual Conference will also feature the Mayor’s Forum, a primary platform for Mayors of the Creative Cities to showcase and share their cities’ vision, policies, actions, and good practices with their counterparts, city delegates, and other relevant stakeholders. This year, the Public Session will allow mayors to enrich Creative Cities’ joint reflection and convey a strong message about the role of culture and creativity in building sustainable and inclusive cities. In addition, the Private Session will provide participating mayors with an exclusive platform to exchange with UNESCO representatives on harnessing the full potential of culture and creativity to address urban challenges and opportunities.
In parallel to the Conference, an additional cultural program, including exhibitions, film screenings, culinary shows, master classes, and encounters with writers and film directors, will also be organized in the Creative Pavilions by the Host City of Santos. Focused on the seven creative fields of the Network, these Pavilions will be open to all Conference attendees and the general public for participation in cultural activities.
Source: UNESCO Creative Cities Network
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— The editor contributes to the enhancement of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) worldwide.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:59 PM | View the original post
July 2, 2022
UNESCO calls for "Global Mobilization" of Education
Photo: Paris, France. June 29, 2022. Some 2,000 participants from around the world gathered at UNESCO headquarters in Paris from June 28 to June 30 to prepare for the Education Transformation Summit. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is mobilizing the world’s education communities and governments for the Summit, which the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has convened. The Summit will be attended by the Heads of State and will take place in New York in September 2022. Image provided by & copyright © UNESCO/Lily CHAVANCE.
JUNE 30, PARIS - Education ministers and vice-ministers of 154 countries and nearly 2000 participants came together at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris to discuss transforming education, inspired by the rallying call from young people.
The Pre-Summit, a precursor to the Transforming Education Head of State-level Summit, convened by the UN Secretary-General in New York this September, comes after more than two years of the most massive disruption in learning in recorded history, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The UNESCO meeting supports a global breakthrough to more sustainable, peaceful futures, as called for in the report on ‘Our Common Agenda.’
It sets out to tackle the education loss and the profound structural flaws of education systems worldwide. Halfway to the deadline to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal on Education, participants were adamant the world must not only get back on track but transform education from the ground up.
Sources: UNESCO, Paris. United Nations, New York.
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— The Editor is a UNESCO IIEP (International Institute for Educational Planning, Paris) trained “Independent Appraiser” of Education Sector Plans.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:57 PM | View the original post
June 16, 2022
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees further slowdown hitting global economic growth in 2022
Photo: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, receives an Honorary Degree, Doctor Honoris Causa (DHC), from the University of National and World Economy. Sofia, Bulgaria. May 17, 2022. IMF Photo/Hristo Rusev.
Photo: International Monetary Fund Analytical Corner discussion on the topic of ‘A Headwind To Recovery’ as part of the 2022 Spring Meetings. Washington, DC, United States. April 7, 2022. IMF Photo/Kim Haughton.
Washington, DC, June 15, 2022 — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees further slowdown hitting global economic growth in 2022, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said in Washington, DC, following World Bank and OECD moves to cut their forecasts.
The IMF will publish the next revision of its World Economic Outlook report in July, and if it materializes, that would be its third downgrade this year. In April, the IMF had already slashed its forecast for global economic growth by nearly a whole percentage point to 3.6% in 2022 and 2023.
Fund spokesman Gerry Rice said several factors, including a slowdown in China, persistently high fuel and food prices, and many Central Banks hiking rates, were acting together to slow growth.
“We have inflation continuing to rise, particularly in several advanced economies leading to tightening monetary policy. So, you know, we’re seeing this confluence of crises. The Managing Director discussed the combination of all these things going in the same direction of downside risks. And so, again, I think you can reasonably expect that there will be a downward revision of the growth forecast for 2022 compared to what we were forecasting only a month-and-a-half ago,” Rice told reporters.
Source: IMF
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— The editor holds certification in “Financial Market Analysis” from International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:08 AM | View the original post
May 19, 2022
UNESCO World Conference in Barcelona to shape the future of Higher Education
- The third UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education is taking place from May 18 to May 20, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain, to chart a renewed vision for higher education in the next decade.
Barcelona, Spain, May 18, 2022 — There are 235 million students enrolled in higher education worldwide. This number has more than doubled in the last 20 years and will likely double again over the coming decade.
Faced with such growing demand, how can we ensure quality higher education adapted to contemporary challenges such as sustainable development? How can international academic mobility be supported? What lessons can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic? These questions will be at the heart of the World Conference.
More than 1,500 participants are attending the event coming from universities, governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector, and civil society to share their experiences and ideas to draw a joint global roadmap for the coming decade.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, the Spanish Minister of Universities, Joan Subirats, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, and the Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, opened the Conference.
• Democratizing access
Disparities persist despite a remarkable 200% increase in enrolment in 20 years in sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and South and South-East Asia. As a result, between 40% and 50% of an age group are enrolled in higher education in East and South-East Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In Central and South Asia, however, only 25% are registered. And the figure drops to 9% for sub-Saharan Africa.
Expanding access to education is necessary, but it has significant logistical and budgetary implications for governments, particularly developing countries. There has been a trend toward increasing tuition fees and other indirect costs in many places, burdening the finances of students and their families.
• Increasing student mobility
Six million of the global student population are studying abroad, and this number will rise to 8 million by 2025. But international frameworks are needed to support mobility, an academic asset for students and a boost to knowledge sharing and mutual understanding.
At the Barcelona Conference, UNESCO will call on its Member States to pursue ratification of the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, the first UN treaty to strengthen inter-university cooperation and cross-border academic research. Fourteen states have already ratified the text, and only seven more signatures are needed to enter it into force.
• Learning from the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged higher education systems resulting in learning losses and increased inequalities. However, it has also shown that higher education systems with significant public funding are more resilient in the face of a global crisis and better able to ensure continuity of provision and inclusion of the most important number of students. The Conference will draw lessons from the past two years to design more robust and resilient systems.
To develop the roadmap for higher education to 2030, the Conference will focus on the following themes: (1) Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education; (2) Higher Education and the Sustainable Development Goals; (3) Inclusion; (4) Quality and Relevance of Programmes; (5) Academic Mobility; (6) Governance; (7) Financing; (8) Data and Knowledge Production; (9) International Cooperation and (10) The Futures of Higher Education.
The International Council for Science (ICS) and the International Association of Universities (IAU) are among the conference partners, as well as the Global Universities Network for Innovation (GUNI/ACUP) and the Catalan Association of Public Universities.
Source: UNESCO
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— The Editor is a UNESCO IIEP (International Institute for Educational Planning, Paris) trained “Independent Appraiser” of Education Sector Plans.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:27 AM | View the original post
April 28, 2022
World Intellectual Property Day 2022: Innovators from Syria, Ghana, and China Top Youth Video Contest
Photos: Delegates from Finland and Kazakhastan at the Forty-Fifth Session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs, and Geographical Indications in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 28 to March 30, 2022. Images provided by & Copyright © WIPO. Photos: Emmanuel Berrod.
Geneva, April 28, 2022 — Competitors from Syria, Ghana, and China won the top three spots in the youth video competition for this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, which carries the theme “IP and Youth Innovating for a Better Future.”
Hekma Jabouli from Syria won the first prize with her short film showing a homemade smart device designed to help her sister regain mobility after a shrapnel injury to her spinal cord.
In an online vote, Ms. Jabouli’s video was selected best submission among an original pool of nearly 150 entries from dozens of countries.
John Wobil from Ghana took second place for his video about a new rice thresher. At the same time, digital designers Li Binglu and Cai Quinge, Chinese nationals living in Japan, came third with their story about creating new pictograms or emojis to forge connections among remote workers.
WIPO Director General Daren Tang said that younger people are already working on solutions to shared issues, supported by intellectual property (IP) rights like trademarks, patents, designs, Copyright, and others that help people earn a living from their work.
“When humanity needs to come together to address a range of urgent challenges - from overcoming the pandemic to combatting climate change - we must help our youths realize their innovation potential,” Mr. Tang added.
This year, on World Intellectual Property Day, WIPO is celebrating the vision and dynamism of young innovators and creators everywhere.
“WIPO is working to build a more inclusive IP ecosystem by expanding access to IP for groups who have been historically under-represented, including women, smaller enterprises, and younger people, so we selected this year’s theme. A better future begins with young people, and WIPO intends to ensure that IP is there to help them grow,” the organization stated.
The three winning videos were screened at an event at WIPO headquarters on April 26, commemorating World IP Day. The event, entitled “Innovating for Better Health: Supporting Young Innovators through IP,” brought together young innovators from different regions and explored the challenges they face and how innovation ecosystems need to evolve to enable them to thrive.
In 2000, WIPO’s member states designated April 26 - the day the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970 - as World Intellectual Property Day to increase general understanding of intellectual property (IP). Since then, World IP Day has offered a unique opportunity each year to join with others around the globe to consider how IP contributes to the flourishing of music and the arts and to driving the technological innovation that helps shape our world.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information, and cooperation. A specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO assists its 193 member states in developing a balanced international IP legal framework to meet society’s evolving needs. It provides business services for obtaining IP rights in multiple countries and resolving disputes. It delivers capacity-building programs to help developing countries benefit from using IP. And it offers free access to unique knowledge banks of IP information.
Source: WIPO
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— The editor is a WIPO Academy alumnus.
#WorldIPday
— MOE's Innovation Cell- GOI (@mhrd_innovation) April 26, 2022
Join us live at https://t.co/l0DZBYyKgH pic.twitter.com/SFfNbJuMBo
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:44 AM | View the original post
April 21, 2022
Call for Nominations for the 2023 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards
Paris, April 21, 2022 — UNESCO and the Fondation L’Oréal have invited scientists worldwide to nominate candidates for the 2023 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (FWIS) International Awards.
The 2023 edition of the FWIS International Awards will designate five outstanding scientific women researchers in Physical sciences, Mathematics, and Computer science. Each of the five Laureates will receive an award of €100,000 for her contribution to scientific research at a ceremony in Paris in March 2023.
Nominations must be submitted through the dedicated online platform by Tuesday, May 31, 2022.
Source: L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:32 AM | View the original post
International Jazz Day 2022, a Call for Global Peace and Unity
Flagship All-Star Jazz Day Concert to be hosted at UN in New York on April 30
Photos: International Jazz Day 2022 Posters.
Paris, April 20, 2022 — UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock announced the program for the 2022 celebration of International Jazz Day, April 30, with more events taking place in more than 180 countries.
The flagship Jazz Day event, a spectacular All-Star Global Concert, will be staged in the UN General Assembly Hall in New York, emphasizing the importance of jazz to achieve unity and peace through dialogue and diplomacy. It will feature performances by some of the world’s most accomplished jazz artists.
The concert will be webcast worldwide (April 30, 11 pm CET) on the UNESCO website, YouTube, Facebook, jazzday.com, UN Web TV, and US State Department outlets.
“Jazz carries a universal message with the power to strengthen dialogue, our understanding of each other, and our mutual respect. As the world is affected by multiple crises and conflicts, this international day highlights how much music and culture can contribute to peace,” Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said.
“With conflict and division in many parts of the world, I hope that, through the universal language of jazz, our celebration this year can inspire people of all nations to heal, hope, and work together to foster peace,” said Jazz Institute Chairman Herbie Hancock. Herbie Hancock co-chairs International Jazz Day with the Director-General of UNESCO.
• Masterclasses, concerts, educational and other programs worldwide
Earlier in the evening of April 30 (9 pm CET), UNESCO will celebrate the musical talent of women from across Africa with the second edition of its JazzWomenAfrica concert series. Organized in collaboration with the cultural agency ANYA Music (Morocco), JazzWomenAfrica helps counter the under-representation and insufficient recognition of women in the music industry. A discussion with women artists and music producers on this theme will take place on April 29 (5 pm CET).
World-renowned jazz artists, including multiple Grammy Awards winners Arturo O’Farrill, Terri Lyne Carrington, Oran Etkin, Danny Grissett, Dan Tepfer, and others, will lead master classes and presentations.
Stakeholders across the UNESCO Creative Cities Network around the globe will organize their celebrations throughout International Jazz Day.
Established by UNESCO in 2011 at the initiative of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every April 30.
Source: UNESCO
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:32 AM | View the original post
April 19, 2022
Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, meets IMF Managing Director Ms. Kristalina Georgieva in Washington D.C.
Photo: A woman heads towards the metro station at Connaught Place in New Delhi, India, on March 29, 2022. Women make up 19 percent of the workforce in India, down from approximately 30 percent in 1990, as per a World Bank report. Image provided by & copyright © IMF Photo/Saumya Khandelwal.
Washington, April 19, 2022 — India’s Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, had a bilateral meeting with Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund-World Bank (IMF-WB) Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. today.
Both the Finance Minister and the Managing Director were accompanied by senior officials like Mr. Anantha V. Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Ms. Gita Gopinath, FDMD of IMF.
During the meeting, they discussed issues of importance for India besides several topics currently being faced by the global and the regional economies.
Ms. Georgieva highlighted the resilience of India, which remains the fastest-growing country across the globe despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Georgieva also referred to a well-targeted policy mix followed by India. She lauded India for its contribution to the capacity development activities of the IMF.
Ms. Georgieva praised India’s vaccination program and extended help to its neighbor and other vulnerable economies. In addition, the IMF MD referred India’s resources to Sri Lanka during their complex economic crisis. Ms. Sitharaman indicated that IMF should support and urgently provide financial assistance to Sri Lanka. The Managing Director assured the Finance Minister that the IMF would continue to engage with Sri Lanka actively.
Discussing the recent geopolitical developments, Ms. Sitharaman and Ms. Georgieva raised concerns about its impact on the global economy and the challenges linked to the rising energy prices.
Explaining India’s policy approach, Ms. Sitharaman mentioned that an accommodative fiscal stance accompanied significant structural reforms, including the bankruptcy code and targeted help to vulnerable sections.
Ms. Sitharaman said that Monetary Authority fully supported and complemented these efforts with an accommodative stance.
The Finance Minister further stated that India had a sound agricultural output, supported by a good monsoon during the COVID pandemic. As a result, agricultural exports and other exports have also sharply increased. She concluded that India is entering into new economic activities to help resolve some of the global supply chain issues.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Government of India
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:36 PM | View the original post
