May 3, 2020
UNESCO's Flagship Event on World Press Freedom Day 2020.
Paris, France, May 3, 2020 — On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated every year on May 3, UNESCO and its Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, will host an online discussion. The participants would deliberate on the importance of free media in providing the public with reliable, independent information, vital in times of crisis. The High-level Dialogue on Press Freedom and Tackling Disinformation in the COVID-19 context will be streamed online on Monday, May 4, at 5 pm Central European Time (GMT +2).
UNESCO’s flagship event of World Press Freedom Day will bring together UN Secretary-General António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, journalist Younes Mujahid, President of the International Federation of Journalists, Maria Ressa, investigative journalist from the Philippines, founder of the Rappler news website, and the Secretary-General of Reporters Without Borders, Christophe Deloire, alongside several other high-level participants. Prominent Mexican-born American journalist Jorge Ramos will moderate the debate.
The debate will address the danger of what the UN Secretary-General has described as the “dangerous epidemic of misinformation.” It will advocate the need for a free press in countering Disinformation, which is putting lives at risk.
The debate will follow the launch on May 3 of a global UNESCO media campaign called FACTS, which highlights the role of free and independent media in the context of COVID-19. Leading media organizations around the world are joining the campaign, developed by award-winning communication agency DDB.
UNESCO will also present the latest data from its 2020 World Trends Report on Media Independence and press freedom in times of COVID-19.
“Information is a fundamental right. In times of COVID-19, Information can save lives. I wish to pay tribute to journalists, women, and men who commit and take risks to keep us informed,” said the Director-General of UNESCO. “Their work is more important than ever, as they help members of the public know how to act and governments to make informed decisions,” she added.
Every year on May 3, the world comes together to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and take stock of freedom of expression around the world. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in 1993 on the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference.
“Nearly 200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote that ‘the only security of all is in a free press.’ His words stand today as an apt reminder of the crucial link between press freedom and democracy,” said National Press Club President Michael Freedman. “Amid the current crisis, our reporters on the front lines reinforce every hour of every day why journalism matters.”
The National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute are joining people around the globe to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists and represents some 3,000 reporters, editors, and expert communicators worldwide.
The motto for this year’s 27th World Press Freedom Day, organized by UNESCO, is “Journalism without Fear or Favor.”
• ONLINE HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE PROGRAMME:
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:37 PM | View the original post
April 28, 2020
GLOBAL E-COMMERCE HITS $25.6 TRILLION - LATEST UNCTAD ESTIMATES
The US, China, and the UK dominate e-commerce sales to consumers.
Photo: Santiago Wills, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the World Trade Organization, Geneva, speaking at a Trade Forum held from 3 to 4 February 2020 at the United Nations Office at Geneva. Photo: Gerry Kiruthu (UNCTAD). Image provided by UNCTAD. [File Photo]
Geneva, 27 April 2020 - E-commerce sales hit $25.6 trillion globally in 2018, up 8% from 2017, according to the latest available estimates released today by the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, at the start of its UNCTAD eWeek event.
The online event will explore digital solutions and policies to help the world recover from the coronavirus crisis. It runs from 27 April to 1 May and features dialogues among ministers, heads of international organizations, business executives and civil society representatives.
According to the UNCTAD analysis, the estimated 2018 e-commerce sales value, which includes business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales, was equivalent to 30% of global gross domestic product (GDP) that year.
“The coronavirus crisis has accelerated the uptake of digital solutions, tools, and services, but the overall impact on the value of e-commerce in 2020 is still hard to predict,” said Shamika Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics.
The value of global B2B e-commerce in 2018 was $21 trillion, representing 83% of all e-commerce, comprising both sales on online market platforms and electronic data interchange transactions.
B2C e-commerce was valued at $4.4 trillion, up by 16% from 2017. Cross-border B2C e-commerce sales amounted to $404 billion in 2018, representing an increase of 7% over 2017.
The United States continued to dominate the overall e-commerce market. It remained among the top three countries by B2C e-commerce sales, alongside China and the United Kingdom.
The leading B2C e-commerce companies are based mostly in China and the United States. The world’s top 10 B2C companies in 2018 generated almost $2 trillion in gross merchandise value (GMV), according to the report.
Alibaba (China) was far ahead with a GMV of $866 billion in 2018, followed by Amazon (United States) with $277 billion. However, in terms of revenue, JD.com (China) and Amazon were ahead of Alibaba.
Developing and transition countries accounted for about half of the top 20 economies by B2C e-commerce sales. Concerning GDP, B2C e-commerce in these economies was the largest in Hong Kong (China), China and the United Kingdom, and the smallest in India, Brazil, and Russia.
Among the top 20 economies, the extent to which Internet users engage in online purchases varies considerably. For example, in 2018, 87% of Internet users in the United Kingdom shopped online, compared with only 14% in Thailand and 11% in India.
UNCTAD estimates that 1.45 billion people, or one-quarter of the world’s population aged 15 and older, made purchases online in 2018. It was 9% higher than in 2017.
China had the most significant number of online shoppers at 610 million, according to the report. While the bulk of online shoppers mainly bought from domestic suppliers, some 330 million online shoppers made cross-border purchases in 2018 — a little more than one in five of all online shoppers.
The interest in buying from foreign suppliers continued to expand. The share of cross-border online shoppers to all online shoppers rose from 17% in 2016 to 23% in 2018.
“Still, the number of online shoppers, while massive, is an indication of the scale of the digital divide and the future market potential of e-commerce,” Ms. Sirimanne added.
Today, only half of the world’s 7.7 billion people use the internet and get its benefits. It limits the ability of many developing countries to use digital solutions to cope with the current health and economic crisis, the UNCTAD report said.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:13 AM | View the original post
April 26, 2020
International Jazz Day 2020 to Take Place Virtually; Global Concert Hosted by Herbie Hancock to Feature Performances by Artists Across the Globe.
Photos: 2020 Global Jazz Day Posters from Spain, Istanbul Turkey, Atella Italy, Mexico, Bali, Bournemouth UK, Poland, Goa India, Mexico City, Dominican Republic, and Mumbai India.
Paris, France, April 25, 2020 — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 9th annual International Jazz Day worldwide celebration will transition to a virtual format for 2020 instead of taking place as previously planned in Cape Town, South Africa, and other locations around the world on April 30.
International Jazz Day 2020, hosted by Herbie Hancock, will take place online. The day’s centerpiece will be a virtual Global Concert featuring artists from across the globe, streamed live on jazzday.com. The concert will begin at 15h00 US eastern time (19:00 UTC). It will feature performances by John McLaughlin, Jane Monheit, Alune Wade, John Beasley, Ben Williams, Lizz Wright, John Scofield, Igor Butman, Evgeny Pobozhiy, Youn Sun Nah, A Bu, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dianne Reeves, and Joey DeFrancesco, among others.
There will be a free series of educational masterclasses, children’s activities, and discussions via web conference leading up to the virtual Global Concert. It would feature renowned educators and jazz artists, streamed live via jazzday.com.
The program will also include a panel hosted by Nate Chinen, Chief Jazz contributor to NPR Music. The group would address how International Jazz Day, and art in general, can be a relevant response to the social isolation precipitated by the current public health crisis. The panel will feature artist participants, including GRAMMY Award-winning bassist and composer Marcus Miller and legendary South African vocalist Sibongile Khumalo. A live audience will be able to submit questions throughout the session. NPR will co-host a live stream of the virtual International Jazz Day activities.
International Jazz Day would not be possible without the thousands of independent organizers around the world. They faithfully help bring the message of this unique music into their communities each year on April 30.
UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz have issued a call for these organizers, artists, and fans around the world to create video messages, audio recordings, and other expressions of participation to show solidarity with everyone affected by the pandemic. Jazzday.com would feature these videos as part of the daylong virtual celebrations.
Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue and Co-Chair of International Jazz Day, said, “These are unprecedented times for world citizens, and we are most grateful for the support, understanding, and partnership of our Jazz Day community. Armed with optimism, patience, and grace, we’ll work through these challenges as families, communities, countries, and as a more energetic united world. Now more than ever before, let’s band together and spread the ethics of Jazz Day’s global movement around the planet and use this as a golden opportunity for humankind to reconnect, especially amid all this isolation and uncertainty.”
Our sincere gratitude and appreciation go to the South African Department of Sports, Arts and Culture; South African Tourism; South African National Commission for UNESCO; City of Cape Town, SPIN Foundation; many local partners and community leaders in South Africa; and the worldwide International Jazz Day community for their efforts in support of International Jazz Day 2020.
Established by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2011, and recognized by the United Nations General Assembly, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities worldwide every April 30 to celebrate jazz. It highlights the music’s essential role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination, and promoting human dignity. International Jazz Day has become a global movement reaching more than two billion people annually on all seven continents, including Antarctica, through education programs, performances, community outreach, radio, television, and streaming, along with electronic, print, and social media. The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is UNESCO’s official partner in the organization and promotion of International Jazz Day.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:07 AM | View the original post
April 25, 2020
L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards: Call for Nominations 2021.
The Foundation L’Oréal and UNESCO have invited scientists from around the world to nominate candidates for the 2021 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards. The 2021 International Awards will designate five outstanding researchers in Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science, each working in one of the following regions: Africa and the Arab States; Asia Pacific; Europe; Latin America; and North America.
The five laureates will be selected by an international jury for their contribution to scientific advancement and will receive their Awards - €100,000 each - in March 2021 in Paris.
To be considered eligible, the candidate must:
- Be recognized for her scientific excellence by the international scientific community.
- Be actively involved in scientific research.
- Be involved in any field of Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science.
Only eminent scientists, such as heads of scientific institutions, members of national science academies, or other national scientific institutions, research chairs, and professors, can nominate a candidate. Eligible nominators may put forward more than one candidate. Nominations can only be submitted electronically through the dedicated online platform. Submissions should be in English.
Nomination files must be submitted by midnight on 31 May 2020 (France GMT/UTC + 2h). The program would consider only completed nominations received through this platform by the deadline.
Since its creation in 1998, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program has distinguished 112 eminent women at the height of their scientific careers and supported more than 3,300 promising young women scientists from over 110 countries through the International Rising Talents Programme and the national and regional Young Talents Programmes.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:14 PM | View the original post
April 19, 2020
One World: Together At Home — Global Citizen announces $127 Million in Commitments in Support of Healthcare Workers in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Commitments from Philanthropists and Corporate Partners will benefit the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization (WHO), powered by the UN Foundation, along with Local and Regional Charities.
Photo: In this screengrab, Jennifer Lopez performs during “One World: Together At Home” presented by Global Citizen on April 18, 2020. The global broadcast and digital exclusive would support frontline healthcare workers and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation. (Photo by Getty Images for Global Citizen). Image provided by & copyright © Global Citizen 2020.
Photo In this screengrab, Dr. David D. Ho of Columbia University speaks during “One World: Together At Home” presented by Global Citizen on April 18, 2020. The global broadcast and digital exclusive would support frontline healthcare workers and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation. (Photo by Getty Images for Global Citizen). Image provided by & copyright © Global Citizen 2020.
Photo: Screenshot. Irish musician Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, known professionally as Hozier, during “One World: Together At Home” presented by Global Citizen on April 18, 2020.
Photo: In this screengrab, Priyanka Chopra Jonas speaks during “One World: Together At Home” presented by Global Citizen on April 18, 2020. The global broadcast and digital exclusive would support frontline healthcare workers and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation. (Photo by Getty Images for Global Citizen). Image provided by & copyright © Global Citizen 2020.
NEW YORK, April 18, 2020 — International advocacy organization, Global Citizen, together with Lady Gaga, tonight announced $127 million in commitments to date in support of healthcare workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporate partners and philanthropists announced their support for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation, during the One World: Together At Home global broadcast event.
Donations to the fund will support WHO’s work around the world, the vaccine development alliance Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and UNICEF.
The historic eight-hour globally promoted special event garnered unprecedented worldwide distribution, reaching billions. More than 60 global broadcast networks across more than 175 countries, nine digital platforms, and hundreds of affiliates celebrated and supported brave healthcare workers doing life-saving work on the front lines.
One World: Together At Home kicked-off with a six-hour digital stream that was followed by a two-hour broadcast special. The broadcast special was hosted by Jimmy Fallon of ‘The Tonight Show,’ Jimmy Kimmel of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and Stephen Colbert of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ with friends from Sesame Street. All were on hand to help unify and inspire people around the world, focusing on communities impacted by COVID-19. The eight hours included conversations with and tributes to, the scientists, healthcare professionals, and other essential services workers that have championed the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several famous artists participated in the broadcast special. They included Alicia Keys, Amy Poehler, Andrea Bocelli, Awkwafina, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Celine Dion, Chris Martin, David & Victoria Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Ellen DeGeneres, and Elton John.
Other leading actors who participated included FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo, LL COOL J, Lupita Nyong’o, Maluma, Matthew McConaughey, Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Pharrell Williams, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sam Smith, Shah Rukh Khan, Shawn Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones, and Usher.
The broadcast also included Former United States First Ladies Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Michelle Obama, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The six-hour digital event included musical performances from Adam Lambert, Andra Day, Angèle, Anitta, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Ben Platt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Black Coffee, Bridget Moynahan, Burna Boy, Cassper Nyovest, Charlie Puth, Christine and the Queens, Common, Connie Britton, Danai Gurira, Delta Goodrem, Don Cheadle, Eason Chan, Ellie Goulding, Erin Richards, FINNEAS, Heidi Klum, Hozier, Hussain Al Jassmi, Jack Black, Jacky Cheung, Jack Johnson, Jameela Jamil, James McAvoy, Jason Segel, Jennifer Hudson, Jess Glynne, Jessie J, Jessie Reyez, John Legend, Juanes, Kesha, Lady Antebellum, Lang Lang, Leslie Odom Jr., Lewis Hamilton, Liam Payne, Lili Reinhart, Lilly Singh, Lindsey Vonn, Lisa Mishra, Lola Lennox, Luis Fonsi, Maren Morris, Matt Bomer, Megan Rapinoe, Michael Bublé, Milky Chance, Naomi Osaka, Natti Natasha, Niall Horan, Nomzamo Mbatha, P.K. Subban, Picture This, Rita Ora, Samuel L Jackson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sebastián Yatra, Sheryl Crow, Sho Madjozi, SOFI TUKKER, SuperM, The Killers, Tim Gunn, Vishal Mishra and Zucchero.
The benefit special aired on Saturday, April 18, 2020, on ABC, NBC, ViacomCBS Networks, The CW, iHeartMedia, Bell Media networks, and platforms in Canada and will air on Sunday, April 19, 2020, at 7:15 p.m. GMT on BBC One.
Other broadcasters included: AXS TV, beIN Media Group, Bloomberg Media, Canal + International, Caracol Television, Corus Entertainment, Deutsche Telekom, Digicel, DPAN.TV American Sign Language (ASL) supported by Comcast, DPG, Media, Dubai-TV, France-TV, Fuji TV, Hulu-Japan, Insight TV, JOOX, Katz Networks, LiveNow/ELEVEN Sports, Mediacorp, M6-France, MultiChoice, National Geographic, Naver Corp, NOVA-Bulgaria, One Championship, RAI Italy, Rede Globo, Rogers Media, RTE, RTL, Sony Pictures-Latin America, Seven Network, Sony Pictures-India, Turner Network Television International, SVT-Sweden, TV2-Denmark, TV2-Norway, TVE-Spain, TV4-Sweden, UNIVISION, Viacom18, and YLE-Finland.
The six-hour digital stream curated from around the world leading up to the global broadcast with many more performances and appearances aired on Amazon Prime Video, Apple, ARD, beIN Media Group, Bell Media, Brut Media, Caracol Television, Corus Entertainment, DailyMotion, Deutsche Telekom, Digicel, Facebook, France-TV, Hulu-Japan, IMDb, Instagram, JOOX, LiveXLive, M6-France, Mediacorp, Multichoice, Naver Corp, Network 10, One Championship, Rede Globo, Rogers Media, Roku, SET & Sony-Liv, The Guardian, TIDAL, TuneIn, TV2-Denmark, TV2-Norway, TVE-Spain, TVI-Portugal, Twitch, Twitter, Yahoo, YLE-Finland and YouTube.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:09 AM | View the original post
April 16, 2020
IPI urges WHO to grant Accreditation to Taiwan Journalists.
Photo: UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, attends a briefing on the COVID-19 outbreak. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Sylvie Briand, Director of the Global Infectious Hazard Management of WHO, also attended the briefing. February 24, 2020. Geneva, Switzerland. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré.
Vienna, Austria, April 16, 2020 —The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, today called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to grant Accreditation to Taiwanese journalists.
WHO has, for the past six years, denied Accreditation to journalists from Taiwan. As a result, Taiwanese media outlets have no access to the World Health Assembly and briefings by the WHO.
In a letter to WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said the accreditation block hindered the flow of information on the coronavirus pandemic.
Trionfi noted that from day one of the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists in Taiwan have been able to draw on their experience during the SARS epidemic to implement protocols and editorial policies that ensure the dissemination of valuable news. Their expertise is immensely helpful to the global community represented by the WHO.
“Health and the right to information transcend political and geographical boundaries,” Trionfi said. “We believe that by refusing Accreditation to Taiwanese journalists and denying access to report to the people of Taiwan, the WHO is not just violating its founding principles, it is also undermining UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.”
Following is the full text of the letter:
April 9, 2020
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General
World Health Organization.
Honorable Dr. Ghebreyesus,
Accreditation for Taiwan Journalists
On behalf of the members of the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, I would like to express our gratitude to you and the staff of the World Health Organization for your efforts in dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In these times of crisis, the public needs news that it can trust. It is critical at this stage that the administrations provide more support to independent media, which are crucial allies in the fight against COVID-19.
The World Health Organization has been conveying its key messages and concerns relating to COVID-19 to governments and the people through frequent media briefings. We appreciate that the WHO understands and values the importance of the media’s role not only in crises like the current pandemic, but also in promoting good health practices, and has a communications team to interact with journalists.
However, we are incredibly concerned that journalists from Taiwan, where the government has done a commendable job in containing COVID-19 infections, have been shut out of the WHO. The WHO has, for the past six years, denied Accreditation to journalists working for Taiwanese media outlets to cover the World Health Assembly.
It is even more disturbing today, as journalists in Taiwan have been able to draw on their experience during the SARS epidemic to implement, from day one of the COVID-19 epidemic, protocols and editorial policies that ensure the dissemination of valuable news. Their expertise is immensely helpful to the global community represented by the WHO.
We welcome your statement that no one should politicize COVID-19, and we expect that the WHO will implement this in both letter and spirit by granting Accreditation to journalists from Taiwan and allowing them to participate in WHO activities fully, thereby delivering valuable lessons learned from Taiwan.
Health and the right to information transcend political and geographical boundaries. The Constitution of the World Health Organization states: “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.” It also states that “the extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological, and related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health.”
We believe that by refusing Accreditation to Taiwanese journalists and denying access to information to the people of Taiwan, the WHO is not just violating its founding principles, it is also undermining UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
We, therefore, urge the WHO to grant Accreditation to journalists from Taiwan and those working for Taiwanese media outlets and uphold the rights of the people of Taiwan and the rest of the world to access information of public interest.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Trionfi
Executive Director
International Press Institute
…………………………………….
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor is a member of the International Press Institute.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:24 AM | View the original post
March 28, 2020
G20 Leaders hold Extraordinary Virtual Summit
Photo: A view of the joint virtual briefing for the Member States on the COVID-19 Pandemic held by Secretary-General António Guterres; Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the seventy-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly; Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for March, and Mona Juul, seventy-fifth President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, moderated the briefing. March 27, 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Photo: A view of the eyeglasses of Secretary-General António Guterres as he takes part in the extraordinary Virtual Leaders’ Summit of the Group of Twenty (G-20) on the Covid-19 Pandemic. March 26, 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
Photo: A view of the screen in the Secretary-General António Guterres’ conference room as he takes part in the extraordinary Virtual Leaders’ Summit of the Group of Twenty (G-20) on the Covid-19 Pandemic. March 26, 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
Photo: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, participating in the G20 Virtual Summit to discuss the global response to COVID 19, on March 26, 2020.
Photo: A woman is wearing a mask as she walks to her destination during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in New York City. March 18, 2020. New York, United States. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
Photo: A woman wears a mask as she walks to her destination during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in New York City. March 18, 2020. New York, United States. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.
An Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit was convened on March 26, 2020, to discuss the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic and to forge a globally coordinated response. The extraordinary G20 Summit was a culmination of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting and G20 Sherpas Meeting on the COVID-19 Pandemic.
At the meeting, G20 Leaders agreed to take all necessary measures to contain the Pandemic and protect people. They also supported the strengthening of the WHO’s mandate in the fight against epidemics, including the delivery of medical supplies, diagnostic tools, treatments, medicines, and vaccines.
Leaders also committed to using all available policy tools to minimize the economic and social cost of the Pandemic and to restore global growth and market stability. G20 countries pledged to inject over USD 5 trillion into the global economy to counter the social and economic impact of COVID-19. Leaders also agreed to contribute to the WHO-led COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund voluntarily.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, called on the G20 to come out with a concrete action plan to fight the global Pandemic. He called on the Leaders to help usher in new globalization for the collective well-being of humankind, and have multilateral fora focus on promoting the shared interests of humanity.
At the end of the Summit, the G20 Leaders’ issued a statement that called for a coordinated global response to fight the Pandemic by adopting measures to safeguard the global economy, minimize trade disruption, and enhance global cooperation.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:51 AM | View the original post
March 8, 2020
World Intellectual Property Report 2019 - Local Hotspots, Global Networks: Innovative Activity Is Increasingly Collaborative and International
GENEVA — The 2019 edition of WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Report analyzed millions of patent and scientific publication records across several decades to conclude that innovative activity has grown increasingly collaborative and transnational.
Some 30 metropolitan hotspots alone accounted for 69 percent of patents and 48 percent of scientific activity during the 2015-2017 period. Those hotspots are mostly in five countries - China, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States of America.
The report finds that innovation has become more collaborative. In the early 2000s, teams of scientists produced 64 percent of all scientific papers, and groups of inventors were behind 54 percent of all patents. By the second half of the 2010s, these figures had grown to almost 88 and 68 percent, respectively.
Collaboration has also become more international. The share of scientific collaborations with two or more researchers located in different countries grew from 15 percent in 1998 to 26 percent in 2017. For patents, the percentage of international co-invention increased to 11 percent until 2009 but has since slightly fallen, partly because of rapid growth in domestic collaborations in certain countries. Most international cooperation takes place among the top metropolitan hotspots. The most significant ten of them - San Francisco, New York, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Boston, Shanghai, London, Beijing, Bengaluru, and Paris - account for 26 percent of all international co-inventions. The U.S. hotspots emerge as the most connected ones in the world.
“Today’s innovation landscape is highly globally interlinked,” said WIPO Director General Francis Gurry. “Increasingly complex technological solutions for shared global challenges need ever larger and more-specialized teams of researchers, which rely on international collaboration.” “Economies must remain open in the pursuit of innovation,” he remarked.
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.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The Editor is an Alumnus of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy, Geneva, Switzerland.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:23 AM | View the original post
March 7, 2020
Commemoration of International Women's Day at the United Nations
Photo: Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland, addresses an event marking International Women’s Day (March 08), on the theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.” March 06, 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
Photo: Alexandria Villasenor, a climate justice activist, addresses an event marking International Women’s Day (March 08), on the theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.” March 06, 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:36 PM | View the original post
February 6, 2020
UNESCO Director-General Commends India for Promoting Education of Girls
Photo: Amer, Rajasthan, India, February 05, 2020. The students of Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Amer, Rajasthan, presented the UNESCO Director-General her pencil sketch showcasing their promising artistry.
Photo: The Director-General, UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay meeting the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, in New Delhi. February 04, 2020.
New Delhi, February 06, 2020 — The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, has commended India for successfully promoting the education of girls in the country. On a three-day official visit to India, Ms. Azoulay spoke to the media today. She said that India had influenced the vision and objectives of UNESCO through the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. She expressed confidence that India and UNESCO would carry forward this relationship further to realize their shared goals. Terming her earlier meeting with the Minister of Human Resource Development, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, as a very fruitful one, she said she was delighted to see India’s efforts at making quality education available to every section of the society.
Ms. Azoulay noted India’s work with satisfaction and said that India’s role is crucial for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. She appreciated the programs for the management skills of teachers. She was also pleased with India’s efforts at ensuring inclusion in education and the use of technology in this field.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, is in New Delhi for a three-day visit to India from the 4th to February 06, 2020. Her visit re-emphasizes India’s close ties with UNESCO. She visited the city of Jaipur yesterday.
The Director-General also called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:36 PM | View the original post
February 5, 2020
Pink City, Jaipur, receives 'UNESCO World Heritage City' Certificate.
Photos: Jaipur, India, February 05, 2020. UNESCO Director-General at the “Ceremony for Dedicating UNESCO Heritage Certificate” to Jaipur.
Photo: Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India. Image Credit: Roberta Zouain.
Photo: Amber Fort, Jaipur, India. Image Credit: Patrick Rosenberg.
Jaipur, India, February 05, 2020 — The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, today presented the UNESCO World Heritage City certificate to Jaipur, the “Pink City.”
“I have brought a message from UNESCO’s Paris headquarters. The global community has recognized the efforts of the people of Jaipur for the preservation of cultural heritage. It’s a matter of pride that UNESCO has listed Jaipur City in the World Heritage List. Jaipur is known for its specific planning. Its architecture, forts, and palaces make it a wonderful city. This inscription is a joint commitment to preserving this cultural heritage.” Ms. Azoulay stated.
“Jaipur has its own unique identity in all dimensions related to heritage. Its architecture reflects a spectacular inclusion of Persian, Mughal and Hindu designs. The Amber Fort is a perfect example of this,” she added.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
#Rajasthan: 'Pink City' #Jaipur receives #UNESCO World Heritage City certificate | Download the ET App: https://t.co/byvyp6maip pic.twitter.com/hPRrf6Ko6U
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) February 6, 2020
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February 4, 2020
Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, in New Delhi
Photo: India’s Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Prahalad Singh Patel, presenting the souvenir Charkha (Spinning Wheel) to the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, in New Delhi on February 04, 2020.
Photo: The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal’ Nishank’, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, signing the second operational agreement of MGIEP, during their meeting, in New Delhi on February 04, 2020.
Photo: The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, met with the Union Minister for Human Resource Development of India, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal’ Nishank’, in New Delhi on February 04, 2020. Other dignitaries, including the Higher Education Secretary and the UGC Chairman, were also present.
Photo: The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, visits Humayun’s tomb in Delhi. Humayun’s tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Ms. Audrey Azoulay is in New Delhi for a three-day visit to India from the 4th to February 06, 2020. India enjoys close ties with UNESCO since its inception in 1946 and shares with it the ethos of the promotion of peace and intercultural dialogue.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:17 AM | View the original post
February 3, 2020
UNESCO Cities, Innovative Hubs for Local Sustainable Development" - Panel Discussion at ChangeNOW Summit 2020.
Photo: Celebration of International Education Day at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. 24 January 2020. Image provided by and copyright © UNESCO/Christelle ALIX.
Paris, France, 2 February 2020 — The international Summit ChangeNOW was held under the emblematic glass dome of the Grand Palais in Paris from 30 January to 1 February 2020. It gathered hundreds of urban actors and solution-makers from around the world. They all shared their experiences and responses to shape a better urban future for the Planet.
During the Summit, there was a panel “UNESCO cities: innovative hubs for local sustainable development” held on 31 January. In that discussion, UNESCO presented its UNESCO Cities Platform (UCP), which comprises eight programs and networks of cities across the areas of education, the sciences, culture and communication, and information. Commenting on UCP, Denise Bax of UNESCO Culture Sector said that the Platform strengthens synergies through a shared vision and actions among the Organization’s cities programs and networks.
UNESCO representatives illustrated innovative urban practices to highlight the Organization’s transversal work on and with cities. They explained how the UNESCO Cities Platform (UCP) works for cultural heritage, lifelong learning, natural resources management, creativity, technologies, and social inclusion.
UNESCO representatives shared concrete experiences from partner cities. That included the rehabilitation of the river in Manila (Philippines), the urban flood management in Bangalore (India), innovative educational programs in Hamburg (Germany), participatory platforms for social change in York (United Kingdom), and the linkages between heritage and urban regeneration in Fez (Morocco).
The special guest of the panel, Ms. Lucienne Redercher, Vice-Mayor of Nancy (France) and Vice-President of the European Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities (ECCAR), emphasized the need to re-humanize cities, by reconnecting them with the people who live there. “We need to unite before acting and think together to build the future,” she articulated during her intervention on the initiatives for social inclusion implemented in Nancy.
In line with the UN Agenda 2030, ChangeNOW 2020 focuses on eight action areas to tackle the world’s urgent environmental and social needs. It addresses issues such as clean air and clean water, health and food security, sustainable and accessible energy, biodiversity, sustainable consumption and production, global citizenship education, and well-being.
ChangeNOW 2020 provided a significant opportunity for cities, partners, and stakeholders to discuss and raise awareness of the most pressing urban challenges. The forum advocated a people-centered and place-based urban development approach equipped with innovative urban solutions from around the world.
Photo: “One Planet, One Ocean” open forum at “Unesco Campus,” UNESCO Headquarters, Paris. 31 January 2020. Image provided by and copyright © UNESCO/Christelle ALIX.
• Diversity of Cultural Expressions Committee to focus on investing in creativity and creative digital content.
The annual meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee that oversees the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions will take place at UNESCO’s Headquarters, from 11 to 14 February.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), former beneficiaries will discuss the importance of investing in creativity and the long-term impacts of their projects. Discussants will highlight how such investments foster the means to create, produce, distribute, and have access to a diversity of cultural expressions.
This debate will address challenges in accessing cultural and creative content in the digital environment and making informed choices in the face of increasing content. Participants will explore how online distribution platforms are revolutionizing the entire value chain, from creation to consumption, and why access to a wide variety of cultural content is a prerequisite for the emergence of new sustainable business models for the cultural and creative industries.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:00 PM | View the original post
January 30, 2020
Human Resource Development Minister of India chairs the Meeting of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU) in New Delhi.
Photos: The Minister for Human Resource Development of India, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal’ Nishank’, chairs the meeting of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU), in New Delhi on January 30, 2020.
New Delhi, January 30, 2020 — Union Human Resource Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal’ Nishank’, chaired the meeting of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (INCCU) in New Delhi today. The Representative of India to the Executive Board of UNESCO, J.S Rajput, Secretary HRD cum Secretary General of INCCU, Amit Khare, members of the INCCU, and senior officials of the Ministry also attended the meeting.
The membership of the National Commission consists of members of five Sub Commissions, namely, Sub Commission for (i) Education (ii) Natural Sciences (iii) Social Sciences (iv) Communication (v) Culture. The members of the Sub Commissions briefed the chair about the activities carried out by their respective Sub Commissions.
Mr. Pokhriyal said that the National Commission could play a dominant role in coordinating the activities of the institutions under each of the five sub-commissions so that India’s efforts and achievements get outstanding support, acknowledgment, and recognition across countries. Our work needs to be projected more at the international level so that we can contribute more towards the fulfillment of the objectives of UNESCO while also strengthening India’s image globally.
The Minister said that India is one of the founding members of UNESCO and has always played an active role in promoting its ideals and objectives in the fields of education, culture, communication, natural sciences, and social and human sciences. He added that the Government of India is fully committed to the attainment of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and every Ministry is making considerable efforts in this direction.
Mr. Pokhriyal further highlighted that in the field of education, India is working to further UNESCO’s objective of making quality education available to everyone. The Government of India has taken many steps to improve access, equity, and quality of education. A New Education Policy is on the anvil. The Ministry has formulated the new plan after the largest ever process of consultation with stakeholders.
The Minister further said that in the culture sector, UNESCO’s programs aim to promote, preserve, and safeguard cultural heritage and spread respect for all cultures. India has an unparalleled heritage - both tangible and intangible. He added that the Ministry of Culture and the institutions under it are working to preserve the tangible and intangible heritage of the country.
He also said that India has been playing a very positive role in the field of Science by promoting scientific programs and policies as platforms for development and cooperation. He further said that India also supports UNESCO’s works towards freedom of expression, which is a critical condition for democracy and development.
Mr. Pokhriyal said that our National Commission needs to be stronger and more active. It would help showcase the excellent work we are doing and get better representation for India.
The Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, would be visiting India from 4th to 7th of next month.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Union HRD Minister, Shri @DrRPNishank attended the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with #UNESCO (INCCU) today in Delhi where he highlighted the importance of promoting the Gandhian values of peace and non-violence to build a culture of sustainable peace in the world. pic.twitter.com/kjBTM3rNzN
— Ministry of HRD (@HRDMinistry) January 30, 2020
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:12 PM | View the original post
January 25, 2020
The World faces Four Main Challenges: Climate Change, Mistrust of Leaders, Increased Geopolitical Tension, and the Dark Side of the Technological Revolution, Says UN Secretary-General.
Photo: António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations, New York, and the Global Shapers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 24 January. Congress Centre. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum.
Photo: Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President White House, United States of America, during World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum / Valeriano Di Domenico.
Photo: Sara Eisen, Co-Anchor, Squawk on the Street and Closing Bell, CNBC, USA, speaking in the “After Brexit: Renewing Europe’s Growth” session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January. Congress Center - Aspen. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Faruk Pinjo.
Photo: Karen Karniol-Tambour, Bridgewater Associates LP, speaking in the “Issue briefing: Black Swan and Grey Rhinos in Financial Markets” session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 22 January. Congress Centre - Issue Briefing Room. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum / Greg Beadle.
Photo: Elena Cherney, Editor, News Features and Special Projects, Wall Street Journal, USA, speaking in the “The Future of Mobility” session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January. Congress Centre - Situation Room. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Sandra Blaser.
Photo: Penny Abeywardena, Commissioner for International Affairs, Mayor’s Office, City of New York, USA; Young Global Leader speaking in the “Striking a Green New Deal” session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January. Congress Centre - Aspen. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez.
Photo: Robert J. Shiller, Sterling Professor of Economics, Yale University, USA, speaking in the “Power of Narratives” session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January. Congress Center - Aspen. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Faruk Pinjo.
Photo: Somini Sengupta, International Correspondent, Climate Change, New York Times, India, speaking in the Charging the “True Price of Carbon” session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 22 January. Congress Centre - Hub B Room. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum / Greg Beadle.
Photo: Sarah Kelly, Anchor-at-Large, Deutsche Welle, USA, speaking during the session “A Decade to Deliver the Global Goals” at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January. Congress Centre. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum/Jakob Polacsek.
Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 24 January 2020 - “I would use two words to describe the state of the world today: uncertainty and instability,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Guterres made his statement during a plenary session of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020.
Using a Christian Biblical reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Guterres described what he called four “enormous challenges” to the world today: climate change, mistrust of leaders, increased geopolitical tension, and the dark side of the technological revolution.
“Climate change is the defining issue of our time,” he said. It represents an “existential threat” to humankind. “The planet will not be destroyed. We will destroy our capacity to live on the planet.”
We need to hold the Carbon emissions below those projected by the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature within the range targeted by scientists. Countries that he called the “big emitters” will need to make more significant strides; 80% of emissions come from the member nations of the G20 group.
He called for a three-step program to tackle this: carbon pricing, a shift from taxation on income to one on carbon, and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies. “As a taxpayer, I can’t accept the idea that the Government uses my taxes to melt glaciers,” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
As a measure of mistrust, Guterres noted that 66 countries experienced major demonstrations last year. “In each country, the pretext is different, but there is an underlying factor: mistrust,” he said. “The lack of trust in local establishments.” People believe that the world does not equitably distribute the fruits of globalization. “Seven in 10 people in the world live in countries where inequality is growing.”
His recipe for improvement would start with governments giving a “voice to the people,” particularly to young people, and with particular attention to gender equality. All stakeholders (including civil society, governments, and businesspeople) should work together, notably in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, he said.
Weaknesses in institutions further exacerbate increased geopolitical tensions. For example, the UN Security Council’s “inability to take decisions” or to enforce the ones they do take, such as the arms embargo for Libya. “We need a global economy,” he said. “And we need multilateral institutions to be in charge.”
To combat “chaos in cyberspace and ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a force for good, we need to boost international cooperation,” he said. To that end, multilateral organizations should change their modus operandi to become more agile, working in networks. “Inclusive multilateralism” would extend beyond national governments to include more participation from local authorities, civil society, business leaders, and others.
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020 took place from 21 to 24 January 2020 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The meeting brought together more than 3,000 global leaders from politics, government, civil society, academia, the arts, and culture as well as the media. Convening under the theme, Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World, participants focused on defining new models for building sustainable and inclusive societies in a plurilateral world.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:14 PM | View the original post
January 12, 2020
UN Security Council Meets on Maintenance of International Peace and Security
Photo: A comprehensive view of the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security and upholding the United Nations Charter. 09 January 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Urmas Reinsalu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, addresses the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security and upholding the United Nations Charter. 09 January 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Photo: Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, addresses the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security and upholding the United Nations Charter. 09 January 2020. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
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December 20, 2019
UN General Assembly highlights UNESCO's leading role in the Education 2030 Agenda.
Photo: Marina Melanidis, Youth leader and Co-director of Youth for Nature, speaks at the press conference on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Youth for Nature-Based Solutions. At left is Melati Wijsen, Climate Activist. 21 September 2019. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Kim Haughton. [File Photo]
New York, NY, 19 December 2019 — The UN General Assembly resolution ‘Education for Sustainable Development in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, introduced by the Group of 77 and China, calls upon the international community to scale up education for sustainable development to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The decision relates to various aspects of culture for sustainable development. It recognizes the gendered barriers faced by girls in accessing education, and the need to deliver quality education to children in conflict and post-conflict situations.
With the adoption of the resolution, the international community has recognized UNESCO’s mandated role in leading and coordinating the Education 2030 Agenda and its position as the lead agency for education for sustainable development.
The resolution emphasizes the importance of further developing and implementing educational programs to address climate change challenges. The decision also notes the significant progress made by the Global Action Programme that has exposed 26 million learners to education for sustainable development curricula and trained two million educators in this domain.
The UN General Assembly has asked UNESCO to assist the Member States in their efforts to promote education for sustainable development. The UN Secretary-General would submit a report on the implementation of the current resolution to the General Assembly at its seventy-sixth session.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:33 AM | View the original post
December 12, 2019
UNESCO reinforces itself as the Chief Global Motivator for Education, Culture, Artificial Intelligence, and Youth; Adopts a Convention facilitating Universities Exchanges.
Photos: Closure of the 40th General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, France. 27 November 2019. Images provided by & copyright © UNESCO/Christelle ALIX.
Paris, France, 12 December 2019 — UNESCO’s 40th General Conference concluded after adopting a draft Convention to facilitate student mobility between universities on five continents.
The General Conference, UNESCO’s governing body, meets every two years to establish the Organization’s program and budget. It brings together all 193 Member States of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
“We are entering a phase of renewal,” said Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, summing up the fortieth session of the General Conference, which took place from 12 to 27 November. Noting that after more than 20 years of cuts and setbacks, the budget situation had returned to normal, she underlined that, “by accepting an increase in contributions, a rare event in the UN system, Member States have expressed their confidence in the direction given to UNESCO over the past two years.”
As demonstrated by the attendance of so many political leaders, UNESCO is once again a venue for global conversation. Participants included:
- 14 Heads of State and Government
- 100 education and higher education ministers
- 122 culture ministers
- United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres
- The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
- The President of the host country, Mr. Emmanuel Macron
Among the decisions taken by UNESCO’s 193 Member States is the adoption of a Convention on Inter-University Mobility, which will enter into force after being ratified by twenty countries. The Convention will foster academic mobility between regions and the establishment of universal principles to improve the recognition of diplomas. It will complement UNESCO’s five regional conventions on the acceptance of higher education qualifications.
At the same time, some 100 ministers of education and as many university representatives participating in the UNESCO Chairs Programme met to promote the emergence of a more inclusive “Global Campus.” The “Global Campus” would facilitate better student mobility by responding to the rapid increase in the number of students enrolled in higher education.
The other major decision of the General Conference concerns the elaboration of an international standard-setting instrument on the ethics of artificial intelligence. Experts selected by UNESCO will be responsible for preparing a project after extensive consultation. Two intergovernmental meetings would be held in 2021 to finalize ethical standards based on fundamental human rights.
Following the ministerial meeting, Mexico announced that it would host a second Mondiacult World Conference on Cultural Policies in 2022. At the first such conference in 1982, the international community had redefined culture as the “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group.”
The General Conference also decided to celebrate eight new world days - of Art (15 April), Islamic Art (18 November), African and Afro-descendant Culture (24 January), Engineering for Sustainable Development (4 March), Logic (14 January), Mathematics (14 March), Olive Trees (26 November) and Portuguese Language (5 May). It also decided that the first Thursday in November would be the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying.
The General Conference was also a forum for discussions between young people and around ten government leaders on the theme (Re)Generation: Rethinking Multilateralism with Young Change-Makers. Young people from around the world took part in two weeks of discussions to determine how UNESCO could respond to the climate challenge and youth demands. Participants called on governments to step up their efforts to fight climate change, invest more in education, and take concerted action to ensure that technology serves people and their rights.
Member States have agreed on a budget for 2020-2022 of $534 million (+3%). At Sweden’s initiative, the General Conference amended the Organization’s Constitution to suspend the right to vote - as well as the right to run for election to the Executive Board - of States that are not up to date with their contributions.
At the opening of the General Conference, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had warned against the breakup of the international community, claiming that “UNESCO’s action was essential to rally the world.”
|GlobalGiants.Com|
“No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.”
— Mahatma Gandhi.
“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.”
— Jawaharlal Nehru.
“The first duty of government is to see that people have food, fuel, and clothes. The second, that they have means of moral and intellectual education.”
— John Ruskin.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:56 AM | View the original post
December 4, 2019
UN Security Council President Briefs Press after Security Council Consultations
Photo: Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for December, briefs reporters after the Council had consultations on its program of work for the month. 02 December 2019. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.
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November 26, 2019
UNESCO adopts the first United Nations international treaty on Higher Education as UNESCO General Conference endorses the Global Convention on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications.
Photo: The 40th UNESCO General Conference in Paris. 25 November 2019. Image provided by & copyright © UNESCO/Fred Di Girolamo.
Photo: Scene during the plenary meeting of the 40th UNESCO General Conference in Paris. 26 November 2019. Image provided by & copyright © UNESCO/Marie Etchegoyen.
Paris, France, 26 November 2019 — On 25 November 2019, UNESCO’s Member States adopted the first United Nations convention on higher education when the plenary of the 40th session of the General Conference endorsed the Global Convention on Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. The new Convention establishes universal principles for recognition of studies and degrees and will improve mobility for the more than 220 million students enrolled in higher education worldwide.
Eight years in the making, the new Global Convention expands the scope of the main principles of UNESCO’s regional recognition conventions to assess foreign qualifications in a fair, non-discriminatory, and transparent manner. It builds on quality assurance mechanisms and sharing of information about higher education institutions and systems, study programs, and degrees. Where the regional conventions only cover mobility between countries within the different UNESCO regions, the Global Convention paves the way for the increasing movement between regions and continents, which already counts for more than half of the 5 million mobile students in the world today.
Although the Global Convention does not impose automatic recognition of foreign qualifications, it lays down the principle that a student qualifying for access to higher education in one country generally will qualify for higher education studies when moving to another country.
The Global Convention also simplifies recognition processes by turning the burden of proof from applicants to recognition authorities. Where in the past, it has been mostly up to students to prove why their foreign qualifications should be recognized, it is now up to recognition authorities to show why they have not granted recognition. Even when the authorities withhold recognition of skills, applicants have the right to appeal.
Furthermore, the general rule is now for recognition authorities to look for similarities to recognize foreign qualifications, rather than rejecting recognition based on insignificant dissimilarities between international and national requirements, as has often been the case before.
The Global Convention includes innovative provisions on recognition of prior learning, partial studies, cross-border education, and non-traditional learning modes such as online or blended learning. With the Global Convention, the obligation to fairly assess the qualifications of refugees who cannot provide sufficient documentation becomes a universal principle. UNESCO is, therefore, piloting the UNESCO Qualifications Passport for Refugees and Vulnerable Migrants to provide the Member States with a tool for assessing undocumented qualifications held by refugees.
The new Convention creates a normative platform for fostering trust among higher education systems. It is a landmark opportunity for the world’s academic communities to embrace a common good and a shared resolve to forge lifelong higher education learning institutions that are at once relevant, dynamic, and inclusive. The Convention will help ensure the right to education of individuals by facilitating access to higher education.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:59 AM | View the original post
