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Friends for Education call for modernized education systems

On 10 February 2022 the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning participated in the first consultation on Our Common Agenda convened by the President of the 76th session of the General Assembly HE Mr Abdulla Shahid Focusing on the first thematic cluster Accelerating and scaling up the SDGs leaving noone behind the consultation provided an opportunity for an exchange between the SecretaryGeneral and Member states on the concrete proposals options and potential means of implementation of the Our Common Agenda Elaborating on the way forward the SecretaryGeneral reiterated his plan to convene a summit on Transforming Education in September 2022 Proposed in Our Common Agenda as part of the focus on better representing young people and future generations the Summit will aim to avert a generational catastrophe and rethink education systems worldwide In her capacity as chair of the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning HE Ms Njambi Kinyungu Deputy Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations participated at the meeting and delivered a message of Groups support and engagement with the preparation of the Transforming Education Summit Underscoring that education is a key sector contributing to individuals empowerment nations economic growth social cohesion and improved protection of the planet she recalled lessons learned from the COVID19 pandemic including the need to keep learning amidst major global challenges such as environmental damage and climate change widening inequalities as well as rapid scientific and technological change Innovation and crossborder movement have also driven the demand for certain skills such as language mathematic reasoning scientific knowledge all of which are associated with higher levels of education and would require further modernization of our education systems to ensure their improved quality and relevance The Group called for greater mobilization of the political will and action to modernize and improve the relevance of education for all globally including through the Transforming Education Summit She reminded of the importance to step up international collaboration to place education and lifelong learning at the center of the recovery and the transformation towards more inclusive safe and sustainable societies Finally the Group reiterated the call that the process should be guided by the need to secure political will and national ownership of member states as it builds on existing global structures such as the renewed Global Coordination Mechanism for Education supported by UNESCO

February 11, 2022

Transforming Education: an Imperative for the Future We Want

24 January 2022 Celebrating the power of education to uplift individuals and transform societies the global community honored teachers and champions for education Amidst the 3rd year of the global pandemic the fourth International Day of Education marked an increased focus on continuing learning and sent out a message of hope Coorganized by UNESCO and UN Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning under the theme Changing Course Transforming Education the celebration brought together diverse perspectives on the crucial triggers of transformations for a more equitable and inclusive education system In the opening segment moderated by Ms Stefania Giannini UNESCO Assistant DirectorGeneral for Education leaders and education advocates such as UN Secretary General UNESCO Director General President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly Chair of the Global Partnership for Education and the Permanent Representative of Argentina to the UN championed education as key driver for progress across all SDGs as well as peace and human rights UN leaders called on international communities to unite around education as a public good Mr Antonio Guterres UN Secretary General will convene the Summit on Transforming Education in September 2022 to identify innovative approach for the transformation of the national education systems

January 27, 2022

SIDA-funded project to boost science, technology and innovation launches in Tanzania

On 5 July 2021 the project Strengthening STI Systems for Sustainable Development in Africa got underway in Dar es Salaam Tanzania

January 11, 2022

United Nations alert that education should be a clear priority

On 17 December 2021 United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution entitled Education for sustainable development in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called on member states to strengthen their efforts to prioritize education in the response and recovery from the pandemic Amidst COVID 19 continued crisis the international community agreed that the focus should be put on safely reopen educational institutions for inperson learning based on scientific evidence and in consideration of local contexts Member states also recommitted to prioritize students and educators health ensuring that reopening plans are equityoriented genderresponsive and inclusive mainstreaming education for sustainable development as key in building resilient systems United Nations General Assembly acknowledge the important Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development the outcome statement of the 2021 World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development organized by UNESCO and the Government of Germany as the next milestone in advancing environmental education It also reminded the international community of previously taken agreements under the 2014 World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development the World Education Forum 2015 and the Education 2030 Framework for Action UNESCOs leadership on Sustainable Development Goal 4 and on Education for Sustainable Development has been reiterated in this edition of the resolution as well Expressing concern on the impact of COVID19 on Education which exacerbated preexisting inequities between and within education systems the resolution also reaffirmed the importance of investing in accessible learning platforms and safely reopening schools as soon as possible It further appreciated success stories in the response to the COVID 19 schools closures such as concerted efforts by the Global Education Coalition UNESCO is called upon to continue its mandate role to lead and coordinate the Education 2030 Agenda particularly through the renewed Global Education Cooperation Mechanism a remodelled Sustainable Development Goal 4Education 2030 Highlevel Steering Committee to serve as the global education coordination body in the framework of the 2030 Agenda

December 21, 2021

UN Security Council calls for the protection of education in conflict

New York On 6 December the UN Security Council convened an inperson Arriaformula meeting on the protection of education in conflict organized by Niger and Norway in their capacity as copenholders on resolution 2601 on the protection of education in armed conflict Norways Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt chaired the meeting and HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway provided opening remarks Briefers included among others Ms Virginia Gamba Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict Ms Henrietta Fore UNICEF Executive Director and Mr Eliot Mincheberg Director ai and UNESCOs representative to the United Nations Building on the momentum following the unanimous adoption of resolution 2601 and its unique contribution to the children and armed conflict agenda the meeting provided a platform to discuss other instruments lessons learned and good practices on the protection of education such as the Safe Schools Declaration Opening the meeting HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway underscored that the adoption of resolution 2601 by the Security Council is an important landmark as the first of its kind to be uniquely dedicated to the protection of education More particularly the resolution highlights the invaluable role that education plays for peace and security calls upon Member States to protect schools and education facilities from attacks and urges all parties to fulfil their obligation to facilitate the continuation of education during conflict Prince Haakon concluded his intervention by noting that the fact that 99 countries cosponsored the resolution underlines the truly global commitment to this important cause and urged governments UN agencies and civil society partners to continue working together to ensure its full implementation By reiterating that education is not only a fundamental right for children but also the foundation for sustainable peace stability and development Ms Virginia Gamba Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflict called on Member States and the international community at large to join forces to protect schools and to protect students and teachers from violence She also expressed her willingness to foster cooperation with UNESCO to ensure the implementation of resolution 2601 including through strengthened collaboration aimed at improving students access to connectivity and at protecting and supporting teachers during armed conflict and postconflict phases During the meeting Member States highlighted the negative impact of the COVID19 pandemic and subsequent school closures that have exacerbated schools vulnerability to attack More particularly they emphasized the gendered aspects of attacks on schools and noted that protecting the education of adolescent girls in emergencies and conflict demands urgent and dedicated attention particularly in Afghanistan where threats to eliminate education for girls are already prompting huge spikes in GenderBased Violence including sexual violence By recognized the importance of remote and digital learning as an important tool in facilitating the continuity of education in challenging circumstances several Member States called on more investment on digital literacy and remote learning infrastructure in regions affected by armed conflict in order to provide valuable support to education especially when schools are subject to attacks The need to improve data collection to enhance the international community understanding of the impact of conflict on education was also stressed Mr Eliot Minchenberg Director of the UNESCO New York Office and Representative to the United Nations expressed UNESCOs readiness to supporting Member States in the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2601 Recalling that the disruption of education is one of the longestlasting and detrimental consequences of armed conflict he stressed the need to accelerate further concrete action to protect education from attack He also highlighted the importance of improving data collection supporting the continuity of learning and building on the lessons from the pandemic He concluded by expressing UNESCOs willingness to continue working closely with its partners notably the Office of the Special epesentative of the SecretaryGeneral for Children and Armed Conflicts UNICEF and other UN agencies to support Member States ensure equitable and inclusive quality education for all Watch the recordings of the event here

December 8, 2021

UN General Assembly urges continued action to stop illicit trafficking of cultural property

In a milestone achievement the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution entitled Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin at its 44th plenary meeting on 6 December 2021 The resolution was spearheaded by Greece and cosponsored by 110 other member states Recognizing that it affects all regions of the world the resolution expressed deep concern about the continuing illicit trafficking in cultural property as well as the loss and vandalism of cultural property from archeological and other sites in particular in areas of armed conflict The resolution welcomes the report of the SecretaryGeneral submitted in cooperation with the Director General of UNESCO while at the same time recalling all UNESCOs seven cultural Conventions and other important international agreements related to return and restitution of cultural property It also recalls Security Council resolution 1483 2003 in particular the paragraph relating to the restitution of the cultural property of Iraq and Council resolution 2056 2012 on the situation in Mali Furthermore the resolution recognizes the leading role of UNESCO in the fight against illicit trafficking in cultural property and commends UNESCO and the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin ICPRCP on the work they have accomplished to address the issue Of particular note were the various UNESCO international awarenessraising and training campaigns as well as activities implemented in the framework of the 50th anniversary of the 1970 Convention including the launch of the first edition of the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property and the launch of the international communication campaign The Real Price of Art The resolution calls upon all United Nations entities and other relevant intergovernmental organizations within their mandates to work in coordination with the UNESCO and in cooperation with Member States to continue to address the issue of return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin It also requests the SecretaryGeneral in cooperation with the Director General of UNESCO to submit to the General Assembly at its 79th session a report on the implementation of the present resolution During the adoption Member States reemphasized the prominent role of UNESCO in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property and encouraged UNESCO to continue to strengthen its efforts on returning or restitution of cultural objects to the countries of origin

December 7, 2021

Education to take center stage at the United Nations in 2022

On 29 November gearing up for major educations milestones in 2022 the Group of Friends for Education and Lifelong Learning met to discuss its strategic positioning to take forward the global education advocacy Ambassadors deliberated how to scaleup commitments on education and advance key stakeholders engagement in the year 2022 Chaired by HE Ambassador Kimihiro ISHIKANE Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN the Ambassadorial meeting also featured the participation of UNESCO Assistant DirectorGeneral for Education Ms Stefania GIannini and Dr Fernando Reimers Director of the Global Education Innovation Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education Opening up meeting HE Ambassador Ishikane voiced concerns on the global trends in education and the unprecedented shock caused by the COVID19 pandemic to the education systems worldwide Highlighting the driving force of education for development he commended the Group for being an active champion as it had raised visibility and ascertained the centrality of education for all sustainable development goals at the UN Headquarters Referring to momentum around education he stressed the need for the Group to reimage its role and become a stronger complementary player for mainstreaming SDG4 into the latest most pressing global issues such as peace climate change and digitalization Importantly the 4th edition of the International Day of Education 24 January 2022 is expected to kick off the preparatory process of the Transforming Education Summit as well as the indepth review of SDG4 by the High Level Political Forum thus paving the way for increased political will to ensure every child and young person goes to school and learns

December 1, 2021

UNESCO Windhoek +30 Declaration recognized in the UN Resolution on “Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity”

November 23, 2021

Hate speech and the Safety of women journalists

November 9, 2021

Hate-speech and the Safety of Women Journalists

October 26, 2021

UNESCO hands over the Religious Leaders’ Adolescent and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights’ Toolkit

October 19, 2021