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UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities: 77 new members from 44 countries 5 September 2022 Today, 77 cities from 44 countries join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) in recognition of their outstanding efforts to make lifelong learning a reality for all at the local level. The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international network consisting of cities that successfully promote lifelong learning across their communities. It includes 294 cities from all around the world that share inspiration, know-how and best practice among each other. "With more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities have the power to drive lifelong learning policies by implementing and supporting local initiatives and bring bottom-up change. The newly admitted UNESCO learning cities have a wealth of expertise and commitment to ensuring that the right to education becomes a reality for people of all ages" Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General The new members are: AfricaBouaké (Côte d'Ivoire)Durban (South Africa)Gulu (Uganda)Helao Nafidi Town Council (Namibia)Hina (Cameroon)Kara - Commune de Kozah 1 (Togo)Kilifi County (Kenya)Kuno Consortium (Kenya)Kwekwe (Zimbabwe)Laikipia Consortium (Kenya)Libreville (Gabon)Lira (Uganda)Makokou (Gabon)Masaka (Uganda)Niamtougou - Commune de Doufelgou 1 (Togo)Pya - Commune de Kozah 2 (Togo) Arab StatesAl Daayen (Qatar)Al Rayyan (Qatar)Doha (Qatar)Fayoum (Egypt)Ifrane (Kingdom of Morocco)Marrakech (Kingdom of Morocco)Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates)Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)Yanbu Industrial City (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Asia and the PacificCanning (Australia)Cao Lãnh (Viet Nam)Guangzhou (People's Republic of China)Hamedan (Islamic Republic of Iran)Hat Yai (Thailand)Hwaseong (Republic of Korea)Nilambur (India)Nonsan (Republic of Korea)Phayao (Thailand)Sejong (Republic of Korea)Sukhothai (Thailand)Thrissur (India)Warangal (India) Europe and North AmericaBatumi (Georgia)Braga (Portugal)Brest (France)Bursa (Turkey)Derby (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)Edmonton (Canada)Girona (Spain)Kirklees (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)Kyiv (Ukraine)Laško (Slovenia)Lausanne (Switzerland)Ljubljana (Slovenia)Nanterre (France)Netishyn (Ukraine)Oss (The Netherlands)Pallini (Greece)Poltava (Ukraine)Ptuj (Slovenia)Reggio Calabria (Italy)Reșița (Romania)Sakarya (Turkey)Sarcelles (France)Satka (Russian Federation)Trnava (Slovakia)Ventspils (Latvia)Yozgat (Turkey) Latin America and the CaribbeanBarranco (Peru)Bluefields (Nicaragua)Concepción del Uruguay (Argentina)Envigado (Colombia)General Escobedo (Mexico)Granada (Nicaragua)Juigalpa (Nicaragua)La Estrella (Colombia)Loja (Ecuador)Pachuca de Soto (Mexico)Querétaro (Mexico)Salta (Argentina)Tafí Viejo (Argentina) The new UNESCO learning cities were added to the network following their nomination by the National Commissions for UNESCO in the concerned countries and the recommendations of a jury of experts. A strong commitment to lifelong learning by the mayor and city administration and a track record of good practices and policy initiatives are key prerequisites for becoming a learning city. The 77 new members bring the total number of cities within the UNESCO GNLC to 294 in 76 countries. About UNESCO learning citiesConnecting education, training and cultural institutions and engaging a wide range of partners such as public-sector representatives, civil society organizations and employers is a key feature of UNESCO learning cities. They effectively mobilize resources in every sector to promote inclusive and quality learning, from basic to higher education. They revitalize learning in families and communities and facilitate learning for and in the workplace while extending the use of modern learning technologies. URL: bit.ly/3BbNiam 
Renewal of the Global Citizenship Campus(GCC) Website 5 September 2022 The new Global Citizenship Campus (GCC) website (gcc.unescoapceiu.org) launched for usage as of 31 August 2022. APCEIU began operating the GCC programme in 2015 and introduced the GCC website in 2016. The renewal of the website includes simplification of programme registration processes, responsive web design for mobile devices, strengthened web security, and a stabilized server. The new website is expected to promote the GCC and its detailed programmes, such as the Model-UNESCO Conference, GCC board games, VR Campus (metagcc.org), etc., allowing improved accessibility for programme participants. The renewed website is now available both in English and Korean here. http://gcc.unescoapceiu.org/ URL: http://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/4557 
Role of the Ombudsperson’s Office in Protecting Women's Rights and Promoting Gender Equality Discussed at OSCE Seminar in Turkmenistan 4 September 2022 On 29 July 2022, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online seminar on the role of the National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in protecting women’s rights and promoting gender equality. The event brought together representatives from the Office of the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan with the aim to explore and discuss functions of the Ombudsperson’s Offices in other OSCE participating States and exchange practical experiences. The discussions were led by speakers from the Office of the People`s Advocate of Moldova (Office of the Ombudsperson of Moldova), who presented legal instruments and mechanisms for the protection of women’s rights and promotion of gender equality. They also discussed the role of the Office of the People's Advocate in the protection and promotion of human rights in the Republic of Moldova and strengthening co-operation between NHRIs and national state bodies and civil society. “Working for peace, security and prosperity requires that all the people in a society are included and their rights protected,” said Rune Castberg, officer in charge of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “OSCE participating States are therefore strongly committed to making gender equality a reality everywhere – at home and in public life, in politics and the military, in the economic and environmental spheres, in every realm of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” added Castberg. URL: https://www.osce.org/centre-in-ashgabat/523553 
OSCE Trains Lawyers from Women Resource Centres and Local Authorities in Tajikistan on Legal Support to Survivors of Domestic Violence 4 September 2022 The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a four-day training course for lawyers from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) and local authorities from 11 to 14 August in Dushanbe. The course trained participants on how to provide legal advice and legal assistance to victims of domestic violence and people at risk of experiencing domestic violence. Some 23 lawyers from the Sughd, Khatlon, Rasht Valley regions, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan participated. Specialized trainers/attorneys with many years of hands-on domestic violence law experience delivered the course. During the course participants were familiarized with the legislative framework in the field of prevention of domestic violence, international and national mechanisms, identification of domestic violence and skills of working with victims of domestic violence. Other topic covered was redirecting mechanisms and mechanisms of recovering materials and moral compensation to victims of domestic violence in criminal and administrative cases. During the event, discussions on human trafficking also took place. Participants had a hand-on exercises and group works which helped them to discuss issues and find solutions. Shamsiddin Mirzosafarzoda, a lawyer from the local government authority of the Dusti district, Khatlon region found useful that during the course he was able to enhance his knowledge of national and international laws and how they are implemented. He also mentioned he found the sessions on legislation in the field of combating domestic violence and human trafficking particularly informative. Mirzoboy Mallaev, a lawyer from WRC “Kuhsor” in the Ayni district, Sughd region said: “The involvement of lawyers from relevant state structures was very good and timely. This will expand and strengthen co-operation between local structures and will lead to the improvement of activities for the prevention of domestic violence.” He added that he will use his gained knowledge and skills in his field of activity. The OSCE Programme Office will continue to support the Government of Tajikistan in implementing the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence. The Programme Office provides a comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities. The current activity is being implemented within the WRCs project of the OSCE Programme Office funded by Norway, the United States of America, Finland, the European Union, Andorra and Germany. URL: https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-dushanbe/524274 
UNODC and Oasis Foundation Share Safety Tips to Protect Youth from Trafficking in Persons in Kyrgyzstan 4 September 2022 UNODC and Oasis Foundation Share Safety Tips to Protect Youth from Trafficking in Persons in Kyrgyzstan With the digital globalization - intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift of our everyday life to online platforms -- the crime of human trafficking has conquered a cyber space. The internet and digital platforms offer traffickers numerous tools to recruit, exploit, attract and control victims; organize their transport and accommodation; and reach out to potential clients; communicate among perpetrators; and hide criminal proceeds – and all that with a greater speed, cost-effectiveness, and anonymity. To support youth with life-skills and information about cybersecurity, UNODC together with the Oasis Foundation organized a two-day interactive camp for 14 children from Chui oblast orphanage and 12 children of labor migrants. According to the research conducted by UNODC and the Oasis Foundation in 2021, children of labor migrants and orphans are highly vulnerable and most at risk of becoming victims of violence and trafficking in persons. “Annually UNODC marks the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and this year’s theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking”, says Ms. Aida Isabekova, UNODC expert in Kyrgyzstan. “Human traffickers have become adept at using internet platforms, including social media channels, online marketplaces, and free-standing webpages to recruit victims and attract clients. We shared safety tips to protect youth from trafficking in persons”. Each year many young people migrate to big cities in search of employment and educational opportunities. According to the survey conducted by the Oasis Foundation among 480 young women and men, about 30% of them admitted that they were not paid a salary during employment, and that their passports and other documents were taken away. “This camp is a launching pad for further support of vulnerable youth. To make this process sustainable, each participant of the two-day camp will receive access to the Bilim-Belek educational program, through which they can acquire additional skills and knowledge”, informed Ms. Nadira Karatbekova, Oasis Foundation Programme Manager. Ms. Karatbekova emphasized that the children who participated at the camp are beneficiaries of the Oasis Foundation. “Children of labor migrants were suggested to us by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic”, she added. Participants gained knowledge and skills on safe and responsible migration, employment, educational opportunities, how and where to recover lost or stolen documents, access to housing and social protection, as well as on safe technology use. On the second day of the event, each child wrote his/her understanding about trafficking in persons and how to protect yourself from it. They glued their notes to a blue heart to demonstrate their solidarity with the victims of human trafficking. “A positive outcome was that the participating children emphasized the importance of reaching out to the police for help and double-checking information about tempting job offers”, concluded Ms. Aida Isabekova, UNODC expert in Kyrgyzstan. URL: https://www.unodc.org/centralasia/en/news/unodc-and-oasis-foundation-share-safety-tips-to-protect-youth-from-trafficking-in-persons-in-kyrgyzstan.html 
APCEIU visits GCED Cooperation Centre - Philippines 1 September 2022 On 16th August 2022, APCEIU visited Philippine Normal University to strengthen our networks with PNU and to further manifest Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in the region. Earlier this year, APCEIU established a GCED Cooperation Centre at PNU as part of its GCC initiative, launched in 2021 to enhance GCED capacities of Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs) in the ASEAN region. Director Lim Hyun Mook of APCEIU met with Dr Serafin J. Arviola, Director of GCC-Philippines, and Mr Carl Dellomos, Deputy Director of GCC-Philippines to receive updates on programme planning and progress, as well as to deliver APCEIU’s anticipations that GCC-Philippines will become an independent and dynamic GCED hub in the region. In addition, during his visit, Director Lim attended the Investiture of Dr Bert J. Tuga as the 11th President of PNU and PNU’s 114th Commencement Exercises for the Graduate Level as the Guest of Honour. In his congratulatory remarks and speech, Director Lim highlighted the role of education and educators in building a peaceful and sustainable society and emphasized the importance of GCED capacity building for educators. URL: http://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/4555 
UIL Launches Technology Training for Literacy Educators in Egypt GEC GAL Workshop Egypt 28 August 2022 Digital skills are key for literacy teaching in the twenty-first century. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, demonstrated that many educators have limited capacities to use technologies for instruction and would benefit from locally relevant, structured training in this area. To promote quality literacy provision by increasing effective use of technologies in literacy instruction and learning, the UNESCO-led Global Education Coalition (GEC) and the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) launched the first national workshop to develop contextualized digital competencies training modules for literacy educators in Egypt from 22 to 25 August 2022. Twenty-one key literacy stakeholders contributed to the workshop, organized by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, the UNESCO Cairo Office and the Adult Education Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Participants adapted the UNESCO-developed training modules and tools to respond to Egypt’s context and the needs of its adult educators. In line with Egypt’s strategic direction under Education 2.0 and Digital Egypt 2030, this is an important milestone on the journey to enhance educators’ digital competencies for teaching, communication, collaboration and continuous professional development. With a supportive community of practice and relevant training, technology can be more effectively harnessed by educators to help their adult learners meet the diverse literacy needs of today. One participant, Gamila El Said Abdallah, adult educator with the Adult Education Authority, commented: “I benefited so much from this training so that I can now understand the significance of digital technology… I made the decision to develop myself in the field of digital technology because it is the language of the era and this training was wonderful to develop our teamwork and hear our voices.” Once the contextualization process is complete, the course will be rolled out to build the capacity of 5,500 youth and adult literacy educators across Egypt through a multi-stakeholder approach. Support from UNESCO throughout this process will enhance the capacities of important stakeholders in Egypt, such as the Adult Education Authority, universities, and non-governmental organizations that train and support youth and adult literacy educators. “This is just the beginning and not the end,” said Prof. Mohamed Yehia Nassef, President of the Adult Education Authority. “We are paving the way for more development and improvement through constructive and fruitful collaborative partnerships. We should leverage the technology in literacy and educational programmes for its efficiency in terms of time and effort.” The Arabic Republic of Egypt is the first of five pilot countries of this GEC-GAL initiative to enhance literacy educators’ effective use of technologies in literacy instruction and learning. More countries and organizations will join the initiative in 2022 and in the following years. BackgroundSince its launch in 2016, the Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning has driven international discourse and guided the agenda for literacy provision globally for those who need it most. The Alliance includes 29 countries committed to improving youth and adult literacy. It serves as a platform for its members to collectively discuss progress and challenges, and exchange knowledge and good practices. URL: http://bit.ly/3AsVMZ4 
Successful Completion of the Sub-regional Workshop on a Common Curriculum for Peace Education in Northeast Asia 26 August 2022 APCEIU hosted the first Sub-regional Workshop on a Common Curriculum for Peace Education in Northeast Asia for two days on 12-13 August 2022 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This workshop was conducted to gather ideas and insights from peace educators and to promote APCEIU’s cooperative project, “Development of a Common Curriculum for Peace Education in Northeast Asia,” to be carried out in 2022-2023 with six key partners in the region. The partners include UNESCO Beijing Office; UNESCO Chair on Peace Studies at Nanjing University in China; UNESCO Chair on Education for Peace, Social Justice, and Global Citizenship at Kyushu University in Japan; Peace Education Commission of the Peace Studies Association of Japan; Japan Association for International Education; and Korean Society of Education for International Understanding. This project aims to develop a common curricular guide for peace education pertinent and responsive to the needs and contexts of Northeast Asia while being faithful to UNESCO’s vision. On the first day, APCEIU, Drafting Team, Expert Working Group (EWG) and representatives of the project partners gathered to review the draft developed by the Drafting Team to share ideas for improvement and prepare for the workshop.On the following day, the Drafting Team presented an overview of the project and the draft of the Common Curriculum guide. Ten local peace educators, including professors and school teachers, joined the workshop to provide feedback and ideas on the Common Curriculum Guide. The workshop was primarily held offline, with partner representatives from China joining online. In the break-out sessions, stakeholders and local peace educators discussed effective strategies for establishing the Common Curriculum that reflects the context of Northeast Asia. After several intensive discussion sessions, all participants gathered to summarize the key points and final comments. Following the workshop, APCEIU and the partners will develop a common curriculum (guide) to be widely and actively used by relevant UNESCO Member States in both formal and non-formal education. In the process of curriculum development, feedback from peace educators and key stakeholders in the region will be continuously solicited through the rotating workshops in China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Ultimately, this project aims to contribute to the strengthening and enhancement of peace education in Northeast Asia. URL: http://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/4549 
Milestone launch of IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto at World Library and Information Congress 2022 13 August 2022 On 27 July 2022, the new version of the IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 2022 was jointly launched by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and Information for All Programme (IFAP) at the 87th World Library and Information Congress 2022 (WLIC) in Dublin, Ireland. The launch event also celebrates the 75th anniversary of partnership between UNESCO and IFLA and 30 years of establishment of the Memory of the World Programme. A dedicated UNESCO-IFLA 75th anniversary session was organized on 28 July 2022, bringing together UNESCO representatives and IFLA’s network of library professionals. Participants focused the discussion on ways to move towards greater engagement between UNESCO and library professionals at the international, regional, and national levels. I warmly congratulate the long-standing cooperation between UNESCO and IFLA, specifically through the Information for All and the Memory of the World Programmes. IFLA has brought its expertise and experience to bear on UNESCO’s activities aimed at promoting access to information and protecting documentary heritage. / Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for the Communication and Information The IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto 2022 is not only a vital reference point for public libraries around the world, but a central illustration of what UNESCO and IFLA can achieve together. The update of the Manifesto is an important step and a new basis for reinforced action for all library users globally. / Barbara Lison, President of IFLA Xianhong Hu presented the work of the IFAP and stressed that the new version of the Public Library Manifesto well reaffirms UNESCO's belief in the public library as a driving force for building knowledge societies and reflects every single one of IFAP’s priorities. She also pointed out that the new Manifesto highlights public library’s unique role in tackling the emerging challenges of digital transformation, combating disinformation, and advancing human rights online for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. All the participants supported the IFLA-UNESCO Public Library Manifesto as a timely and powerful tool for library advocacy and started to plan actions and join synergies via a global network of libraries and librarians to implement this manifesto at all levels. IFLA-UNESCO Public Library ManifestoThe Manifesto was created in 1949 and has been updated over the decades as the role of libraries in society evolves. Since 2020, IFLA and IFAP have collaborated to update the Manifesto in order to consider changes in technology and society and ensure that the Manifesto continues to reflect the realities and mission of public libraries today. The IFAP Bureau unanimously endorsed this updated version of the UNESCO-IFLA Public Library Manifesto on 19 July 2022, encouraging national and local governments to actively support and engage in the development of public libraries. For 20 years, IFAP and IFLA have been benefiting from their long-lasting fruitful partnership to promote public libraries as a public good from which each and every one can benefit. URL: bit.ly/3SLe4x1 
110 teachers Gathered Online for the 2022 Second half APTE Pre-programme Training 8 August 2022 Pre-programme training of the Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange programme (hereinafter APTE) for teachers from five countries (Korea, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, and the Philippines) was held on July 16 and 23 by APCEIU. More than 110 people gathered online, including participating teachers from 26 study groups selected from five countries, officials from the Ministries of Education of each country, and school administrators. The training was comprised of an APTE introduction, which aims to reaffirm the communal objective of APTE, a Study group introduction, and an ice-breaking session to strengthen the fellowship among participants. Moreover, alumni teachers also joined the training to present their practices to promote comprehension prior to the exchange.Ms. Wonjin LIM, the ITE team director, presented the APTE programme's fundamental process. During the introduction, participants could grasp the overall procedure for APTE's administrative and practical operation.Also, the lead teachers of each study group introduced the unique features of their schools and project plans. The ice-breaking activity was followed to enhance the bond of participants. Furthermore, alumni of online APTE prepared their presentations for the participants. On 16 July, Ms. Yujeong SON from Daegu Shincheon Elementary school (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Malaysia Teacher Exchange Programme) and Mr. Cheolmin BAE from Gyeongju High school (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Thailand Teacher Exchange Programme) shared their experience and know-how of online educational exchange. On 23 July, Ms. Taeyoung KIM from Seoha Elementary school, Ms. Nahyung KIM from Gonjiam High school (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Cambodia Teacher Exchange Programme), and Mr. Edgardo D. Pamugas III from Rizal Elementary School (Alumni of 2021 Korea-Philippines Teacher Exchange Programme) and Ms. Jinnita Pongjakthamachot from Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Chiang Rai (Alumni of 2022 Korea-Thailand Teacher Exchange Programme) presented their thoughts and skills. Participants appreciated the practical guidance and advice from the vivid stories of alumni. Hosted by the Ministry of Education and organized by APCEIU, 2022 APTE for the second half of 2022 will be started in August for three months. Online APTE is being conducted as a school-to-school exchange, and for the second half, 13 Korean schools are paired with 13 schools from four partner countries. URL: http://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/4527