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Join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities! 6 September 2021 Applications open between 1 September and 1 November 2021 From 1 September to 1 November 2021, cities from UNESCO Member States are invited to apply for membership in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC). The UNESCO GNLC is an international policy-oriented network providing inspiration, know-how and best practice. Members benefit from the sharing of lifelong learning policies and practices, the production and exchange of knowledge on key challenges and solutions, capacity-building and training initiatives, and participation in global events such as the International Conference on Learning Cities. The 229 members of the network work in clusters on key issues such as education for sustainable development, equity and inclusion, and health and well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, UNESCO learning cities have closely worked together to share good practice, strategies and activities to minimise the disruption to learning caused by the pandemic and the resulting lockdown’. Becoming a learning city A learning city: effectively mobilizes resources in every sector to promote inclusive learning, from basic to higher education; revitalizes learning in families and communities; facilitates learning for and in the workplace; extends the use of modern learning technologies; enhances quality and excellence in learning; fosters a culture of learning throughout life. UNESCO learning cities enhance individual empowerment and social inclusion, economic development and cultural prosperity as well as sustainable development. They promote literacy and education for global citizenship, entrepreneurship, health and well-being. Submit your application by 1 November 2021! Applications must be submitted to the UNESCO National Commission in your country for endorsement and submission to the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. National Commissions for UNESCO are invited to submit up to three city membership applications no later than 30 November 2021. We will announce the new GNLC members in February 2022. More information Flyer "Join the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities!" (English, French, Spanish) Application form and procedureAbout the UNESCO Global Network of Learning citiesCurrent members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning cities ContactUNESCO Institute for Lifelong LearningFeldbrunnenstr. 5820148 HamburgGermany Email learningcities@unesco.org Tel: +49 40 44 80 4144Fax: +49 40 41 077 23 URL:https://uil.unesco.org/lifelong-learning/learning-cities/join-unesco-global-network-learning-cities-0 
Young Women Leadership on Climate Adaptation – Online Executive Training 1 September 2021 The Young Women Leadership on Climate Adaptation Online Executive Training is a virtual educational and capacity-building program that fosters the leadership of African young women to induce and realize sustainable solutions that build resilience to the changing climate by fostering knowledge on climate adaptation elevating leadership skills connecting professional networks Key Facts about the Online Executive Training: 20-weeks part-time training program taking place from October 2021 to March 2022 Hosted fully virtually on an exclusive online learning platform Blended learning approach combining synchronous learning via live sessions via zoom and asynchronous learning (through videos, audio recordings, text resources, links, quizzes and assignments, etc.) Free course Competitive application process to complete by Sept 26th What are the contents? Core Knowledge about Gender-Sensitive Climate Adaptation Leadership Capacity-Building Project Management Coaching Networking and Career Guidance What will be asked of you? Be present in 65% of live webinar sessions (90-120 minutes, 1-2 times a week; weekdays; afternoon) and be able to commit the equivalent of 2 days a month for the course duration Demonstrate diligence in completing assignments on time and active participation in the live sessions and peer-to-peer review tasks Newly or further develop a project that integrates climate adaptation and attends to gender-related implications of climate adaptation By the end of this training, you will… …understand the global and local effects of climate change are, know what climate adaptation is and how it is implemented in gender-sensitive ways. …have developed an advanced skills set for confident and effective leadership. …have gained the knowledge and confidence to effectively communicate about and advocate for climate adaptation. …know how to plan and propose gender-sensitive adaptation projects. …have gained confidence in pursuing a career in the climate adaptation sector. …have expanded your professional network with other young changemakers and adaptation experts. Who can apply? Women from selected African countries Age group 20-35 Academic requirements: Bachelor’s degree and higher Nationalities: Democratic Republic of Congo Egypt Ghana Kenya Nigeria Zimbabwe In addition, applicants should: Be passionate about climate action and have basic knowledge of climate change. Demonstrate leadership experience in their personal or professional capacities Be involved in a project that is integrating climate adaptation or where there is a need to integrate this theme. Alternatively, applicants should be aware of a community challenge where climate adaptation should be integrated. Have an advanced understanding of/be able to communicate proficiently in English. Have access to reliable enough internet in order to complete the course. How to apply? Fill in and submit the online application form together with your CV and copy of your passport by September 26, 2021. URL:https://careclimatechange.org/academy/courses/young-women-leadership-on-climate-adaptation-online-executive-training/ 
Launching of the South East Europe Media and Information Literacy platform: call for stakeholders to register their MIL projects 1 September 2021 “In the past several years, many new projects aimed at fostering Media and Information Literacy in South East Europe have developed. This is a great news because developing critical minds is an unwieldy task that can only be achieved by working together. But what is still lacking is a central platform gathering all available tools, projects and documents related to MIL in the region that would make working together much easier and efficient,” explained Sinisa Sesum, Head of UNESCO Office in Sarajevo of Regional Bureau for Science & Culture in Europe. With this idea in mind, UNESCO has developed an online platform called the Regional Platform for Media and Information Literacy in South East Europe (SEE MIL), to map out the efforts achieved in MIL by different organisations across the region. UNESCO is now inviting organisations to register their projects or tools to the platform and see their work displayed to the wide public. The deadline for the registration is 1 October 2021. The website is created within the UNESCO EU-funded project “Building Trust in Media in South East Europe and Turkey – phase 2” that, among others, aims to promote MIL in formal and informal education in the region. The SEE MIL platform seeks to offer an overview of the current state of play of Media and information in the region in formal and informal education. To collect as comprehensive data as possible regarding the work in MIL in Southeast Europe, UNESCO calls for all stakeholders dealing with MIL in the region, including governmental institutions, NGOs, media organisations and universities, to showcase their projects and results in the platform by filling out the submission template and provide the information necessary for a transparent and concise overview of their work.In addition to the regional platform, the SEE MIL offers chapters for project beneficiaries in their local languages to bring MIL closer to citizens and the younger population. In cooperation with Communication Regulatory Agency (CRA) from BiH, UNESCO started a platform in B/H/S languages to offer more content about MIL in BiH. The website will be edited and updated by CRA on an everyday basis, with more than 100 relevant authors in the field of MIL. Why is the platform necessary? “When working to bring change or progress in a specific field, stakeholders sometimes find themselves in difficulty to navigate through what is being done in that area. This platform gives impetus for coordinated and integrated efforts,” said Louise Haxthausen, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels. As the results achieved in MIL come together on the platform, the stakeholders will be able to understand each other’s goals and activities and potentially establish synergies and ensure that the efforts in MIL take place in a strategic manner, avoiding duplications of results and building upon the work already achieved. The platform, however, is not solely imagined to be the tool for the implementing organisations, but also for donors and the broad public, to bring transparency and accountability. How it works? The main purpose of the platform is to offer an insight into the state of play in MIL in Southeast Europe, outlining the results achieved in MIL in formal and information education in the project beneficiaries of the region. Along with this, the information about the organisations implementing the projects and the list of the entities to engage with in the area of MIL is summarized and displayed clearly. This allows stakeholders to identify with whom and how to engage and to build more efficient and complementary efforts. The platform gathers the available resources in MIL in one place, acting as a database for the MIL material focused on specific project beneficiaries and in both English and local languages. The resources are divided according to the type of beneficiary: for parents, young people, teachers, journalists, decision-makers, and MIL tools for all. The organisations contributing their projects to the platform would have to provide essential information about the implementing organisations and achieved, as well as planned, results and outputs, including the accompanying material, until 1 October 2021. The second phase of the project “Building Trust in Media in South East Europe and Turkey” was launched in November 2019 by UNESCO and the European Union, DG NEAR. To address the decline in the civil society’s trust in media in the region, the three-year project aims to, among others, pilot Media and Information Literacy in formal and informal education. Register your project by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/EyZ6CM8ziM6xuVvw7 For any additional information, please contact: a.hulin@unesco.org URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/launching-south-east-europe-media-and-information-literacy-platform-call-stakeholders-register 
Deep dive for policymakers into media and information literacy: UNESCO and the United Nations University prepare first online course 28 August 2021 People’s lives depend on the trustworthiness and the reliability of the information they receive, process, and use for decision making. The quality of information we engage with largely determines our perceptions, beliefs and attitudes. It is then urgent to afford all people with the competencies to search, critically evaluate, use, and contribute to information and media content, know their rights online and ethics about the access and use of information, understand how to combat online hate speech, and engage with media and ICTs to promote equality, freedom of expression, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and peace, etc. UNESCO and partners around the world call this media and information literacy. In this sense, promoting media and information literacy for all becomes a matter of public good. This first Massive Open Online Course “Deep Dive for Policymakers into Media and Information Literacy” will target government officials and policymakers at national and institutional levels. It will be a self-paced online course focused on the application of media and information literacy to the public policy cycle from a multi-view perspective, and oriented through cases studies. Media and information literacy for all is a potent means for empowering people to benefit more from new information flows and digital technologies as well as to self-protect from the rising misinformation. Designing, implementing, and monitoring sustainable actions on media and information literacy at the national and global levels require public policies. Now it is time to take new actions and strengthen existing ones. Every government can formulate national media and information literacy policies. It is not a matter only for governments. Every institution also has the opportunity to develop internal polices and strategies to promote media and information literacy. This online course for policymakers will further equip national and institutional leaders with tools to articulate and implement media and information literacy polices that will build critical minds beyond the present COVID-19 crisis. The course follows the publishing of the UNESCO resource Media and Information Literacy Policies and Strategies Guidelines. By taking this MOOC on media and information literacy, national and institutional policymakers can: improve the impact and quality of public service at citizens’ disposal, restore their trust in public institutions, and stimulate their participation as active and empowered users. Follow the UNESCO, the United Nations University E-GOV, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona’s websites for the launch of this open-access course later this year. This project is part of the UNESCO Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, which includes promoting diversity in media and a clean information ecosystem through media and information literacy. URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/deep-dive-policymakers-media-and-information-literacy-unesco-and-united-nations-university 
한국과 일본의 교사들, 세계시민교육을 통한 평화의 여정 시작 26 August 2021 32 teachers from Korea and Japan gathered at GCED workshopWorking together for joint projects in Japan and Korea In August 2021, Japanese and Korean teachers have gathereed at APCEIU’s training workshop on Korea-Japan Teachers’ Network on GCED 2021. Under the title of ‘walk together, paving the path of peace”, the workshop invited 32 key teachers from Korea and Japan, where they learned about global citizenship and peacebuilding, which was partnered with the Japan Association of International Education (JAIE) and APCEIU’s training alumni. The workshop sessions dealt with the true meaning of global citizenship in the context of Japan and Korea, roles of teachers as peacebuilders, direction of GCED in two countries, good cases of global citizenship education as well as peacebuilding efforts through education between Korea and Japan. Moreover, participating teachers have prepared plans for joint projects and shared their initial plans with other teacherss, identifying potential partner teachers for the collaborative lessons and research projects. The proposed projects include GCED through SDGs, gender issues and educational approaches to gender equality in Japan and Korea, textbook analysis of two countries, peacebuilding lessons through history teaching, students exchange through photography and picture book development, and lessons based on commonalities in partner teachers’ local communities. These ideas will be sharpened and further developed by the participating teachers and will be implemented in coming months. Participants hope to promote peace through these collaborative projects, inviting their students and local communities, expanding their perspectives on both countries and encouraging them to develop friendship with the students of the partner schools. They agree that this can be done with a very small step, such as meeting virtually and continously exchanging ideas, and by doing so, the teachers themselves can build friendship and long-term partnership. Even in the short period of workshop in August, teachers said that they learned much from one another and were motivated to learn deeper and more about each other. Moreover, participants agreed that amid the chilled political relations between two countries, seeking peace and restoring friendship through dialogue among citizens of the two countries is more important than ever. Education can and should play a pivotal role in encouraging mutual understanding and respect, and teachers are in the heart of this whole process. As found in the dialogue among Korean and Japanese teachers in the workshop, both in Korea and Japan, there are committed teachers trying to infuse the values of living together in their teaching practices with a recognition of the significance of embracing differences and overcoming accumulated prejudices and hatred. APCEIU realizes that it is a highly opportune moment to strengthen this network for these teachers to connect, interact, and build a collaborative network to walk together towards a journey for peace through education, not only of two countries, but also for a broader community. Therefore, APCEIU will continue to support the participants’ joint projects and their furtuer study on global citizenship and peacebuilding. They will gather again in October and November to share their experience and lessons gained from the projects. APCEIU hopes that this workshop would become a stepping stone for the upcoming peacebuilding actions and efforts between two countries, which would eventually contribute to spreading a message for peaceful coexistence of countries in the East Asia and beyond. URL:http://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/4240 
UNESCO launches Online Course on Sustainability Starts with Teachers 25 August 2021 UNESCO today launches an online course on “Sustainability starts with Teachers” for teacher and TVET educators. The course runs from 24 August 2021 to 26 October 2021. The ‘Sustainability Starts with Teachers’ (SST) is a regional capacity-building programme for Teacher Educators on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It seeks to strengthen ESD in teacher education institutions for teacher educators from Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), primary, secondary, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The SST programme addresses in particular the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which is oriented towards the achievement of educational quality within a lifelong learning framework, and focuses specifically on Target 4.7, which requires all governments to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. It is active in 11 countries and the 2021 focus countries are Tanzania, Eswatini and Malawi. Through this online course, participants from the three countries will look into sustainability challenges in Southern Africa, and discuss how these can be addressed through ESD and the integration of SDGs in the school system, and into Teacher/TVET education curriculum. The regional course will develop a shared understanding of the context for ESD in the countries, deepen theoretical and practical knowledge of ESD change processes relevant to teacher and TVET education in SADC; expand understanding of the importance of transformative learning and assessment processes to support change; and enhance networking amongst the participating countries. UNESCO Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gojzen will speak at the opening ceremony webinar. Other delegates will include Eswatini’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training (Mr. Stewart); Malawi’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Mrs. Mussa); Tanzania’s Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Dr. Akwilapo); Rhodes University Vice Chancellor (Prof. Mabizela); and Senior Programme Officer for the Swedish International Development Cooperation (Ms. Michelle Bouchard). Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation (SIDA), the SST programme started in 2019 to date, 166 teacher and TVET educators in 77 institutions are engaged in ESD transformative projects, called Change Projects. In all the participating countries, the SST programme has become an integral element of the ESD for 2030 country initiative. URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-launches-online-course-sustainability-starts-teachers 
United to remember the tragedies of the past to promote a peaceful future: Commemorating the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition in the Caribbean 24 August 2021 One of the most widespread and damaging legacies of the slave trade is racism, discrimination, and prejudice that affects every continent of our planet. Every year, on August 23, UNESCO commemorates the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition to highlight and raise awareness on the importance of sharing history as a mechanism to fight against all forms of oppression, discrimination and racism in contemporary times. On this day in 2021, the Casa de las Américas, the National Commission for UNESCO in Cuba (CNCU) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and with support of UNESCO, represented by its UNESCO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Havana and the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean in Kingston, united to strengthen the culture and values transmitted from Africa to its diaspora to promote cultural expression, inclusion and mutual understanding, while raising awareness of the fearful past of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. This is in line with UNESCO's Global Appeal against Racism adopted at the 210th session of UNESCO's Executive Board in the fight against exclusion and racial discrimination. Lest we forget, on the night that spanned August 22 and 23, 1791, the enslaved in the French colonized Saint-Domingue, started a revolution, the only instance of a successful armed black protest in world history and the founding event of the first modern black Republic. -- Dr. Verene Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Reparation Research, UWI Dr. Verene Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Reparation Research at the University of the West Indies (UWI) based in Kingston, Jamaica, provided remarks at a panel discussion organized by Casa de Las Américas as part of its Afroaméricaprogramme. She adds “In a cruel twist of fate, while today we are celebrating the start of that glorious revolution that resulted in Haitian independence in 1804, we are also mourning the loss of lives because of yet another earthquake. The inability of their social and physical infrastructure to withstand natural hazards is part of that colonial legacy manifested not only in environmental degradation, but also in the economic poverty of a nation that faced a crippling reparation debt until 1947 and external interference before and after 1947.-- Dr. Verene Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Reparations Research This panel session aims to provide a historical panorama on the Slave Trade, linking past and present through an analysis of recent Latin American and Caribbean research on the Slave Trade, the Slave Trade as a literary theme in Latin American novels, and the legacy of the Slave Trade and the quest for justice and equity in the Caribbean. Watch Prof. Shepherds contribution here. Other panelists are Ms. C. Miriam Herrera and Dr. C Ronald Antonio Ramirez, both professors at the University of Havana. Presentations are available on the Casa de las Americas website. August 23 commemorates the anniversary of the insurrection, on the night of August 22-23, 1791, of enslaved men and women who rose against the brutality of their oppressors in Saint-Domingue to pave the way for the end of slavery and dehumanization. This revolt, which took place in what is today known as Haiti, marks the universal demand for freedom, the end of colonial slavery, and dehumanization. The ripple effect of the 1791 uprising has shaped the course of peoples' liberation struggles and movements for the defense of human and civil rights for more than 200 years. It crystallizes the challenges, concepts, and principles that are essential to know in today's fight against modern slavery and human trafficking. The lessons of this history are fundamental to shaping the path to peace and dignity and the non-repetition of past cruelty. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in breaking the silence on the slave trade and slavery, UNESCO stresses the importance of recognizing the links between the history of the slave route and modern expressions of prejudice, racism, and discrimination. UNESCO also emphasizes the contributions of enslaved people to the receiving societies through the identification, preservation, and promotion of sites and itineraries of memory. UNESCO's Slave Route project was launched in 1994 to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of this history on our modern world and thus promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. It explores the foundations, ways of functioning, and consequences of the slave trade and slavery in different regions of the world. It offers the opportunity to reflect together on the historical causes, methods, and consequences of the slave route. Links: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/united-remember-tragedies-past-promote-peaceful-future-commemorating-international-day 
Stronger Together: Better coordination needed for effective GBV response 18 August 2021 Article 38 of The Constitution of Nepal, 2015, states that “No woman shall be subjected to physical, mental, sexual, psychological or other forms of violence or exploitation.” Yet, according to the World Bank, in 2017 149 people were killed as a result of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nepal. Of these, 140 were female, of which 75 were killed because of domestic violence. These are likely underreported figures due to the stigma attached to GBV. With the increase of GBV cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged lockdown, how are local-level governmental and non-governmental bodies in Nepal responding? On 23 July 2021, the UNESCO-UNFPA-UN Women Joint Programme, with support from KOICA, organised its third Community of Knowledge (CoK) in partnership with the Forum for Women, Law, and Development (FWLD), entitled “Services and Referral Pathway on GBV: Status and Practice with Reference to Sarlahi District.” Sarlahi was selected as a case study to understand the status and practices of GBV services and referral pathways at local levels. Renuka Poudel, Deputy Mayor of Hariwan Municipality in Sarlahi, highlighted the establishment of the Judicial Committee following the 2074 Local Government Operation Act. One of the committee’s main functions is to address cases of violence against women and children, including, but not limited to, domestic violence. To date during the 2077/78 fiscal year (2020/21), 300 cases have been registered at the Judicial Committee in Hariwan, out of which 50 are domestic violence-related. Most of these cases were solved within the community or family through reconciliation efforts, as those involved generally believe these should be considered internal matters. Nonetheless, Deputy Mayor Paudel shared that the municipality is currently providing relief and support to GBV survivors as per the nature of the cases. This support includes monetary disbursements and/or referrals for psychological counselling. Krishna Giri, Police Inspector at the Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Center of Sarlahi District Police, noted that 729 cases related to domestic violence were reported in the year 2077/78 (2020/21). Nonetheless, Giri said that women in Sarlahi District rarely seek help when faced with violence, partly due to a lack of awareness both at the individual and community level on how law enforcement can provide assistance in GBV cases. In many parts of Sarlahi District, domestic violence is widely accepted as part of a culture rather than considering as a crime...it is difficult for women to openly speak up about the violence they have suffered, due to various threats and stigma ingrained in society.-- Krishna Giri, Police Inspector at Women, Children and Senior Citizen Service Center, Sarlahi Dist Rohit Kumar Mahara, Public Health Inspector, One-stop Crisis Management Center (OCMC) in Malangwa, Sarlahi, believes that giving psychological counselling and medical assistance to GBV survivors should be a major priority when providing immediate response services. The OCMC plays an important role in providing these services to survivors, after being informed of these cases via social media and/or helpline numbers, as well as through the Police, safe houses, and the Judicial Committee. Lastly, Banita Baral, Chairperson of the safe house Shanti Mahila Kendra in Malangwa, Sarlahi, shared that the pandemic and lockdown has led to an increase in the number of GBV cases, particularly those related to domestic violence. In general, survivors approach the safe house directly, but the lockdown has created more challenges for those who need help to connect and seek support. Although GBV cases are being addressed by local bodies and the police, there is an important need for more effective coordination between these entities, safe houses, and the OCMC. In GBV cases, seeking help is still a challenge, as most women suffer in silence.-- Banita Baral, Chairperson, Shanti Mahila Kendra, a safe house in Malangwa, Sarlahi Anamica Gauchan from UNESCO concluded the session by thanking the speakers and urging everyone to approach issues of access to education, health, social leadership, and legal reforms through a gender lens, as the lack of access to these basic needs is part of a broader form of GBV. While the state has taken initiatives such as legal remedies, social protection, and community mobilization to reduce GBV, continuous efforts are needed to meet and address challenges at the local level. Gauchan highlighted the importance of youth participation and leadership, as well as the need for broader sexuality education for young women and adolescents, in order to raise awareness and reduce GBV cases. The session, broadcast live on Facebook, has so far received 204,000 views, 2800 reactions, 105 comments, and 98 shares. Comments were primarily surrounding the referral mechanisms adopted by different local-level agencies to provide response services to GBV survivors. About the UNESCO-UNFPA-UN Women Joint Programme “Empowering Adolescent Girls and Young Women through the Provision of Comprehensive Sexuality Education and a Safe Learning Environment in Nepal” is a Joint Programme led by UNESCO, UNFPA, and UN Women with support from KOICA aiming to empower girls and young women through an integrated approach to education, health, and gender equality. For more inquiries, contact the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu at kathmandu@unesco.org URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/stronger-together-better-coordination-needed-effective-gbv-response 
A new Global Youth Development Index shows improvement in the state of 1.8 billion young people around the world 16 August 2021 Developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Global Youth Development Index Report launched this International Youth Day measures the state of health and wellbeing, education, employment, equality and inclusion, political participation, and security for more than 1.8 billion young people across 181 countries. It informs policymakers about young people’s needs and opportunities and provides policy-oriented recommendations. It also acts as a data advocacy tool, highlighting the importance of gathering statistics on key youth indicators to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. I am very pleased to be a part of it. The latest edition of the Youth Development Index (YDI) ranks youth development in 181 countries. It is a composite index of 27 indicators that measures youth development across 6 domains tracked over the period 2010–2018: Health and Wellbeing, Education, Employment and Opportunity, Political and Civic Participation, Equality and Inclusion and Peace and Security. This year’s index shows advances in 5 of the 6 domains over the period. As a global comparison tool, the YDI uses national level data. It compares scores between countries and regions but does not provide insight on variations or inequalities in youth development within a country. It also does not measure every aspect of youth development – focusing instead on a core set of indicators that expert literature has shown heavily influences development outcomes for young people. There is a strong relationship between the YDI and most of the SDGs – meaning that countries that perform well on youth development also tend to have made greater progress towards the SDGs. The 2020 Report reveals that on average, youth development has been improving, although progress is slow. Between 2010 and 2018, the global average youth development score improved by 3.1 per cent with advances in 5 of the 6 domains covered over the period. Similarly, 156 of the 181 countries included in the index (86 per cent) improved their scores. Singapore had the highest level of youth development and Chad the lowest. <img data-attachment-id="14512" data-permalink="https://gemreportunesco.wpcomstaging.com/screenshot-2021-08-11-at-18-06-41/" data-orig-file="https://i2.wp.com/gemreportunesco.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-11-at-18.06.41.png?fit=507%2C717&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="507,717" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}" data-image-title="screenshot-2021-08-11-at-18.06.41" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/gemreportunesco.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-11-at-18.06.41.png?fit=212%2C300&amp;ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/gemreportunesco.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-11-at-18.06.41.png?fit=507%2C717&amp;ssl=1" loading="lazy" width="507" height="717" class="wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-14512" alt="" src="https://i2.wp.com/gemreportunesco.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/screenshot-2021-08-11-at-18.06.41.png?resize=507%2C717&#038;ssl=1" data-object-fit="cover" data-recalc-dims="1" />Of notable success, Asia has collectively recorded excellence on the overall index as well as in the education domain, with South Asia seeing the most significant overall improvement in the past decade. This regional progress is driven by a few countries in particular. Singapore tops the YDI table, and two of the top five risers are Commonwealth Asian nations – India and Bangladesh. The Commonwealth Secretariat celebrates the rapid development of young persons in Asia, especially through education, an integral tool for youth empowerment and upward mobility. As for education, scores improved by on average 3 % over the period, driven by a 5.3 % improvement in lower secondary school completion rates and a 2.4 % improvement in literacy rates. South Asia recorded the largest improvement in the Education domain, with 16.13 % improvement on the regional average. Sub-Saharan Africa also made substantial progress, posting nearly 10 % improvement. At the same time, it is estimated that only 38 % of young people can be considered “digital natives” based on five or more years of internet use. Yet evidence is still insufficient in this area. In addition to the lack of time-series data on digital natives, there is a lack of other data to measure more comprehensively young people’s skills and engagement online. While we acknowledge the wins, it is important that we seriously investigate the domains in which countries are falling behind. Particularly disappointing is the Political and Civic Participation score, which hovers at an alarmingly low level. The 2018 score in the Commonwealth Asia region was below the global (0.282) and global Commonwealth (0.309) average scores. North America posted the greatest regional average decline in Political and Civic Participation, at 17 per cent. Both countries in North America – Canada and the USA – deteriorated over the decade, at 26 and 12 per cent, respectively. Russia and Eurasia followed North America with a 12.2 per cent deterioration; South Asia, MENA, South America and Central America and the Caribbean had single-digit declines. In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa recorded nearly a 5 per cent improvement and marginal gains were made in Asia. Of Sub-Saharan Africa’s 31 risers, Madagascar had the largest improvement, followed by Kenya, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Comoros. These figures are stark reminders that young people of the Commonwealth under the age of 30 make up over 60 per cent of the population and cannot be left behind in decision-making, at any level of society. Governments must commit greater support to and investment in youth participation. Youth around the world must be involved not as a tokenistic measure but in a holistic and inclusive way, as all SDG goals impact us all directly. I implore government leaders, policy-makers and civil society not just to tap on the brilliance, passion, talents and exuberance of youth but also to embed them systematically and institutionally. Including young people in all six domains of the YDI is critical for us to reach our Agenda 2030 and to deliver national and global goals. I started in my role as the new Youth Representative on the Advisory Board for the GEM Report in late-June this year and have already sought to utilise my experience as a young academic and education advocate, as well as within the Commonwealth Secretariat and Global Students Forum to provide inputs and advice to the GEM Report team on the overall development of the report’s outputs and decisions on future Report themes. Among its recommendations, the index further urges governments to improve data collection on education and diversify how they measure digital skills and online engagement of youth, all areas which will be covered in the 2023 GEM Report on technology and education. Young people are now more connected than ever and are standing united to work to accelerate progress on all aspects of the YDI and take charge of our future. Youth empowerment must become a priority for all countries. As we pledge our dedication and partnership, we look forward to your promise in creating an enabling ecosystem for us to shape and direct our common future. By the GEM Report’s new Youth Representative on its Advisory Board and Chair of the Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA), Musarrat Maisha Reza URL:https://gemreportunesco.wpcomstaging.com/2021/08/12/a-new-global-youth-development-index-shows-improvement-in-the-state-of-1-8-billion-young-people-around-the-world/ 
À l'horizon | Un réservoir intarissable : la diversité culturelle au service de l'avenir que nous voulons 16 August 2021 Culture, in all its diversity, is an infinite reservoir from which we gain our knowledge of the world and which we tap into to find solutions to contemporary issues. Ever since the emergence of Homo Sapiens, human progress has evolved thanks to cultural diversity, through the exchange between human groups of discoveries and innovations, institutional experience and knowledge. Culture is in constant flux, evolving across time and space, adapting to the circumstances of the day. Each culture is therefore rich with insights provided by this vast accumulation of knowledge. Our cultural diversity is our greatest strength. It is the ultimate renewable resource for humankind and societies. As such, valuing diversity and protecting and promoting cultures as asset for societies is imperative. The world is still not on track to attain sustainable development. Furthermore, the recent United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Report noted that “the pandemic has already had a very significant impact in a number of areas, undermining decades of development efforts.” Countries where inequality has grown are home to more than two thirds of the world population, according to the 2020 World Social Report. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights frequently sounds the alarm on the rise of racism and xenophobia, with culture itself being instrumentalised to divide societies and communities in many parts of the world, as highlighted by a 2018 Report of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. Moreover, the future of our planet is at stake: the climate crisis is upon us with 2021 being described as “a make-or-break year for people and planet” by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. In addition, new technologies have critical implications as to how we interact with the world and each other, with huge ethical implications for the future of humankind. Today's societies are resolutely multilingual and multicultural, many of them home to a large number of cultures and ethnic groups. This diversity has been nourished throughout the ages due to trade and migration. Colonialism, slavery and the displacement of populations due to conflict have also altered the social fabric of societies, leading to a loss of critical knowledge. Diversity not only refers to differences due to the presence of different cultural or ethnic communities, but also different life experiences due to gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. Cultures transcend national boundaries and digital technologies have also put people in contact in an unprecedented way, creating new communities across borders. Confronted by the diversity of codes and outlooks, States sometimes find themselves at a loss to know how to respond and harness cultural diversity for the common interest. Now, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, States are recalibrating longer term policy choices among many seemingly competing priorities – be it health, infrastructure or employment. Where does culture fit in this panoply of public policies? History has shown us that following trauma, societies and peoples have turned to culture to find responses. UNESCO itself was created due to the conviction that rebuilding societies following the Second World War could not only be done through political and economic means but also a renewal of ideas and new solidarity, through our “fruitful diversity”. “Development without culture is growth without a soul”Traditional development policies, tethered to economic growth, were initially guided by the belief that an increase in prosperity would increase human well-being and reduce poverty. By the 1990s, it was clear that a purely growth-oriented approach had deepened economic and social divides within and between countries, thereby jeopardizing social inclusion and the evolution of peaceful and sustainable societies. Burgeoning ecological destruction was leading to worse natural catastrophes and increased global uncertainty. There was a conscious shift towards “human development”, based on the work of Amartya Sen, placing emphasis on widening individuals’ choices and expanding freedoms. Within the United Nations system, the Human Development Index was introduced to take into account dimensions such as health and education. Yet, individuals are not isolated atoms; they work together, cooperate and interact in many ways. It is culture that connects them with one another and makes the development of the individual possible. It is also culture that defines how people relate to the natural environment. It is in this sense that all forms of development, including human development, ultimately are determined by cultural factors. When culture is thus understood as the basis of development, the very notion of cultural policy has to be considerably broadened. Any policy for development must be profoundly sensitive to and inspired by culture itself. Far from being confined to arts and heritage, participants at the 1982 World Conference on Cultural Policies, Mondiacult, defined culture as: “the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group, not limited to the arts and letters, and including modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs.” Our Creative Diversity, a report produced by the World Commission on Culture and Development in 1995, stated that “if the communities of the world are to improve their human development options they must first be empowered to define their futures in terms of who they have been, what they are today and what they ultimately want to be.” Twenty years later, the 2030 Agenda whose, motto is "the future we want" would echo this spirit. Culture is “the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group, not limited to the arts and letters, and including modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs.” -- World Conference on Cultural Policies, Mondiacult, 1982 Whilst reaffirming a broad definition of culture, the 2001 UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity gave policy direction to such cultural pluralism for the flourishing of creative capacities that sustain public life. It stated that “policies for the inclusion and participation of all citizens are guarantees of social cohesion, the vitality of civil society and peace” and that this was best achieved within a democratic framework. Indeed, “cultural diversity should be defined as the capacity to maintain the dynamic of change in all of us, whether individuals or group” posited the UNESCO 2009 World Report: Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue, adding a key dimension to the value of pluralism for resilience. Differences between cultures should therefore not be regarded as something to be feared, but as a fundamental trait which enriches us and which should prompt us to engage with the breadth of "spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features" of the world. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an inspirational agenda "for the people by the people" adopted in 2015, reflects the evolution of development models that aim to place social considerations on a par with economic ones, and explicitly recognises the power of culture - the first time this role was so clearly defined in an international development agenda. Member States affirmed that “we acknowledge the natural and cultural diversity of the world and recognize that all cultures and civilizations can contribute to, and are crucial enablers of, sustainable development.” Furthermore, countries pledged to “foster intercultural understanding, tolerance, mutual respect and an ethic of global citizenship and shared responsibility”. Culture, being a fundamental trait, does not have a stand-alone goal, but a transversal role contributing to all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Culture is explicitly referenced in relation to education, notably its role in creating the conditions that are conducive to an appreciation of cultural diversity, valorizing all cultures equally in the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Culture also contributes to sustainable tourism that is respectful of local culture, and to the protection of cultural and natural heritage to render human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Unity in DiversityThe use of culture as the main driver of national visions for development is nothing new. National cultural policies emerged in the late 18th century with the large public museums in Europe. By the 1960s, culture was a rallying call for newly independent countries and the engine of nation-building projects. For example, policies in the Arab States focused on the role of culture for creating identity and building unity. Similarly, in the Caribbean, culture became an important tool of emancipation for the majority of the population that had formerly been enslaved, as coming to terms with one's past is the only way to build the future. In Latin America, cultural priorities were shaped by the political needs of the 1980s and 1990s, when the socio-cultural effects of the transition to democracy were starting to be felt. As a result, cultural policies tended to put greater emphasis on the fight against poverty and exclusion, by reinforcing cultural rights. For many states, the protection of cultural diversity itself has long been at the heart of many states' visions for their long-term prosperity. For example, since its independence in 1949, Indonesia has adopted the national motto “Unity in Diversity” based on a 15th century Javanese mantra capturing a shared identity despite the diverse cultures and ethnicities of the 17,000 islands of the archipelago. Similarly, in the Pacific emerging from colonial rule, Samoa’s 1960 constitution is grounded on both “Christian principles and Samoan custom and tradition”, in recognition of its past. Over time, other countries have expanded their public policies to embrace the multiple identities of their population. Bolivia was perhaps the first country in 1967 to pass a law providing legal protection of its national folklore, expanding the definition of cultural law (to what we now consider to be intangible cultural heritage), while the 1987 Constitution of Haiti upgraded Haitian Creole to the status of official language alongside French in recognition of its population’s heritage. Indeed, old models of assimilation for nation-building, in which all groups were made homogenous, proved to be neither desirable nor feasible in the pursuit of more inclusive societies. Furthermore, a country’s culture is not static. On the contrary, it is dynamic and continually evolving reflecting its history, mores, institutions and attitudes, its social movements, conflicts, migrations and struggles, and the configurations of political power, internally and in the world at large. The world’s first national multicultural legislation appeared in Canada only in 1988 when the new Multiculturalism Act recognised cultural diversity as a fundamental feature of Canadian society. The act also recognizes Canada's multicultural heritage, enshrines Aboriginal rights, allows languages other than the official languages, English and French, to be used, and protects minorities' rights to enjoy their cultures. More recent national cultural policies also value the diversity of culture. For example, Jamaica’s 2003 National Cultural Policy laments that “formal processes have emphasized our European past far more than our African, Indian, Chinese and other heritage,” and states that “there is the need, especially in the intangible cultural heritage, to focus on the significance of traditional knowledge in the consolidation of communities and the wellness of the general society.” In Chile, following an unprecedented process of Indigenous Consultation carried out with the participation of the nine native peoples and Afro-descendant tribes, the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage was established in 2017. Referring to “cultures”, in the plural form, marked an important shift not only in recognizing the country’s cultural diversity but also creating policy mechanisms to ensure their flourishing. Furthermore, the country began working on a new constitution in July 2021 with a 155-member body representative of the whole country. Whilst a challenge, the diversity of the body - half of whom are women, a minimum of 17 who are indigenous and the youngest being 21 - is seen as a great strength to ensure a more just future in a country of deep inequalities. Furthermore, at the international level, there have been groundbreaking policy developments, such as the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, established in 2002 as a consultative body of the UN, which was a milestone in the recognition, protection and promotion of cultural diversity, and a great achievement in cultural rights. The adoption of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO Member States was equally visionary in achieving in more inclusive definition of cultural heritage. It valorised local traditions and know-how, and not just physical manifestations of heritage. Furthermore, it acknowledged that intangible cultural heritage is shared heritage, not bound to a particular territory, and that it is transformed over time. The Ministry is governed by the principles of cultural diversity, democracy and participation, cultural recognition of indigenous peoples, respect for the freedom of creation and social valuation of creators and cultural practitioners, as well as recognition of territorial cultures, respect for the rights of cultural practitioners and creators, and historical memory.-Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage of Chile Culture: the dynamic for change Cultural diversity - harnessed appropriately - nurtures dialogue and mutual understanding and develops new models of citizenship, by providing access to meaningful knowledge. Local cultural codes can be a source of social cohesion and peace, including in countries that have experienced social strife. Chad’s national development plan aims to reinforce “national cohesion through cultural rehabilitation and the restoration of ancestral values”. Pakistan’s 2018 cultural policy, for example, recognises cultural diversity as a “unifying bond” to overcome inter-communal tensions. Mauritius - a kaleidoscope of ethnic and religious groups – attributes its high ranking in the Global Peace Index to respect for cultural diversity. In its 2019 Voluntary National Review (VNR), submitted to the United Nations as part of monitoring towards the Sustainable Development Goals, it states that the country “is a sovereign democratic state island of approximately 1.3 million people of different race, culture and faith, living in a spirit of unity, mutual respect and tolerance. These values have upheld the process of nation building.” As well as a vehicle for social cohesion, cultural diversity is a source for sustainable livelihoods and economic growth, drawing on unique intangible cultural heritage and a diversity of cultural expressions. Morocco’s Vision 2020, for instance, aims to consolidate cultural tourism by organizing festivals dedicated to the arts and artistic heritage expressions. Meanwhile, Panama’s initiative called “Ruta Afro”, a touristic route linking the Afro-Panamanians communities, not only gives their culture more visibility but also provides employment opportunities. Brunei Darussalam’s One Village One Product policy focuses on community-based cultural tourism through the promotion of handicrafts and intangible cultural heritage. Peru is also capitalising on cultural diversity through the recently launched Pact for Culture to boost its culture sector, aimed at protecting the country’s heritage, as well as promoting its cultural industries. Culture also defines how people relate to nature and their physical environment, to the earth and to the cosmos. The indigenous Quechua cosmovision centred on humanity as an integral part of the natural and social environment – ‘sumak kawsay’ or ‘well-being’ - was integrated into the Constitution of Ecuador in 2008, making it the first country to recognize rights to nature in its constitution. In the Pacific Small Island Developing States, cultural heritage is characterised by strong interlinkages between people and nature, which is mainly expressed through intangible cultural heritage. The Federated States of Micronesia, for example, highlights in its 2020 VNR how this sense of guardianship of some of the richest biodiversity in the world, coupled with strong and diverse traditions, positions the country to conserve both natural heritage and social heritage simultaneously. Hungary too, in its 2012 Constitution, couples culture and the environment, aiming for the “preservation and protection of material, intellectual and natural resources” for future generations: one of only a few documents around the world that articulates the principles of the rights of future generations to this legacy. Local and indigenous knowledge is, in fact, increasingly vital to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, as the cultures of the world’s 350 million indigenous peoples worldwide are inextricably linked to the natural world. Indigenous knowledge, although relatively new to climate science, has been long recognized as a key source of information and insight in domains such as agroforestry, traditional medicine, biodiversity conservation, impact assessment, and natural disaster preparedness and response. Both the 1992 Convention on Biodiversity and the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement call upon states to respect, preserve, maintain and draw upon traditional and indigenous knowledge for relevant socio-economic and environmental policies. Furthermore, a large percentage of the world’s 7,000 language are indigenous, each of which reflects a unique world view and knowledge system. The objective of the Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2023 is to protect and promote these languages. In recognition that indigenous peoples hold a rich diversity of living heritage, including practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills, the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage provides an in-road for indigenous peoples to shape the international heritage discourse and ensure that their experiences are taken into account. Cities, museums and media: hubs for cultural diversity and global citizenship Cities, museums and media help shape and expand new knowledge but also enhance ways of living together. They are privileged spaces for the appreciation of cultural diversity. By 2050, 70% of the global population will live in cities, where the greatest diversity can be found. The mixing of lifestyles and forms of expression can be both a source of creation and innovation. Consolidating social integration with respect for ethnic and cultural diversity, and yet encouraging them to blossom, is a major public policy challenge. Mirroring global development trends, throughout the 1980s, in Western Europe and North America, urban cultural policies were designed to serve mainly economic objectives. The UN-endorsed 2016 New Urban Agenda fully acknowledges that “culture and cultural diversity are sources of enrichment for humankind and provide an important contribution to the sustainable development of cities, human settlements and citizens, empowering them to play an active and unique role in development initiatives.” In fact, culture, creativity, heritage and pluralism are referred to some 35 times in the Agenda. The diversity of the urban context has led to the burgeoning of new actors, particularly in civil society. It has opened up new cultural spaces and opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity, for example, through festivals. Furthermore, new ideas, concepts and tools - such as Creative Cities and the Historic Urban Landscape - have emerged, enriching approaches for more liveable places. It is also culture that defines a city as what the ancient Romans called the "civitas" - a coherent social complex, the collective body of citizens, as suggested in UNESCO’s 2016 publication Culture: Urban Future. Physical cultural heritage provides multiple layers of meaning whilst cultural expressions provide vehicles for collective identity. The 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape encourages local decision-makers to adopt participatory planning and stakeholder consultations on what values to protect for transmission to future generations and to determine the attributes that carry these values. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network – through its seven creative fields – reinforces the dialogue that is indispensable for development. The Creative Cities are searching for innovative solutions to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations, including housing, mobility, access to public space and cultural life. For example, in the Medina of Tunis - a World Heritage site, and a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art – the Association for the Protection of the Tunis Medina has co-designed with the local authorities an ambitious programme to reclaim slum housing and restore historical buildings. The annual Crafts Fair and the Medina Festival also attract tens of thousands of visitors per year in celebration of the medina’s cultural diversity. Furthermore, “public spaces can create the environment to dispel the myths and destructive stereotypes associated with migration by fostering public debate about the varied and overwhelmingly positive contributions of migrants to the local communities,” as noted in the 2016 Barcelona Declaration on Public Spaces. A cultural approach to urban planning renews notions of the ‘right to the city’ for the common good. To tackle racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia and other societal ills resulting from social transformations including rapid urbanization, human mobility, and rising inequalities, UNESCO launched the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities in 2004. The seven reginal and national coalitions collaborate to advance inclusive urban development free from all forms of discrimination through policymaking, capacity-building to awareness-raising activities. An example of an event that brings people together in the public space is UN Jazz Day, initiated by UNESCO, which celebrates jazz and its origins in the battle for human rights and civil rights in US, as well as its roots in Africa and the Caribbean. The world’s 104,000 museums are also of “great importance for all societies, for intercultural dialogue among peoples, for social cohesion, and for sustainable development, society and as a factor in social integration and cohesion”, as highlighted in the UNESCO 2015 Recommendation concerning the protection and promotion of museums and collections, their diversity and their role in society. Yet, some studies suggest that they are not always welcoming to diverse populations due to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and identity, socioeconomic background, education level, physical ability, political affiliation and religious beliefs. For example, a 2017 study in the US found that racially and ethnically diverse visitors, as well as young people, were more likely to believe that cultural organizations were “not for people like me”. Many museums can invest more in their potential to promote cultural diversity and in valorising the diversity of cultures. Some museums around the world are coming up with innovative ways to reach marginalised populations, fulfilling their role as public spaces for reflection and debate on historical, social, cultural and scientific issues. A project in Edo Museum of West African Art, in Benin City in Southern Nigeria, due to open in 2025, intends to develop a shared understanding of the cultural heritage of the sub-region, contributing to the continent’s “cultural renaissance”. Opened in 1982, the National Museum of Popular Cultures in Mexico’s stated purpose is to be “an open door to the cultural diversity of ancestral traditions and new proposals of cultural manifestations… that promote respect for the cultural pluralism that characterizes our country.” Meanwhile, France has developed a model of mobile and low-cost digital museums called ‘micro-folies’ to improve social accessibility, whilst the Norway National Museum Network for Minorities and Cultural Diversity brings together over 20 museums to organize travelling exhibitions or the training of people of minority backgrounds to increase access to culture and inclusion of minorities in the respective institutions. Media and digital technologies are also vehicles for sharing cultural content. The UNESCO 2018 Re|Shaping Cultural Policies report found that watching television and listening to radio are such widespread cultural activities that they are indispensable to inform people about diverse cultural expressions and to ensure their human right to cultural participation. Yet, there is a risk of concentration of media and a homogenization of expressions, leaving many voiceless. Therefore, it is vital to develop media pluralism, by expanding access and ensuring regulatory frameworks that help create media which are representative of evolving societies. Furthermore, promoting media literacy training and developing cultural literacy is vital, particularly for professionals to become sensitive to diversity and avoid the pitfalls of discriminating, stigmatising and stereotyping. Global internet use penetration now stands at 53.6%, which means that nearly half of the world is still unable to partake in global online conversations, particularly women and people with disabilities, undermining fundamental rights. Furthermore, there is a vast linguistic divide in cyberspace today - with 77% of the internet in just 10 languages - that will only exacerbate the digital divide, as individuals and communities are marginalized. The UNESCO 2003 Recommendation concerning the Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace proposes measures fostering universal access to digital resources and services, and facilitating the preservation of their cultural and language diversity. Through algorithms, there is also a danger that, far from expanding choices, digital technologies and artificial intelligence can lead to a homogenization of access to cultural expressions. UNESCO is leading a global discussion on how to address issues around transparency, accountability and privacy on artificial intelligence. A global framework for regulating artificial intelligence containing action-oriented policy chapters on a variety issues, including culture, is set to be adopted later this year. The positive news is that communities are also using digital platforms to share and transmit their intangible heritage, as was particularly observed during the pandemic. The ultimate renewable resource Throughout the ages, culture has been the deep reservoir of innovation and creativity: the ultimate renewable resource. Yet, now more than any other time in history, the challenges we face are interlocked, multifaceted and indisputably global. Fragmented communities, rising inequalities, contemporary complex forms of conflict, coupled with the climate crisis and technological transformation are causing such upheaval that societies will only be able to overcome global challenges through enhanced diversification and tapping into cultural diversity, which is only possible if all cultures are equally valued. In the globalised world, the modern State is resolutely and irreversibly multicultural. To ensure unity in diversity and avoid social fragmentation and tensions, public policies must build inclusive societies – embracing the diversity of all citizens regardless of race, origin and gender - while ensuring respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in a democratic environment. Institutional developments at country-level over the past decade – including new ministries of culture and the protection of cultural diversity in legal documents, such as constitutions – bears witness to this aspiration of many societies. Therefore, it is imperative for the State to guarantee respect for cultural diversity by designing policies that valorize cultural diversity as a positive resource for progress and not instrumentalised to sow division. Harnessing cultural diversity requires for States to adapt their policy instruments and build more comprehensive policies, encompassing the wider policy spectrum. By reviewing their policy tools and instruments, countries would be better adapted to today’s multicultural societies that are knowledge-driven by creating the conditions that are conducive to mobilizing the ingenuity of all segments of society. Furthermore, this approach would provide opportunities for all citizens to engage and to contribute, building true global citizenship by equipping individuals with the capacities to make change in the society in which they live and for them to expand their development pathways. Ensuring a flourishing of culture will propel new, more human-centred, models of economies and societies that build on and invest in human capabilities. When you invest in culture, you invest in human capital. Harnessing the power of culture is not limited to economic models but across the public policy spectrum from education, health, digital development, ecological transition and employment. Greater interdependence, but also diversification, are necessary for sustainable development. The spirit of the 2030 Agenda is that one size does not fit all. Only culture can bridge the gap between global ambitions and local solutions, as culture offers new platforms for dialogue between decision-makers and citizens. 2021 marks the first steps on the road to the UN Decade of Action to boost progress toward the achievement of the SDGs. Back in 1994, The World Commission on Culture and Development decried that “our social and political imagination has not kept pace with our scientific and technological imagination.” This observation is now more pertinent than ever. Now is the time to place culture at the heart of development strategies, using our creative diversity. URL:https://en.unesco.org/news/cutting-edge-infinite-reservoir-cultural-diversity-shaping-future-we-want