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Myanmar earthquake: Search and rescue efforts continue in race against time 2025-03-31 30 March 2025 | Humanitarian Aid The human toll of the earthquake which devastated central Myanmar continues to rise, UN humanitarians warned on Sunday, putting more pressure on nearly 20 million people who were already in need of aid. According to news reports citing Myanmar’s military leader, around 1,700 are confirmed dead from Friday’s 7.7 magnitude quake, with some 3,400 injured and hundreds still missing.In the Thai capital Bangkok which was also rocked by the seismic event, 76 construction workers are reportedly still missing following the collapse of an unfinished skyscraper. The death toll there now stands at 17.The search and rescue effort in Myanmar is focused on the major cities of Mandalay and the capital, Nay Pyi Taw. Some survivors continue to be pulled from the rubble and multiple international aid teams have reached the stricken areas – although the aid effort is being hindered due to damage to airports. Shelter, medicine, water “People urgently need shelter, medical care, water and sanitation support. This disaster puts more pressure on already vulnerable people facing an alarming crisis,” the UN aid coordination office in the region, OCHA, said on X.Burmese civilians are also stuck between forces of the military junta and numerous armed militia battling for control of the country since the February 2021 coup. More than three million have been displaced by the fighting.The National Unity Government which represents the democratically-elected civilian administration overthrown by the coup, called on rebel fighters to observe a two week ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need.But the military regime is reportedly continuing to carry out airstrikes, including in areas close to the epicentre of the earthquake Call for ‘immediate ceasefire’ The Human Rights Council-appointed independent expert who monitors the situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said in a social media post on Sunday that the junta should follow opposition forces and declare an immediate ceasefire.“Military conscription should be suspended; aid workers should not have to fear arrest and there should be no obstructions to aid getting to where it is most needed. Every minute counts,” he added.The UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, is one of the agencies on the ground urgently working with partners and local communities to assess critical needs and deliver life-saving aid – particularly for women and girls. Women and girls face ‘increased risks’ In an update, UNFPA said early assessments highlight significant damage to health facilities, population displacement and the disruption of essential services, including sexual and reproductive healthcare.“In emergencies like this, women and girls face increased risks, from compromised access to life-saving maternal healthcare to heightened risk of gender-based violence, " said Jaime Nadal Roig, UNFPA Representative for Myanmar.“UNFPA is committed to supporting relief efforts, placing the well-being of women and girls – including pregnant women, mothers, and adolescents – at the heart of our humanitarian response efforts.”UNICEF Myanmar's Ko Sai, said in a post on X from Mandalay, that the quake was “an absolute catastrophe” for children in the region, with many youngsters and families in Mandalay still missing.“We need urgent assistance, especially for the children, who often suffer the most in this kind of situation,” he added. Lifesaving medical supplies The UN World Health Organization, WHO, has rushed nearly three tonnes of medical supplies from its emergency stockpile in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, to hospitals in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Daw.The UN World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director in Myanmar, Michael Dunford said in a tweet that the agency carried out its first emergency food distribution in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday which included high energy biscuits “and we're about to scale up our assistance.”WHO on Sunday issued a 30-day flash appeal for $8 million to deliver trauma care, prevent disease outbreaks and restore essential services that have been decimated by the quake. Click here to donate to the UN emergency appeal for Myanmar © UNICEF / A major road in Nay Pyi Taw shows severe structural damagefollowing the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar. URL: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161716 ![[ONU Mujeres/Sultan Mahmud Mukut] Activistas se manifiestan en Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, portando pancartas en protesta por la violencia sexual y de género durante los "16 Días de Activismo contra la Violencia de Género" en noviembre de 2022.](https://s3-ap-northeast-2.amazonaws.com/gced-public/news_image/News250319_UN%27s%20Commitment%20to%20gender%20equality.jpg)
Los Estados reafirman su compromiso con la igualdad de género 2025-03-19 11 Marzo 2025 | Mujer Los Estados miembros adoptan una Declaración Política en la que se comprometen a respetar, proteger y promover los derechos, la igualdad y la autonomía de todas las mujeres y niñas. Con motivo de la apertura del 69º período de sesiones de la Comisión de la Condición Jurídica y Social de la Mujer, los Estados miembros adoptaron por consenso este martes una Declaración Política en la que se comprometen a respetar, proteger y promover los derechos, la igualdad y la autonomía de todas las mujeres y niñas.Con motivo de su adopción, la directora ejecutiva de ONU Mujeres declaró que hacer frente a los retos y las oportunidades de la igualdad de género “exige una acción colectiva y decisiva” en todos los Estados Miembros.“En un momento en el que los logros en materia de igualdad de género, conseguidos con tanto esfuerzo, están siendo atacados, la comunidad mundial se ha unido en una muestra de unidad en favor de todas las mujeres y las niñas, en todas partes”, dijo Sima Bahous. Participación en la resolución de conflictos y educaciónLa Declaración Política reafirma los compromisos de la Declaración y Plataforma de Acción de Beijing, adoptada originalmente en 1995 en la Cuarta Conferencia Mundial sobre la Mujer, subrayando la necesidad de defender todos los derechos humanos y libertades fundamentales de todas las mujeres y niñas, sin excepción.Refuerza los compromisos con las mujeres, la paz y la seguridad, haciendo hincapié en la necesidad de integrar las voces y el liderazgo de las mujeres en todas las etapas de la prevención de conflictos, la consolidación de la paz y la resolución de conflictos.Subraya la importancia de erradicar la pobreza en todas sus formas, entre otras cosas garantizando el derecho de las mujeres y las niñas a la educación, especialmente en los campos de las ciencias, la tecnología, la ingeniería y la matemática, y aumentando las inversiones públicas en sistemas de asistencia. Brecha digital y acoso en líneaReconociendo el vasto potencial de la tecnología, subraya la necesidad de cerrar la brecha digital de género y pide una inversión renovada en estadísticas y datos de género para impulsar la formulación de políticas informadas.La Declaración recomienda a los Estados miembros que eliminen todas las formas de violencia contra las mujeres y las niñas, incluidas las formas emergentes como la violencia digital, el acoso en línea y el ciberacoso.Además, reconoce que lograr avances en estos ámbitos requiere recursos y financiación sustanciales. Pide que se refuercen los sistemas nacionales, los mecanismos para la mujer y los mecanismos internacionales, incluida una Comisión de la Condición Jurídica y Social de la Mujer (CSW) revitalizada, para acelerar los esfuerzos en pro de la igualdad de género a escala mundial.Bahous recordó que ninguna nación ha alcanzado aún plenamente la igualdad de género. “Esta audaz Declaración deja claro que los gobiernos del mundo reconocen 2025 como un momento crucial, en el que las promesas hechas hace 30 años ya no pueden aplazarse”, dijo, añadiendo que es un “trampolín” para garantizar que cumplimos los compromisos con la igualdad de género y el empoderamiento de las mujeres para todas las mujeres y niñas, en todas partes”. ONU/Evan Schneider En la Asamblea General de la ONU se celebra una reunióncon el Secretario General de la ONU y la sociedad civil. Guterres: Hay que poner fin al furioso retroceso contra la igualdadPor su parte, el Secretario General de la ONU hizo un llamamiento a la acción a las representantes de la sociedad civil en una reunión que tuvo lugar este martes en el marco de la Comisión de la Condición Jurídica y Social de la Mujer.“El aumento de la misoginia y el furioso retroceso de la igualdad amenazan con frenar y hacer retroceder el progreso”, declaró António Guterres.En el acto, líderes de la sociedad civil expresaron su preocupación por la reducción del espacio cívico, la escasa financiación de los movimientos feministas y el aumento de la violencia de género. Retroceso en derechosAunque reconoció los avances en materia de salud materna y educación, el titular de la ONU advirtió de que los logros conseguidos con tanto esfuerzo están en peligro.Las amenazas a las que se enfrentan las defensoras de los derechos de las mujeres son motivo de gran preocupación. “En todo el mundo, las defensoras de los derechos de las mujeres sufren acoso, amenazas y violencia, e incluso asesinatos”.“Se enfrentan a la reducción del espacio civil y de los fondos. El resultado: la erosión de los derechos y un déficit de rendición de cuentas”, advirtió.Linda Sestock, de la Federación Canadiense de Mujeres Universitarias, preguntó al responsable de la ONU cómo podría integrarse mejor la sociedad civil en las negociaciones de la Comisión.Guterres reconoció el reto, señalando que “el poder nunca se da, hay que tomarlo” e instó a los movimientos feministas a movilizarse. Poder y paridadEl Secretario General hizo hincapié en las desigualdades estructurales que persisten. “Seguimos viviendo en un mundo dominado por los hombres, con una cultura dominada por los hombres”, afirmó.Por su parte, en las intervenciones también se destacaron el predominio masculino en tecnología e ingeniería.“El claro predominio masculino en áreas como las tecnologías, la ingeniería y las matemáticas (...) puede verse en que muchos de los algoritmos producidos por la industria tecnológica están sesgados en contra de las mujeres”, dijo Guterres.Para estar informado de la actualidad internacional, subscríbete a nuestro boletín URL: https://news.un.org/es/story/2025/03/1537166 
One in Four Countries Report Backlash on Women’s Rights in 2024 2025-03-11 On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls on everyone to stand up for Rights, Empowerment and Equality for ALL Women and Girls 6 March 2025 Women’s and girls’ rights are facing unprecedented growing threats worldwide, from higher levels of discrimination to weaker legal protections, and less funding for programmes and institutions that support and protect women.UN Women’s latest report “Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing”, published ahead of the UN 50th International Women’s Day on 8 March, shows that in 2024 nearly a quarter of governments worldwide reported a backlash on women’s rights. Despite important progress, only 87 countries have ever been led by a woman, and a woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by a partner or member of her own family. Digital technology and artificial intelligence spread harmful stereotypes, while the digital gender gap limits women’s opportunities. In the past decade, the world registered a disturbing 50 percent increase in the number of women and girls living in conflict, and women’s rights defenders confront daily harassment, personal attacks and even death. Recent global crises—like COVID-19, the climate emergency, soaring food and fuel prices—are only increasing the urgency to respond. “When women and girls can rise, we all thrive. Yet, globally, women’s human rights are under attack. Instead of mainstreaming equal rights, we’re seeing the mainstreaming of misogyny. Together, we must stand firm in making human rights, equality and empowerment a reality for all women and girls, for everyone, everywhere,” said António Guterres, UN Secretary-General. “UN Women is committed to ensuring that ALL Women and Girls, everywhere, can fully enjoy their rights and freedoms,” affirmed UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous. “Complex challenges stand in the way of gender equality and women’s empowerment, but we remain steadfast, pushing forward with ambition and resolve. Women and girls are demanding change—and they deserve nothing less.” 2025 marks 30 years of progress since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most visionary roadmap on women’s rights. The “Women's Rights in Review 30 Years After Beijing” report, which draws on feedback provided by 159 Governments to the United Nations Secretary-General, shows progress that must be acknowledged - since 1995, parity has been achieved in girls’ education and maternal mortality has dropped by a third. Women’s representation in parliaments more than doubled, and countries continue to remove discriminatory laws, with 1,531 legal reforms between 1995 and 2024 in 189 countries and territories. It demonstrates that when women’s rights are fully upheld in their countries, families, communities, and economies flourish. Yet, significant efforts are still required to achieve gender equality and bring us closer to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. That’s why today’s report also features the new Beijing+30 Action Agenda, a courageous roadmap to complete our unfinished business by focusing on: A digital revolution for all women and girls: We must ensure equal access to technology, equip women and girls to lead in AI and digital innovation, and guarantee their online safety and privacy. Freedom from poverty: Investments in comprehensive social protection, universal health coverage, education, and robust care services are needed for women and girls to thrive and can create millions of green and decent jobs. Zero violence: Countries must adopt and implement legislation to end violence against women and girls, in all its forms, with well-resourced plans that include support for community-based organizations on the front lines of response and prevention. Full and equal decision-making power: Temporary special measures like gender quotas have proven their effectiveness in rapidly increasing women’s participation. Peace and security: Fully finance national plans on women, peace and security and gender-responsive humanitarian aid are essential. Frontline women’s organizations, so often the first responders to crisis, must receive dedicated, sustained funding to build lasting peace. Climate justice: We must prioritize women’s and girls’ rights in climate adaptation, center their leadership and knowledge, and ensure they benefit from new green jobs. Across these six Actions, putting young women and girls at the heart of our efforts is the best way to guarantee success, both today and tomorrow. These six plus one actions have the potential to unleash progress on women’s rights and put us back on track for 2030. The Beijing+30 commemoration and the forthcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) are clear opportunities to enshrine this Action Agenda into national policies, regional strategies, and global agreements. In a pivotal year for women and girls, that is also a year of pushback and crises like no other, let us push women’s rights forward to create a world where all women and girls enjoy equal rights and equal opportunities. We can be the first generation that can live in an equal world. Read UN Women’s full report. 
UN Regrets US Exit from Global Cooperation on Health, Climate Change Agreement 2025-02-10 21 January 2025 - Humanitarian Aid UN agencies responded on Tuesday to President Trump’s executive orders ending US membership of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its adherence to the Paris Climate Agreement, highlighting the massive potential negative impact on public health and efforts to curb global warming.“The WHO regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization…We hope the United States will reconsider,” said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic, hours after the new President signed an executive order at the White House, bringing US involvement in the UN agency to an end in 12 months. The US joined WHO in 1948 after a joint resolution was passed by both chambers of Congress. The resolution requires the country to provide one year’s notice to leave the organization. President Trump took steps to withdraw from the WHO in 2020 during his first term – but the move was reversed by the Biden administration. Responding to journalists’ questions in Geneva, Mr. Jasarevic insisted that WHO “plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go.” Asked about the impact of the US withdrawal, Mr. Jasarevic pointed out that he saw the executive order “this morning like everyone else” and that further analysis will be needed. He confirmed that the US was WHO’s largest single donor, accounting for 18 per cent of the agency’s budget in 2023. Also in Geneva, UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke highlighted the UN health agency’s importance, saying that “the world lives longer, healthier, perhaps a little bit happier because of WHO”. “WHO is in places where others cannot go,” Mr. Laerke said, including Gaza, Yemen, Afghanistan and Sudan. “It is an indispensable part of the international humanitarian system,” he insisted. Climate shock From the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), spokesperson Clare Nullis reacted to President Trump’s vow to quit the universally adopted 2015 Paris Agreement - marking an immediate return to the policies of his first presidential term, which ended in January 2021. The need for all countries to respect the accord was “pretty obvious”, she said, given that 2024 “was the hottest year on record”, at about 1.55°C above the pre-industrial era. “It is the defining challenge of our time,” she insisted. In the wake of the recent devastating and deadly massive wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles, the WMO spokesperson also noted that the US had suffered the bulk of global economic losses from weather, climate and water-related hazards. “It has sustained 403 weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 403 events exceeds $2.915 trillion, according to US figures,” Ms. Nullis said. Her comments echoed those of the UN Spokesperson’s Office late on Monday which responded to journalists’ questions insisting that “the transformation envisaged in the Paris Agreement is already underway”, with a renewable “energy revolution” offering opportunities for jobs and prosperity. “The Secretary-General remains confident that cities, states and businesses within the United States - along with other countries - will continue to demonstrate vision and leadership by working for the low-carbon, resilient economic growth that will create quality jobs and markets for 21st century prosperity," the statement continued. “It is crucial that the United States remains a leader on environmental issues,” it concluded. URL: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159211 
Climate Change in News Media, South-East Asia 2024-10-30 Last update: 30 September 2024 South-East Asia is among the regions most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, where rising sea levels and intensifying natural hazards affect millions of people in densely populated areas and coastal zones. As the extreme weather events increasingly impact livelihoods and cause displacement in the region, information for making decisions on climate change mitigation and adaptation is becoming all the more important. UNESCO implemented the “Climate Change in News Media” training project for news organizations in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The programme, which ran from March to September 2023, reinforced the climate change and environmental reporting by broadcast and online media outlets by strengthening the use of key online sources, fact-checking, data visualization, satellite imagery, cartographic regression and the like. "We use data from open sources, which allows us to create stories about environmental issues. We also use artificial intelligence and the latest technologies to help make these environmental stories resonate with the young audience."Participating media from Malaysia Enhancing Climate Change and Environmental Reporting in South-East AsiaDiscover In 2024-2025, UNESCO continues its efforts through targeted programmes in the region, including in Cambodia and Timor-Leste, to strengthen media capacity for climate reporting and disaster management. URL: https://www.unesco.org/en/climate-change/news-media/south-east-asia 
Latin American and Caribbean governments and international cooperation urge more investment in education 2024-10-07 Dominican Republic, Chile and multilateral organizations highlighted education as a catalytic investment for the region's sustainable future On the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future, the governments of the Dominican Republic and Chile, together with multilateral organizations, made an urgent call to increase financing for education in Latin America and the Caribbean. The call to action, supported by UNICEF, UNESCO, ECLAC, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), the Latin American Campaign for the Right to Education (CLADE), and the Varkey Foundation, calls on countries to invest now to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education. “Education is the driver of development and the key to transforming our societies; therefore, in the Dominican Republic we are determined to make schools the centre of development and public policies, where the future of our nation is forged,” said Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic. “We invite all sectors of society to join this effort. It is a commitment we must make together to ensure that education is, essentially, the pillar of equitable and sustainable development in our region.” Nicolás Cataldo, Minister of Education of Chile, said, “As co-chairs of the SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee, we believe that it is essential to participate in and promote initiatives like these to amplify decisions taken at the global and regional levels related to education. Reflecting on the enabling conditions for educational processes, and above all, sustainable financing, is crucial to move from commitment to action and ultimately to achieve the SDG 4 targets.” In Latin America and the Caribbean, 75 per cent of students in the region do not achieve basic skills in mathematics and 50 per cent in reading. The limited realization of the right to education in the region has deepened in recent years due to prolonged crises, the impact of multiple emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent inequalities. "If you want economic success, if you want jobs, if you want growth, if you want investments, make sure your education system is delivering. There is no other way, right now," said economist Jeffrey Sachs. Although countries have made significant efforts to reach the agreed minimum funding for education, at least 4 per cent of GDP and 15 per cent of total public expenditure, the sustainability of funding remains a challenge and the region is lagging behind. Currently, on average, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries invest about five times more per student than the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. For this reason, the Dominican Republic and Chile, together with the coalition of multilateral organizations, urge all governments in the region, international cooperation, civil society and the private sector to ensure enabling conditions and adequate, sustainable, equitable and efficient financing for education. In particular to: Increase public investment in education, prioritizing the allocation of resources in areas where evidence shows higher returns and for students in situations of greater vulnerability. Enhance sustainable financing strategies for education, increasing the mobilization of resources for education through instruments such as progressive fiscal policies. In addition, complement these efforts with innovative measures such as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) multiplier fund, debt swaps, blended financing, among others. Increase the share of official development assistance allocated to education, fostering long-term investments in public education systems. Strengthen management and information systems to plan investments and monitor the impact of financing in education, ensuring that it is sufficient, equitable, effective, efficient and transparent. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, during her presentation. Naciones Unidas "Education serves as an engine of inclusion, growth, and sustainable development. Through their Call to Action on Education Finance, Latin American countries have established a bold political and social pact to transform education,” said Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. She invited all ministers and stakeholders to join the Call to Action. Regarding this call to the countries, the Director of UNESCO’s Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Esther Kuisch Laroche, emphasized: "It is crucial that all stakeholders commit to mobilizing national and international resources, reforming their fiscal systems, and prioritising education on their political agendas. Only in this way can we ensure that no boy or girl is left behind, and that Latin America and the Caribbean can become a leading region in fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4. This is our moment to act decisively and with a forward-looking vision, because investing in education is investing in a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world."*** URL: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/latin-american-and-caribbean-governments-and-international-cooperation-urge-more-investment 
En Nueva York, el Secretario General de la OEI hace un llamado a "pisar el acelerador" de la inversión en educación, cultura y ciencia para promover el desarrollo 2024-10-07 Desde la Cumbre del Futuro que se celebró hoy en Nueva York, Mariano Jabonero señaló los avances de la región en materia educativa, al tiempo que advirtió de la necesidad de incrementar los recursos para reducir las brechas aún existentes. Mariano Jabonero, secretario general de la Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (OEI), participó esta tarde en la Cumbre del Futuro que se llevó a cabo en la ciudad de Nueva York, en el marco de la 79ª sesión de la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas. Durante su intervención, Jabonero hizo un repaso de los logros y los desafíos que aún se presentan en Iberoamérica para la consecución de las metas que componen los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030. “América Latina y el Caribe está en camino solo de alcanzar un 22% de las metas de los ODS (Fuente: CEPAL)”, debido en parte a que “los gobiernos dirigen sus esfuerzos a solucionar urgencias derivadas de la coyuntura económica y geopolítica mundial y regional, lo que limita su margen de acción para reforzar las acciones necesarias para cumplir los compromisos de la Agenda 2030”, señaló. En lo que tiene que ver con el ODS4 de educación, el secretario general de la OEI apuntó la convivencia de avances significativos con brechas sociales y educativas que aún persisten en la región y que se acrecientan por causa de nuevas dimensiones como la transformación digital. "Debemos ser más eficientes y eficaces", precisó. La región de América Latina y Caribe, en concreto, “ha alcanzado casi la universalización de la educación primaria, un 97%, y se destaca un progreso significativo en educación secundaria, con una tasa neta de matrícula del 77%, de acuerdo con el Banco Mundial, así como un salto espectacular en la educación superior: en una década, la matrícula de educación superior aumentó en un 32%, según cifras de la OEI. Sin embargo, la calidad, la inclusión y la equidad en la educación son bajas”, aseguró. En este sentido, Jabonero hizo un llamamiento a la necesidad de “pisar el acelerador” e incrementar los recursos financieros destinados a la educación, cultura y ciencia, “clave para forjar un futuro más equitativo y sostenible”. "Hay que movilizar recursos. Comparativamente los países de la OCDE invierten tres veces más que los de la región iberoamericana en educación. En cultura todavía no alcanzamos el 1% del PIB". “Solamente invirtiendo más y mejor lograremos reducir las desigualdades y aprovechar de los beneficios de la cuarta revolución industrial”, apuntó Jabonero, a la vez que instó a la autocrítica de la cooperación multilateral para responder efectivamente a las necesidades y facilitar así un futuro mejor para las personas. Una cumbre para pensar el futuro Bajo el tema “Nuestra agenda común”, la Cumbre del Futuro, realizada en Nueva York con la participación de jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de todo el mundo, tuvo por objetivo forjar un nuevo consenso internacional a fin de mejorar el presente y salvaguardar el futuro del planeta. Para ello, la cumbre ha adoptado tres documentos de alto nivel ratificados por los participantes: el Pacto para el Futuro, la Declaración sobre las generaciones futuras y el Pacto Digital Global. Los documentos presentan estrategias en una amplia gama de temas que incluyen la paz y la seguridad, el desarrollo sostenible, el cambio climático, la cooperación digital, los derechos humanos, el género, la juventud y las generaciones futuras, y la transformación de la gobernanza global. Se trata de la primera vez que la Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos (OEI) tiene turno de palabra en una planaria de las Naciones Unidas como organismo observador, estatus que le fue otorgado por unanimidad de los miembros de su Asamblea General el pasado mes de octubre. URL: https://oei.int/oficinas/secretaria-general/noticias/en-nueva-york-el-secretario-general-de-la-oei-hace-un-llamado-a-pisar-el-acelerador-de-la-inversion-en-educacion-cultura-y-ciencia-para-cumplir-los-ods-2023 
“A scar in history”: UNESCO opens a photo exhibition on the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda 2024-08-27 “We knew our destiny would be grim, but we didn’t expect to be exterminated by our own neighbours”. This is an excerpt from Gaudance’s testimony. She is a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Her story, together with her portrait, is part of the photo exhibition “Une cicatrice dans l'histoire" (A scar in history)” that UNESCO organized between 12-21 April 2023 to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the Genocide and pay tribute to survivors along with their compatriots who bravely resisted. Conceived by the Camp des Milles Foundation – Memory and Education, the exhibition features 14 portraits captured by the acclaimed French photographer Stéphane Dumont de Sauret and accompanied by personal testimonies. It was officially presented to the public on 13 April 2023 in partnership with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO, the Camp des Milles Foundation and Ibuka France. “These photos are powerful reminders of the persisting challenges in the fight to prevent mass atrocity crimes. For the exhibition heroes, genocide left indelible marks on their lives, souls and bodies. But through education and remembrance, we can begin to heal these scars,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay during her visit to the exhibition on 19 April. The exhibition opening took place in the presence of UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Ottone; H.E. Mr François Nkulikiyimfura, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Delegate of Rwanda to UNESCO; and Marcel Kabanda, President of Ibuka France. Dafroza Gauthier, Co-founder of the Collective of Civil Plaintiffs to Rwanda, who dedicated her life to seeking justice for genocide survivors, and Nicolas Sadoul, Director of the Camp des Milles Foundation, both behind the conception of the exhibition, shared how it was brought to life ten years ago. They stressed the continued importance of keeping the stories of survivors alive and teaching current and future generations to cherish and protect human dignity. “I have lost all my family”: stories of genocide survivors Epiphanie, Gaudance, Cassier, Ernestine and other survivors whose stories are in the spotlight of the exhibition witnessed unimaginable violence, because they were Tutsi. Many of them lost their families during the Genocide and were on the verge of death themselves. Their stories are of pain, suffering, survival, despair, hope, strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors. “I studied at the private school … because Tutsi were not admitted to public schools,” remembers Ernestine, who never graduated. “I feel sad: the disability caused by my injuries has prevented me from having a family,” says Epiphanie, the sole survivor of the family of 12. Maurice, who was five during the Genocide, recalls how he and his little brother were saved: “[A] Hutu neighbour explained to my mother that the little Tutsi girls would not be killed but spared for future “breeding” purposes. As there were no little girls in our house, he gave my mother two red dresses.” 100 days of remembrance The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda remains a haunting scar on humanity's conscience. In just 100 days, more than 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority were murdered by the Hutu extremist-led government. This period also saw the killing of moderate Hutu and those who stood against the genocide. Every year, 7 April marks the beginning of a 100-day mourning followed by remembrance events in Rwanda and around the world under the slogan “Kwibuka” (“to remember”). UNESCO joins yearly commemorations of the International Day of Reflection about the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and works systematically with policy-makers, educators and civil society worldwide to advance education about genocide and promote its importance for conflict transformation and sustainable peace. Learn more about UNESCO’s programmes to educate about the history of genocide. URL: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/scar-history-unesco-opens-photo-exhibition-genocide-against-tutsi-rwanda?hub=70962 
La UNESCO inicia consulta regional para la prevención y el abordaje de la violencia en la educación 2024-08-26 Hasta el 5 de septiembre, los miembros de las comunidades educativas, tomadores de decisiones y partes interesadas de América Latina y el Caribe podrán participar en la consulta regional que busca caracterizar este desafío común en todo el sector educativo. El 26 de julio de 2024, alrededor de 1000 personas participaron en el segundo seminario web de la serie sobre Diálogos regionales del ODS 4, espacio en el que se lanzó la “Consulta regional para la prevención y abordaje de la violencia en la educación”. El evento, organizado por la Oficina Regional de la UNESCO para América Latina y el Caribe, en coordinación con los Estados Miembros de la región, convocó a ministerios de Educación de América Latina y el Caribe, expertos en educación de distintas organizaciones regionales e internacionales, sociedad civil, docentes, académicos y especialistas de la UNESCO. También incluyó un panel de discusión sobre las formas de la violencia en la región y estrategias para abordarla desde el ámbito educativo. Durante el webinar, fue presentada la Consulta regional para la prevención y el abordaje de la violencia en la educación, una iniciativa que reunirá las opiniones de las comunidades educativas de la región y que tiene como antecedente la Declaración de Santiago de 2024 de la Reunión Extraordinaria de Ministras y Ministros de Educación de América Latina y el Caribe, que reconoce la necesidad de brindar respuestas intersectoriales e integrales “para proteger el derecho a la educación y cada espacio educativo de toda expresión de violencia”. “La Consulta tiene como objetivo el desarrollo de una visión compartida para prevenir y abordar todo tipo de violencias en el sector educativo, motivar la discusión sobre sus formas emergentes y establecer una hoja de ruta que permita el fortalecimiento de la construcción de respuestas colaborativas entre los países de la región”, señaló Valtencir Mendes, jefe de Educación de la Oficina Regional de la UNESCO para América Latina y el Caribe. Los resultados de la consulta se incluirán en una nota técnica sobre la evidencia existente en torno a la violencia y la educación en la región, la cual será publicada por la UNESCO. El documento abarcará la conceptualización, tipologías y expresiones de violencia en la educación, sus principales desencadenantes e impactos, nudos críticos, puntos de entrada y las lecciones aprendidas en los Estados Miembros de la región para su prevención y abordaje. La UNESCO invita a quienes quieran participar en la consulta regional a hacerlo hasta el 5 de septiembre de 2024, accediendo al formulario en el siguiente enlace: Formulario en inglés: https://forms.office.com/e/EAhrqhgfVaFormulario en español: https://forms.office.com/e/mhba1kuzKAFormulario en portugués: https://forms.office.com/e/ZtKAk4tQkR URL: https://www.unesco.org/es/articles/la-unesco-inicia-consulta-regional-para-la-prevencion-y-el-abordaje-de-la-violencia-en-la-educacion?hub=701 
AI in the Courtroom: Colombian Constitutional Court's Landmark Ruling Cites UNESCO’s AI Tools 2024-08-26 Judges and Directors of National Judicial Training institutions from 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean as participants at the AI and the Rule of Law Training organized by UNESCO from 15 to 17 November 2023, at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica. In a groundbreaking decision, the Colombian Constitutional Court has issued a ruling with significant implications for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the country’s judicial system. The decision was prompted by a recent ruling in Colombia where the judge used ChatGPT to rule on whether a child with disabilities had to pay a fee to a health insurance company to access medical treatment, where the Court ruled that the child was exempt from paying the fees. Nonetheless, the use of ChatGPT, with widely known problems like hallucinations and bias, by the judge to reason in a matter related to the fundamental right to health raised alarm bells on whether such AI tools can be used for legal reasoning. Emphasizing Human Oversight in AI Use in the Judiciary The Constitutional Court highlighted the importance of AI as a tool for managing tasks and assisting in drafting judicial decisions. However, it stressed that judges should not overly rely on AI systems, as this could compromise the right to due process and the judiciary's independence and integrity. The court's decision underscored the necessity for judges to make value judgments, a task that cannot be delegated to machines. Citing the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, the Court's ruling extends far beyond this individual case and laid out principles for AI use, that will have far reaching impact on other similar cases within the Colombian judiciary and beyond. In its ruling, the Court integrates several important principles, such as transparency, privacy, the non-substitution of human rationality, verification, and alignment with best practices and collective standards.Agneris SampieriPolicy Analyst for Latin America, Access Now The Constitutional Court warns … when human beings simply copy and paste information without a review, it cannot only be incorrect or inaccurate, but false (...) a judge must make value judgments, that cannot be done by a machine.Prof. Juan David GutiérrezAssociate Professor, Universidad de los Andes Court highlights UNESCO’s Global Toolkit on AI and the Rule of Law The Constitutional Court noted that UNESCO’s Global Toolkit on AI and the Rule of Law, “supplies elements of great value through guidance on laws, principles, norms and international jurisprudence of human rights relevant to the ethical use of AI, in order to mitigate its possible risks to human rights”. Notably, during the hearings for the case, the Court invited testimonies from Prof. Juan David Gutiérrez and Agneris Sampieri, who are part of the UNESCO Network of Experts on AI and the Rule of Law and had delivered a training on AI and the Rule of Law based on UNESCO’s Toolkit to judges from 18 Latin American countries at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in November 2023. Call for Comprehensive Guidelines on AI The court directed the Consejo Superior de la Judicatura, Colombia's judiciary governing body, to create training spaces that promote learning about AI in the judicial context, along with its risks and benefits, all with a rights-based perspective. Further, the court has directed the Consejo Superior de la Judicatura to publish comprehensive guidelines for AI use within the next four months. These guidelines should align with national and international best practices, ensuring the responsible and ethical use of AI while respecting human rights. UNESCO is actively involved in fostering responsible AI use in the judiciary. It has developed draft Guidelines on the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals, currently open for public consultation. These guidelines aim to create robust AI governance frameworks that respect human rights and uphold the rule of law, inviting contributions from judiciary actors, legal professionals, academics, and the public.This ruling by the Colombian Constitutional Court marks a significant step in integrating AI into judicial processes while safeguarding fundamental human rights and judicial integrity. UNESCO will continue support the judiciary in Latin America with trainings for judges at the regional and national level. The next training will be held in Paraguay in partnership with the Supreme Court of Justice. URL: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/ai-courtroom-colombian-constitutional-courts-landmark-ruling-cites-unescos-ai-tools?hub=701