Arab States showcase commitment to education and sustainable development at UNESCO's 42nd General Conference

اليونسكو

2023 - 12 - 04

The UNESCO's 42nd General Conference was held in Paris from 7 to 22 November 2023, bringing together ministers and delegations from around the world, including Arab Member States, among others. The conference delved into multifaceted discussions spanning culture, education, science, communication, and information, along with pivotal topics such as the UNESCO budget for 2024 and 2025, and the UNESCO Human Resources Strategy for the period 2023-2027.

The UNESCO's 42nd General Conference was held in Paris from 7 to 22 November 2023, bringing together ministers and delegations from around the world including Arab Member States, among others. The conference delved into multifaceted discussions spanning culture, education, science, communication, and information, along with pivotal topics such as the UNESCO budget for 2024 and 2025, and the Human Resources Strategy for UNESCO from 2023 to 2027.

On 8 November, 2023, the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Education for Peace convened, attracting attention from ministers, young leaders, artists, and key education officials worldwide. The Director-General led discussions on the role of education in fostering lasting peace, featuring a one-hour conversation with esteemed artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. The event also recognized outstanding contributions with the “Youth for Peace Award” international school competition, co-organized with France TV. During this dialogue, Ministers of Education underscored the pivotal role education plays in achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing its positive impact on unlocking individual potentials.

A notable highlight was Lebanon's Minister of Education and Higher Education receiving the International Jury Prize, the Marina Picasso Prize (granddaughter of the renowned Spanish painter Pablo Picasso) and the Children’s Jury Prize. These prizes recognized outstanding student artistic contributions promoting themes of peace through their paintings, videos, music, singing and various other creative expressions, fostering a global dialogue on peacebuilding and cultural understanding. While receiving the prizes, the Minister dedicated this victorious moment to the Lebanese people and global communities, particularly the children yearning for peace and love.

Simultaneously, UNESCO, the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 (TTF), the Varkey Foundation, and Dubai Cares joined forces in an unprecedented event to spotlight teachers. This collaboration emerged during the award ceremony of the 2023 laureate of the Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize, where UNESCO and the Teacher Task Force presented the highlights of the first Global Report on Teachers. The full report is scheduled to be launched during the 14th Policy Dialogue Forum in 2024. To access the Report, visit: unesdoc.unesco.org

Continuing the momentum on 9 November 2023, “The Critical Role of Education for Sustainable Development and Getting Every Learner Climate Ready” highlighted the imperative role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Supported by Japan and Norway, this event showcased the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development award ceremony. The 2023 champion laureates presented their projects or initiatives on sustainable development, receiving a cash prize of $50,000 to further their mission.

Following the award ceremony, a panel discussion featuring world-renowned Professor Jeffrey Sachs from Columbia University took place, focusing on greening education. This aligns with the Greening Education Partnership’s mission to support getting every learner climate-ready, contributing to the global effort to address climate change through education.

UNESCO’s 42nd General Conference thus served as a platform for collaborative efforts, recognition of outstanding achievements, and a commitment to education and sustainable development. It underscored the shared responsibility of nations in harnessing the power of education to build a more peaceful and sustainable world.

متميز