UNESCO plans assistance in Lebanon's early recovery efforts

One week after a cease-fire between Israel and Hizbollah went into effect, four experts from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) arrived yesterday in Lebanon for a five-day mission to determine how the cultural agency can best help the country recover from the devastation caused by the conflict. UNESCO is also focusing on restoring the educational system and providing post-trauma support for schoolchildren and teachers.

The Lebanese government-led early recovery plan will be presented to an international donors’ conference for Lebanon in Sweden on 31 August.

UNESCO plans assistance in Lebanon's early recovery efforts

One week after a cease-fire between Israel and Hizbollah went into effect, four experts from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) arrived yesterday in Lebanon for a five-day mission to determine how the cultural agency can best help the country recover from the devastation caused by the conflict. UNESCO is also focusing on restoring the educational system and providing post-trauma support for schoolchildren and teachers.

The Lebanese government-led early recovery plan will be presented to an international donors’ conference for Lebanon in Sweden on 31 August.

UNESCO's Interreligious Dialogue

The main aim of this program, which is the flagship of UNESCO's effort to promote intercultural dialogue, is to promote dialogue between different religions and spiritual traditions in a world in which intra- and interreligious conflicts are on the increase due to ignorance or lack of understanding of the spiritual traditions and respective cultures of others.

The UNESCO program is complementary to the World Faiths Development Dialogue that was set up in 1998 as an initiative of James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank and Lord Carey, then Archbishop of Canterbury. The aim of the WFDD is to facilitate a dialogue on poverty and development among people from different religions and between them and the international development institutions.

Check out:

* The Network of UNESCO Chairs on the Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue
* UNESCO's Effort to Promote Intercultural Dialogue in Central Asia
* UNESCO's International Congress on Dialogue of Civilizations, Religions and Cultures in West Africa

UNESCO's Interreligious Dialogue

The main aim of this program, which is the flagship of UNESCO's effort to promote intercultural dialogue, is to promote dialogue between different religions and spiritual traditions in a world in which intra- and interreligious conflicts are on the increase due to ignorance or lack of understanding of the spiritual traditions and respective cultures of others.

The UNESCO program is complementary to the World Faiths Development Dialogue that was set up in 1998 as an initiative of James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank and Lord Carey, then Archbishop of Canterbury. The aim of the WFDD is to facilitate a dialogue on poverty and development among people from different religions and between them and the international development institutions.

Check out:

* The Network of UNESCO Chairs on the Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue
* UNESCO's Effort to Promote Intercultural Dialogue in Central Asia
* UNESCO's International Congress on Dialogue of Civilizations, Religions and Cultures in West Africa

UNESCO Calls Cities to Promote Common Struggle Against Racism

The International Coalition of Cities against Racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in March 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experiences in order to improve their policies to fight racism, discrimination and xenophobia. Signatory cities are expected to integrate within their strategies and policies the Ten-point Commitment, and to commit to it the human, financial and material resources required for its effective implementation.

In order to take into account the specificities and priorities of each region of the world, regional Coalitions are being created with their respective programme of action (Africa, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States, Asia-Pacific and Europe). Under the coordination of a “Lead City” which is to be identified, each regional coalition will have its own Action Plan.

The annual meeting of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism was held in Madrid in June 2006. The Coalition of Cities Against Racism and Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific was officially launched in Bangkok early August 2006. The official launching of the Latin American Coalition is scheduled for October 2006 and will take place in Montevideo. As for the African Coalition, it is to be launched in Nairobi in September 2006.

*Call for nominations for the UNESCO Prize on Human Rights Education. The deadline for submission of candidatures has been extended till 8 September 2006. >> More

UNESCO Calls Cities to Promote Common Struggle Against Racism

The International Coalition of Cities against Racism is an initiative launched by UNESCO in March 2004 to establish a network of cities interested in sharing experiences in order to improve their policies to fight racism, discrimination and xenophobia. Signatory cities are expected to integrate within their strategies and policies the Ten-point Commitment, and to commit to it the human, financial and material resources required for its effective implementation.

In order to take into account the specificities and priorities of each region of the world, regional Coalitions are being created with their respective programme of action (Africa, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States, Asia-Pacific and Europe). Under the coordination of a “Lead City” which is to be identified, each regional coalition will have its own Action Plan.

The annual meeting of the European Coalition of Cities against Racism was held in Madrid in June 2006. The Coalition of Cities Against Racism and Discrimination in Asia and the Pacific was officially launched in Bangkok early August 2006. The official launching of the Latin American Coalition is scheduled for October 2006 and will take place in Montevideo. As for the African Coalition, it is to be launched in Nairobi in September 2006.

*Call for nominations for the UNESCO Prize on Human Rights Education. The deadline for submission of candidatures has been extended till 8 September 2006. >> More

Missa Johnouchi Named UNESCO Artist for Peace

Renowned Japanese conductor and composer Missa Johnouchi, will be designated UNESCO Artist for Peace by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura at a ceremony at the Teikoku Hotel in Tokyo on 21 August 2006. In announcing the appointment, Mr Matsuura paid tribute to Ms Johnouchi’s achievements and “her interest in contributing to the Organization’s mission, and in particular to UNESCO’s programme on tangible and intangible cultural heritage.”

Ms Johnouchi will promote the importance of preserving cultural heritage through her concerts. She has also agreed to donate a percentage of her CD sales to UNESCO and she will be participating in the Commemorative project of the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo, former capital of Japan, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage, in 2010.

An Internationally recognized musician, Ms Johnouchi is best known in Japan as a composer of music for film and television. Her most popular works include titles such as “Canon,” and “Asian Blossoms.”

UNESCO Artists for Peace are internationally-renowned personalities who use their influence, charisma and prestige to help promote UNESCO’s message and programmes. UNESCO works with these distinguished personalities in order to heighten public awareness regarding key development issues and to inform the public of what the Organization’s action is in these fields.