EVENTS: First European Media Literacy Forum

The First European Media Literacy Forum will be held on May 27 and 28, 2014 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. This conference is funded by the European Commission and UNESCO into the Media LiteracyAction, and co-organized by the EMEDUS  Project and the Gabinete de Comunicación y Educación (UAB), within the frame of the Global Alliance for Partnerships on Mediaand Information Literacy (GAPMIL). The Forum will bring together governments, audio-visual authorities, institutions, experts, teachers, media professionals, industry, researchers, NGOs, and foundations with the aim of promoting media and information literacy in Europe, discussing MIL policies at a European level and fostering cooperation and initiatives at national and European levels.

The main objective of the forum is to contribute to the establishment of a reinforced European media literacy policy oriented towards theinclusion of Media Education in European school curricula. In addition, it also aims at promoting the development of media literacyinitiatives in the field of non- formal and informal education as well as paying special attention to disadvantaged groups.  

This conference will foster debate and cooperation among institutions, experts, industry professionals, schools and the media as well as among political and regulatory authorities with the purpose of promoting media literacy. 

The event will also encourage the creation of diverse collaborative platforms such as the European Chapter of the Global Alliance Partners in Media and Information Literacy (GAPMIL), the European Media and Film Literacy Observatory, and other initiatives.

Link to the programme.

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Register Now! UNESCO’s Online Media and Information Literacy Course for Youth

UNESCO, in partnership with Athabasca University and in cooperation with the UNESCO-UNAOC University Network on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue, launches online course on media and information literacy (MIL).

This entry-level online course will provide youth with basic media and information competencies to become critical citizens and agents of change. The course is designed to enable youth to:

• Understand why media and other information providers are important to development and democratic societies;
• Recognise a need for information and to locate, access, organise and carefully evaluate information and the content of media and other information providers;
• Use and share information based on moral principles or accepted standards of social behaviour;
• Interact with media and other information providers to freely express themselves, share their culture and learn about other cultures, promote gender equality, and participate in democratic and development activities.

(...)

Applicants should be youth (females and males between the ages 15-25). Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate from Athabasca University.

In order to successfully complete this course participants will need regular access to a computer and Internet access to download documents, listen to podcasts and view online videos.

To apply, please click here. Application must be completed by 19 February 2014. There are no associated fees to participants who wish to do this course.

more info here

13 January 2014 - World Radio Day

Happy World Radio Day from Moldova

OPPORTUNITIES: UNESCO essay contest open

Children and young adults up to 25 years of age can participate in this worldwide essay contest.

The 2012 Goi Peace Foundation - UNESCO International Essay Contest for Young People are inviting youth to respond to this question: What kind of future do you wish to create for yourself and the world?

Essays must be 800 words or less, typed or printed in English, French, Spanish or German or 1600 characters or less in Japanese.

The first-place winner will receive a certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$1,000) and will be invited to the award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled for November 2012.

All prize winners will be announced in November 2012 on the Goi Peace Foundation website and the UNESCO website.

The deadline is June 30.

For more information, click here

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NEWS / IT / GAMES: PC game gives boost to campaign against prejudice: Adventure “Searching for the Treasure of Bosnia and Herzegovina"

SARAJEVO, BiH, 30 April 2012 - The first Bosnian adventure PC game "Searching for the treasure of Bosnia and Herzegovina" promotes the cultural and historical heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), but also helps young people to understand diversities and their peers with different ethnic and cultural background. The game is one of the products of the campaign led by UNICEF within the joint "MDGF Culture for Development" programme implemented in partnership with UNDP and UNESCO.

"Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of diversities that have always intertwined here. It is the country of many cultures and vast historical heritage. On the other hand, in war and post-war periods diversities turned into divisions and historical heritage sometimes turned into burden. Putting our heritage to service of development and recognizing its importance for social and economic progress has been a great challenge. This game is one of our joint responses to this challenge," said Nineta Popović, Communication for Development Officer in UNICEF BiH.

full article

CALL FOR ENTRIES / VIDEO: UNESCO calls for your short message

UNESCO calls for your short message to the online discussion taking place on UNESCO’s social networking website, WSIS Platform of Communities (www.wsis-community.orgà). Your video message will help shaping an action plan towards the organization of the WSIS +10 meeting.

Followed by 30 second brief statement on the major contribution brought by ICT for development, please address the following:
1. What are your expectations for the outcome of WSIS Review 2015, and concrete proposals in this regard?
2. What are your views on the progress made in implementing the WSIS outcomes?

Video messages can be…
• Recorded by mobile phone, webcam or digital camera etc.
• Up to 10 MB in size.
• Up to 3 minutes in length.

The closing date for the submission of your video message is 1 September 2011.

Are you the member of the WSIS Platform?

If so, you can upload the video: http://www.wsis-community.org/pg/videos/add/group:15325

If not, the membership to the WSIS Platform of Communities is required to upload your video: please send a registration request to wsiscommunity-invitation@unesco.org).

NEWS: Young People speak out on education for human rights

A new 12-minute film, “Education for Human Rights… Young People talking”, aims to raise awareness of key human rights issues in schools around the world.

Produced by UNESCO and realized by pupils of UNESCO Associated Schools in 10 countries, it shows adolescents of secondary-school age freely expressing their opinions about gender, diversity, violence, exclusion and other questions.

Viewers are invited to appreciate how young people understand and experience concepts and ideals of human rights in countries as different as Albania, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Indonesia, Lebanon and Uganda.

The film can be used as a teaching tool for secondary schools to introduce core topics of human rights education and initiate classroom discussions.

more info

DEBATES / OPPORTUNITIES: Social and Economic Impact of Mobile Phones in Developing Countries

UNESCO will launch the first of a series of debates on ICTs and development on the WSIS Platform of Communities website (www.wsis-community.org) on 11 April. The debate will last until 25 April. A summary of insights from the debate will be published as a contribution to this year's WSIS Forum which is to be held in Geneva from 16 to 20 May 2011, and to discussions by international development agencies.

The debate is on the Social and Economic Impact of Mobile Phones in Developing Countries: http://www.wsis-community.org/pg/debates/group:15325/overview/244294.

The debate opens with a background comment on mobile phones in development (from the debate moderator, Dr David Souter) and two opening statements of the importance of mobile phones for social and economic development. The opening statements are by Rich Ling, who focuses on social impact, and Abi Jagun, who focuses on economic impact.

A number of interviews with experts in mobile phones and development are also used to set the scene. The interviews are with Jenny Aker, Ken Banks, Roxanna Barrantes, Harsha da Silva and Alison Gillwald.

UNESCO urges everyone with an interest in mobile phones and development is encouraged to join the debate and raise issues which you think should be discussed. You are also welcome to draw attention to new developments and insights on the issues.

Summaries of the issues and comments from the moderator will be posted as the debate progresses.

EVENTS: «Youth Participation in Social Transformations: Initiatives and Participation»

On 2-3 March 2011 Moscow will host a scientific and policy oriented conference «Youth and Social Transformations: Involvements and Initiatives». The conference will be organized by the UNESCO Office in Moscow and the International Non-Governmental Organization «Federation for Peace and Conciliation» as a part of the UN International Year of Youth (resolution 64/134) which is held under a motto «Dialogue and Mutual Understanding».

The aim of the project is to set up a multilateral dialogue on the modern youth policy in the countries of the CIS within a scientific and policy oriented conference which will bring together researchers, experts, scientists, teachers and students, UNESCO Chairs, youth organizations, non-governmental organizations and policymakers.

The conference will see a presentation and discussion of the results of pilot research projects on the ways of activating the participation of youth in social transformations conducted in Russia and Azerbaijan in 2010 with the support of the UNESCO Moscow Office. In accordance with the conference outcomes a policy brief will be prepared on the improvement of the youth policies in the cluster countries.

UN International Year of Youth (IYY) website

NEWS: UNESCO Anticyberbullying Charter opens to other signatories

The Anticyberbullying Charter is a project organised by the Junior Language School, Prague, Czech Republic and their twin school, Elena Farago School in Bucharest, Romania.

Children of both schools monitored cyberbullying in their schools and respective countries. Then, in peer-to-peer programmes, pupils discussed the phenomenon and blogged and video-conferenced on the subject, resulting in the drafting of a bilateral charter against cyberbullying. The charter has been added to with pictograms, posters and other materials. Pupils in both schools were invited to sign the document, and so far more than 60 per cent of pupils (aged 11-15) have done this. The document was then officially signed on 10 December 2010 under the auspices of UNESCO, with various honorary guests from ministries and participating bodies.

full article - project website

GAMES / EDUCATION / HIV/AIDS: Fast Car: Travelling Safely around the World

Fast Car: Travelling Safely around the World is a racing game that helps you to learn about HIV and AIDS prevention and takes you on a tour of some of the World's Heritage sites.

The game aims to provide young people with accurate and reliable information about HIV prevention, intending to educate and entertain as well as promoting healthy behaviour. In this game, the player can race on circuits on five continents, and virtually visit some of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It also presents images of sites and interesting facts about them as players race by.

There are two tracks for each continent - a Preliminary track and a Championship track. Every track has a set of check points. At the check point, one can take part in a Mini-Quiz, and possibly earn a time bonus. In the mini-quiz, the player will be asked a multiple-choice question related to HIV and AIDS prevention.

Download the Game

The game is available online for downloading free of charge in:

• English
• French
• Russian

More info

RESOURCES: Positive Life: New DVD series on HIV and AIDS

26-11-2010 (Paris) - A new DVD series on HIV and AIDS, entitled Positive Life, has been issued by UNESCO’s Network of Young TV Producers on HIV and AIDS in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD).

The eight short films contained in the series were produced at the Workshop for a Regional Co-production on HIV, organized prior to the 2010 Asia Media Summit in Beijing last May. The participants came from India, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Nepal and Vietnam. Their productions, in local languages with English subtitles, are about voluntary testing, safe sex, friendships and personal testimonies.

more info

OPPORTUNITIES: Online discussion on Gender Equality, Education and Training

UNESCO would like to invite you to participate in an online discussion on Gender Equality, Education and Training from 10 January to 7 February 2010.

The discussion organized by UNESCO is part of a series of United Nations online discussions dedicated to the fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), and to the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000): it is hosted by WomenWatch. Education and Training is identified as Strategic Objective B in the Beijing Platform for Action.

Over four weeks, you will be able to take part in the lively discussions and debates on this critical area of concern, and to read new research from leading gender and education specialists from across the globe. Each week will focus on a specific theme that will cover a wide range of topics, such as the role of Education for All (EFA) initiatives on progress towards the Beijing strategic objectives, responses to gender-based violence in schools, and the impact of current crises on education and gender equality initiatives.

Week 1 (10 -16 Jan) - Disconnects: missed opportunities for progress and lessons learned

Week 2 (17-23 Jan) - Silences and hidden challenges

Week 3 (24 - 30 Jan) - Crises: challenges and new opportunities

Week 4 (31 Jan - 7 Feb) - Summary of discussions: Key messages

All participants are warmly encouraged to share perspectives, experiences, research and photos related to this key issue for gender equality. Registration is open to all: so please come and take part in the discussion on how to make gender equality in education and training a reality!

For more information, please visit www.unesco.org/genderequality/beijing15

To register; email the Moderator (bsp.wge@unesco.org)

Further links:

UNICEF VOY

NEWS: Media shapes children’s thinking (FIJI)

Media shapes children's thinking

The media has become an extremely influential factor in the way children view the world, says Minister for Education, Filipe Bole.

Speaking on World Children's Day Friday, Bole said some media mediums such as television, magazines, and movies negatively affect the younger generation.

"Fiji's media industry needs to realize that to a large extent, it shapes the way our children think and act."

He said that, according to a survey conducted by UNESCO, children watch television on an average of three hours a day.

"The impact of TV violence on aggression seems to be partly due to imitation of the aggressive actions that children see, particularly if they are done by the so-called 'good-guys. The message that our children get is that aggression works to get what you want, and that it's ok to use aggression if you are justified in doing so."

full article

EVENTS: Global forum for youth to discuss media and peacebuilding

Global forum for youth to discuss media and peacebuilding

Posted on: 15/04/2009 Multimedia, Networking Region: Worldwide

Journalism students from around the world are invited to Thailand for a conference that will focus on harnessing media and information communication technologies (ICFJ) as agents of peace. The Second Global Forum on the Power of Peace will be held May 21 to 23, in Bangkok, Thailand.

The forum, as part of a UNESCO stimulated initiative, will explore practical options to harnessing media and ICTs in a changing world. It will include a review of an innovative 2.0 online platform designed to engage youth and students from university campuses around the world in peace building.

For more information and to register, click here.

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