Building democracy, fostering peace

Since its inception, the Organisation seeks to promote the aspirations of all people, especially young women and men, to strive for the realisation of shared universal values, such as tolerance, pluralism, the respect of human rights, freedom and dialogue.

International Day of Democracy

At each of the key moments that have marked contemporary history, UNESCO has supported the peaceful development of societies by contributing to the construction and consolidation of democracy, and the development of democratic institutions, especially in times of transition.

Building democracies through education

Global citizenship education

empowers learners to become active promoters peaceful, inclusive, secure and sustainable societies.

Education for just and democratic societies

promoting the rule of law through global citizenship education

Education about the Holocaust and genocide

Promoting the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to prevent group-targeted violence.

Education as a tool to prevent violent extremism

Strengthening education systems and building resilience to violent extremism

Supporting democratic systems

Freedom of Expression and the Rule of Law

UNESCO's Judges intiative

Raising the capacities of over 24,000 judicial actors on freedom of expression and access to information

UNESCO and the International Police Association (IPA) partnership

building skills in upholding freedom of expression and protecting journalists

Global Media Defence Fund

Over 3,000 journalists, 600 lawyers, and 100 NGOs supported by the GMDF.

The newly released UNESCO World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Global Report 2021/2022 analyses the state of media freedom, pluralism, independence, and safety of journalists over the past five years. The Report sounds the alarm on the worrying decline of press freedom levels around the world: data and original analysis confirms that 85 percent of the world’s population experienced a decline in press freedom in their country over the past five years. The Report also examines the impact of COVID-19 on already struggling news media environments, ranging from new restrictions on press freedom to failing traditional business models.

MOOC: Information and Elections in the Digital Era"

Organized by the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

While the digital era has presented opportunities for enhancing freedom of expression, social media also poses new challenges. The spread of disinformation and misinformation online, intimidation and harassment (particularly against women), hate speech, and micro-targeting can undermine electoral and governance processes. During this five-week massive open online course, which will be held from September 19 to October 23, 2022, students will explore the diverse malpractices, strategies and techniques, which electoral stakeholders face online.