Beyond crises and challenges, and despite seemingly never-ending conflicts, UNESCO has always been, since its foundation in 1945, a place where women and men have worked together to fight “poverty, ignorance, hatred and fear”, and also to mend tirelessly the rifts of this world in crisis, through education, the sciences, information and culture.
The 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference opened on Tuesday 7 November 2023 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and it will conclude its work on Wednesday 22 November 2023.
Over this two-week period, the 194 member states debated the means of achieving universal education, the ethical challenges of new technologies, the proper management and preservation of World Heritage sites, and the tools to fight climate disruption and rebuild our relationship with nature.
Importantly, all three of our Soroptimist International (SI) UN Representatives were in attendance at the UNESCO General Conference 2023, participating in and reporting on a range of events throughout. In this edition of Our Voice at the United Nations, we recap some of the key reports submitted by our representatives, Evelyne Para, Rina Dupriet, and Marie-Christine Gries, as they advocate for the rights and empowerment of women and girls at this global platform.
Evelyne Para
Our Voice heard at the 42nd UNESCO General Conference
On November 11, 2024, during the plenary session chaired by Ms Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Ambassador of Romania and President-Elect of the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO, SI UN Representative Evelyne Para, delivered an intervention. She focused on SI’s mission to promote global co-operation amid conflicts, advocating for human rights, education, gender equality, and peace. Evelyne emphasized our organisation’s projects empowering women and girls globally and called for strengthened partnerships among Member States, UNESCO, and NGOs to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to peace by 2030.
For full coverage on this intervention, the video can be found here.
A transcript of Evelyne’s intervention can also be found here.
Education for a Sustainable Future
During the conference, Evelyne attended a side event focused on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), highlighting its role in empowering learners for environmental integrity, economic viability, and societal equity. UNESCO’s work on ESD encompasses supporting Member States in developing sustainability-focused educational activities, including climate change, biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, water, oceans, sustainable urbanisation and lifestyles. The organisation leads global efforts in ESD, providing guidance, standards, and encouraging innovative approaches.
To learn more about UNESCO’s key areas of focus for ESD and to read Evelyne’s full report, check out the full blog article here.
Young People’s Voices and Demands
Evelyne was also in attendance at the 13th edition of the UNESCO Youth Forum, organised by the Social and Human Sciences Sector at the UNECO General Conference – this forum provided a platform for approximately 170 young representatives from 150 countries to engage in meaningful discussions. With a spotlight on the social impact of climate change, a pertinent theme in the face of imminent challenges, the forum allowed young voices to articulate their concerns, ideas, and demands directly to UNESCO Member States’ leaders during this critical decision-making event. The participants emphasized the urgent need for quality climate change education, addressing both ecological and social dimensions, and called for learner-centric, interdisciplinary, and pragmatic learning approaches.
To learn more about the UNESCO Youth Forum, read Evelyne’s full report here.
Rina Dupriet
Ocean Sciences: A Pillar for Sustainable Sea Management
Reporting on her participation as a panellist during the UNESCO General Conference, SI UN Representative Rina Dupriet underscores the imperative for structural solutions to address interconnected global crises, emphasizing the pivotal role of gender equality in multilateral action. Rina outlines challenges such as the disruptive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education, biodiversity loss, conflicts hindering societal progress and rising human rights abuses. Also highlighted are field experiences presented during the conference, focusing on resilience-building initiatives for women and girls and efforts to reshape harmful social and gender norms. Importantly, this was part of a side event on ocean sciences and sustainable sea management.
Read Rina’s full report on this event here.
How can Hydrology Training in Partnership with UNESCO Provide Answers?
During another side event at the conference, Rina reports on a talk concerning the paradoxical scarcity of water in Africa, despite its abundant water resources. The absence of local expertise compounds the issue, disproportionately affecting women and girls who bear the responsibility of fetching water. In response, UNESCO, collaborating with eight NGOs, initiated hydrology training programs to address Sustainable Development 2030 objectives for Africa, Water, and Women. Challenges persist, including slow funding mobilization, but the initiative not only tackles the water crisis but also promotes gender equality and community resilience. It underscores the crucial role women play in creating a sustainable and equitable world.
Rina’s full report on this event can be found here.
Gender Equality, A Force for Tomorrow Defended by UNESCO
Participating in another panel discussion, Rina reports on the pivotal role of gender equality in addressing global crises and building sustainable societies. This discussion highlighted challenges such as disrupted education due to the Covid-19 pandemic, accelerated biodiversity loss, conflicts, and increased human rights abuses. UNESCO’s actions for gender equality were also outlined, referencing the “UNESCO in Action for Gender Equality 2022-2023” report. The report details UNESCO’s efforts across fields like education, science, and culture, addressing issues such as girls’ education, ethical AI development, and protection of women in conflict. These initiatives highlight UNESCO’s transformative impact, emphasizing the growing relevance of a global gender focus for transformative outcomes.
Read the full report on this discussion here.
Marie-Christine Gries
Ivory Coast Side Event
During the UNESCO General Conference, SI UN Representative, Marie-Christine Gries, delivered a presentation for “Voix des Filles,” a coalition promoting girls’ voices. Originating in 2018, the group aims to address challenges hindering girls’ education, especially the widening gender gap. Initially launched with a compilation of testimonies from 600 girls worldwide, “Voix des Filles” resurfaced in Ivory Coast after the pandemic-induced education crisis, garnering UNESCO sponsorship and support from national entities. The Ivorian branch, consisting of NGOs and Soroptimists, received official recognition on October 26, 2023. The group’s grassroots cooperation exemplifies an effective approach to UN program implementation.
To learn more about “Voix des Filles” and Marie-Christine’s presentation, read the full article here.
The Ethics of Neurotechnologies
The rapid progress of neurotechnologies, with potential benefits for well-being and quality of life, raises unprecedented ethical challenges; Marie-Christine provided us with an engaging report on this talk held at the UNESCO General Conference. The ethical considerations of neurotechnologies entail accessing and modifying individual’s neuronal systems, raising concerns about memory, mental integrity and potential threats to personal identity – an unregulated consumer market for neurotechnologies introduces further complexity, notably regarding issues of privacy emerging from the transmission of digital data on user’s brain activity.
Read Marie-Christine’s full report on this talk and the ethics of neurotechnologies here.
Recommendations on Education
Highlighting the role of evolving educational landscapes, Marie-Christine Gries reports on the recommendations for education as determined throughout the UNESCO General Conference, and how education can contribute to our shared mission for a safer and more equitable world. The conference addressed the significant challenges to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Inclusive Education for All) by 2030. With the revised Recommendation on Education for Peace and Human Rights emphasising changing mentalities through education, focusing on fundamental shifts in knowledge transmission methods and teacher training. The resolution advocates for equitable, quality education to combat stereotypes, discrimination, and gender-based violence, promoting digital literacy for a respectful online environment.
To learn more about the full list or recommendations, read Marie-Christine’s report on this event here.
Conclusions
The 42nd UNESCO General Conference, held from November 7 to November 22, 2023, exemplifies UNESCO’s enduring commitment to global collaboration and innovation in addressing pressing challenges. With a focus on universal education, ethical considerations of new technologies, World Heritage site preservation, and climate action, the conference saw active participation from 194 member states. Soroptimist International’s UN Representatives, Evelyne Para, Rina Dupriet, and Marie-Christine Gries, played crucial roles in advocating for women and girls. The conference highlighted UNESCO’s transformative impact, especially in the realms of education and gender equality, with recommendations emphasizing inclusive and quality learning to combat stereotypes, discrimination, and gender-based violence. As the conference concludes, it reaffirms UNESCO’s ongoing mission to mend global rifts through education, science, information, and culture, fostering a commitment to a safer and more equitable world.