Social and Human Sciences

In today’s increasingly diverse societies, UNESCO continues to accomplish every day its fundamental humanist mission to support people in facing contemporary challenges, understanding each other, and working together to build lasting peace. UNESCO also helps to enable people to create and use knowledge for just, inclusive, resilient and democratic societies.

The First Global Forum on the Ethics of AI, with the theme, “Ensuring inclusion in the AI world”, was hosted by the Czech Republic on 13 December 2022 in Prague, within the context of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union and under the patronage of UNESCO. It has marked an important milestone towards building a robust international coalition ensuring the ethical development and use of AI worldwide following the adoption of the Recommendation of the Ethics of AI in November 2021.

Our priorities

Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

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Fight against Racism & Discrimination

Fostering Inclusion, Rights and Dialogue

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Ethics of Science, Technology & Bioethics

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Social Transformations

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Culture of Peace & Non-violence

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Sport & Anti-doping

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Highlights

World Arabic Language Day

UNESCO celebrated World Arabic Language Day 2022 at its Headquarters in Paris on 16 December 2022. This edition’s theme: the contribution of the Arabic Language to human civilization and culture.

Fit for Life

UNESCO has launched a new sport-based initiative designed to activate smart investments in sport, increase grassroot participation and accelerate COVID-19 recovery.

Inclusive Policy Lab

The Inclusive Policy Lab works on knowledge crowdsourcing and its translation into inequality-reducing policies. It operates through an online platform and a network of in-country projects.

COVID-19

A major challenge prevails beyond all our potential actions: to protect human health and dignity, and to respect universal values.

Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers

This Recommendation both codifies the goals and value systems by which science operates, and emphasizes that these need to be supported and protected if science is to flourish.

Futures Literacy

Futures Literacy, a universally accessible skill that builds on the innate human capacity to imagine the future, offers a clear, field tested solution to poverty-of-the-imagination.

General History of Africa

This series covers the history of the entire African continent, since the appearance of human beings to contemporary challenges.

Key facts

Only 22%

of all AI professionals

are WOMEN

89%

of all current conflicts

are occurring in countries where dialogue is stalling

1.2 billion

is the number

of young people aged between 15 to 24 years

80.3%

of 13-15 year olds worldwide

do less than 60 minutes of exercise per day

Youth is a priority group for UNESCO. Recognizing their creativity, innovation and capacity to make change happen in the world, we firmly believe that young people are crucial actors, leaders, and partners. UNESCO is committed to accompany them in fighting inequality, contributing to sustainable development and building peace.

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