The UNESCO Netexplo Forum 2020 consists of two parts: Netexplo Innovation Forum 2020 and Netexplo Smart Cities Accelerator. The Innovation Forum 2020 will showcase 10 breakthrough digital innovations with the potential of profound and lasting impact on the digital society. The innovations are spotted worldwide through a year-long work by the Netexplo University Network, made up of globally renowned universities in the technology domain. The Innovation Forum will highlight some of the most promising global innovators in digital technologies, whose innovations have influences the development of our society through new forms of education, communication, information, solidarity and management around the globe. The UNESCO Netexplo Forum 2020 will also comprise of the second edition of the Netexplo Smart Cities Accelerator programme. Building on its first edition, the event aims to share the best practices on Smart Cities all around the world. Cities decision-makers face a range of questions in the attempt of meeting their citizens’ most urgent needs. These vary from safety, to funding models, to infrastructure and attractiveness. There are as many solutions as there are cultures and territories. And all of them are sources of inspiration. The event aims at helping city decision-makers to seize the opportunities offered by Smart Cities to improve the lives of women and men worldwide.

An open session for the public, especially International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) National Committees, representatives of UNESCO’s Member States and cooperating organizations, will take place at UNESCO. IGCP is a joint programme of UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). It supports scientific projects related to the Earth sciences across the world, selected by the IGCP Council and Scientific Board and involving one of the five themes that constitute the Programme: earth resources, global change, Geohazards, Hydrogeology and Geodynamic. On the occasion of the Open Session, and within the framework of the UNESCO Global Geoparks, new applications will be presented. Your participation would be very valuable for us to collect your constructive comments regarding IGCP projects.

The 2nd Global Planning Meeting will provide a forum to gather approximately 200 thought-leaders/champions/key stakeholders. A mixture of plenary and break-out groups will facilitate international, interdisciplinary discussions across sectors (such as: ocean science and technology; ocean policy and sustainable development; business and industry; NGOs and civil society; donors and foundations) to identify concrete deliverables and partnerships to meet the Decade's six societal objectives.The outputs of the second Global Planning Meeting for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development will inform the preparation phase of the Decade and the development of the implementation and resource mobilization plan. Over two days of meetings, working groups will identify scientific knowledge gaps and research priorities for the 6 societal goals of the Decade.

Celebration of World Water Day and presentation of the 2020 UN World Water Development Report: "Water and Climate Change". The United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR), is the UN-Water flagship report on water that gives an overall picture of the state, use and management of the world’s freshwater resources. Its production is coordinated by UNESCO WWAP and it aims to provide decision-makers with tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. The 2020 World Water Development Report focuses on "Water and Climate Change".

Celebration of World Water Day and launch of the UN World Water Development Report 2020, Water and Climate ChangeThe United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR), is the UN-Water flagship report on water that gives an overall picture of the state, use and management of the world’s freshwater resources. Its production is coordinated by UNESCO WWAP and it aims to provide decision-makers with tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies. The 2020 World Water Development Report focuses on "Water and Climate Change". It will be presented by the World Water Assessment Programe (UNESCO-WWAP).

The global launch of the Report will bring together ministers of education and ministers of social protection, alongside representatives from regional organizations, international donors, parents, teachers and civil society. The global launch of the Report will take place on 24 March 2020. The event will bring together ministers of education and ministers of social protection, alongside representatives from regional organizations, international donors, parents, teachers and civil society. With the help of the GEM Report recommendations and policy examples, as well as its new inclusive education profiles web platform, the event aims to be an informative occasion, enabling peer learning and collaboration to tackle one of the most persistent challenges to achieving SDG 4: inclusion.

The course was designed for justice system operators in Latin America, particularly magistrates. It lasts six weeks and is completely free The online course "International legal framework of Freedom of Expression, Access to Public Information and Protection of Journalists" is co-organized by UNESCO and the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The course was designed for justice system operators in Latin America, particularly magistrates, judges, prosecutors, public defenders and members of Judiciary Power. In addition, students and proffessors in Judiciary Schools. Registrations start on January 13th and close April 5th 2020 on this link: https://knightcenter.utexas.edu/es/webform/postulacion-para-el-curso- ‘marco-juridico-internacional-de-la-libertad-de-expresion’-del-20- It lasts six weeks (from April 20th to May 31st of 2020) and on each of them one specific topic regarding freedom of expression is addressed. The course is entirely free and participants have the option to apply a certificate of participation.

UNESCO in partnership with Education Cannot Wait and NORCAP, with support from SIDA, will host the second international conference on Education Management Information Systems (EMIS). This second edition focuses on the role of EMIS within the Education in Emergencies (EiE) data landscape. It aims to address the humanitarian and development coherence through better alignment of EMIS and humanitarian data systems.

The celebration focused on highlighting the importance of independent journalism as a necessary condition for the fulfillment of press freedom. The event will take place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan jointly with Ministry of Information and Community Media Association. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to: celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. To register your event in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan follow the link (page in Russian language)

The Eighth Session of the Subsidiary Committee of the Meeting of States Parties to the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property will take place at UNESCO Headquarters (Room XI) on 25 and 26 May 2020.This session will be organized on the basis of the functions assigned to the Subsidiary Committee by the Meeting of States Parties (art.14.6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Meeting of States Parties). In 2020, the theme will revolve around the 50th anniversary of the 1970 Convention.

The Committee is composed of 22 Member States of UNESCO elected by the General Conference at its ordinary sessions (this year it has 21 members). It meets in regular plenary session at least once and not more than twice every two years.The 22nd session of the Committee aims to examine the follow-up to the recommendations adopted at the 21st session.

UNESCO is kicking off its new framework: ‘Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ – ESD for 2030 and its roadmap for implementation during the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development in Berlin, Germany. 800 participants from around the world will gather for the occasion: policy-makers working in education and sustainable development, education practitioners, civil society, development community and private sector experts.