In recent years we have seen an increase in the numbers of refugees and migrants. This increase in movement has been accompanied by an increase in xenophobia. Through the use of technological tools and the traditional and non-traditional media platforms disinformation based on this xenophobia is being spread. As a result, migrants and refugees face rejection and societal cohesion is threatened. To address these themes, the UNESCO Cluster Office in San Jose, Costa Rica, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is organizing an international conference focused on: the relationship between xenophobia and disinformation how artificial intelligence can be used to generate disinformation as well as identify disinformation how to improve access to information for migrants and refugees. One of the expected outcomes of the event is an action plan and regional strategy for Central America on combating xenophobia and disinformation. RELATED LINKS: UNESCO page on Artificial Intelligence

Building on the legacy of the International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL2019) and as follow up to a decision on United Nations General Assembly (Ref.: A/C.3/74/L.19/Rev.1), UNESCO and the Government of Mexico, in cooperation with several national, regional and international partners, are organizing a High-level event “Making a decade of action for indigenous languages” on the margins of the International Congress on Endangered Languages at Risk from 25 to 26 February 2020 in Mexico City, Mexico. HIGH-LEVEL EVENT “MAKING A DECADE OF ACTION FOR INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES” Mexico City, February 27 and 28, Los Pinos, Mexico. The High-level event will conclude the IYIL2019 with a comprehensive review of the outcomes, lessons learnt on the impact and provide concrete recommendations for the preparatory and transitional process of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. The High-level event aims to contribute to the:   - Assessment of the implementation of the Action Plan for Organizing the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages (E/C.19/2018/8), in particular to the established roadmap towards achieving strategic objectives and expected impacts based on the Strategic Outcomes Document (UNESCO General Conference 40 C/68); - Exchange of views on the necessary milestones during a transitional period of 2020 to 2021 and elaboration of a new Global Plan of Action for the organization of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032); - Setting a future direction for the elaboration of first lines of action of future Global Plan for organization of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).   INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ENDANGERED LANGUAGES AT RISK, Mexico City, February 25 and 26, Los Pinos Cultural Centre, Mexico. The main objective is to establish a constructive dialogue between key agents involved in addressing the problem of threatened languages, based on the presentation and analysis of experiences in favor of linguistic diversity and linguistic rights. In order to do so, the Congress will: analyze the international context of indigenous languages to make visible the seriousness of the problem and its causes; promote the exchange of experiences that allow the identification and creative design of good practices and policies for multilingualism; analyze the importance of the promotion of indigenous languages within the framework of the 2030 Agenda; gather a series of conclusions that can enrich the lines of action for the Decade of Indigenous Languages. To foster an enriching dialogue between the different key agents -indigenous intellectual leaders, public servants and academics- the dialogue will be organized into two categories: Experiences of promotion, planning and revitalization from non-governmental initiatives in areas such as education, media, new technologies, social networks, linguistic rights, expressions artistic, community organization, among others; Experiences from the public sector to promote linguistic diversity in institutional spaces.   DOCUMENTS:    HIGH-LEVEL EVENT “MAKING A DECADE OF ACTION FOR INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES”Mexico City, February 27 and 28, Los Pinos, Mexico.   Concept Note (PDF) Programme (PDF)     Action Plan for organizing the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages (Ref.: E/C.19/2018/8); Strategic Outcome Document of the International Year of Indigenous Languages, November 2019 (UNESCO General Conference, 40 C/68); Rights of indigenous peoples. Report of the Third Committee, 2 December 2019 (A/74/396, paras 24, 25 and 26); Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 2018 (A/RES/73/156, paras 23, 24 and 25). INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ENDANGERED LANGUAGES AT RISKMexico City, February 25 and 26, Los Pinos Cultural Centre, Mexico. Concept Note (PDF)   REGISTRATION:    HIGH-LEVEL EVENT “MAKING A DECADE OF ACTION FOR INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES”Mexico City, February 27 and 28, Los Pinos, Mexico. Online Registration Deadline: 18 February 2020       LOGISTICS:  Logistic Note Recommended hotel for the participants: Camino Real Polanco (4 star) General Mariano Escobedo Road No. 700, Colonia Anzures, Mayor Miguel Hidalgo, C.P. 11590 Mexico City, Mexico Tel .: 01 800 90 123 00; (+52) 52.27.72.00; (+52) 52.63.88.99 E-mail: reservas.mex@caminoreal.com.mx List of other hotels located nearby Los Pinos : The Green Park Hotel (4 star) Av Constituyentes 99, San Miguel Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11850 Ciudad de México, México Tel.: (+52) 55.52.76.65.65http://thegreenparkhotel.com.mx/ Suites Obelisk (4 star) Julio Verne 28-30, Polanco, Polanco III Secc, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11550, Ciudad de México, México Tel.: (+52) 55.52.79.63.63https://www.suitesobelisk.com/ City Express Suites Anzures (3 star) Leibnitz 120, Colonia Anzures, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11590, Ciudad de México, México Tel.: (+52) 55.11.01.13.70https://www.cityexpress.com/suites/hoteles-mexico/ciudad-de-mexico/migue...   VISA: Should you require an entry visa to Mexico, press here for English, and press here for Spanish. For frequent questions press here.   SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN: Join the IYIL2019 “#IndigenousLanguages” campaign #WeAreIndigenous Twitter : @IYIL2019 Follow on Facebook: @indigenouslanguages @IYIL2019 Instagram: @indigenouslanguages Official website:https://en.iyil2019.org/https://fr.iyil2019.org/https://es.iyil2019.org/ High-level event on UNESCO website:High-level event (English)High-level event (French)High-level event (Spanish)          

Following the approval by the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference, through 40 C/Resolution 53, of the revised Statutes of the Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme (IFAP), and in accordance with Article 6 of the said Statutes, an extraordinary session of the IFAP Council will be held with the objective to constitute the IFAP Bureau. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Room XI (Fontenoy Building) from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Monday, 2 March 2020. The meeting will be chaired by Mr. Moez Chakchouk, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, who will participate on behalf of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Following the election of the Bureau, as a point of information, the Secretariat will present the questionnaire through which IFAP Members can contribute to the Director-General’s reflection of UNESCO’s Strategy, Programme and Budget. This is aligned with recommendation 74 of the Working Group on Governance (39 C/Resolution 87) regarding the opportunity for UNESCO's International and Intergovernmental Bodies (IIBs) to input into the draft C/4 and C/5 documents. Simultaneous interpretation of the event will be provided in both French and English.