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Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a silent creature named polio...
The Social Forum, an annual gathering organized by the Human Rights Council, facilitates the dialogue among civil society, Member States, and intergovernmental organizations around a yearly theme. The event promotes social cohesion based on the principles of social justice, equity, and solidarity, while addressing the challenges of globalization. In 2025, the Forum (Geneva, 30-31 October) focuses on how education contributes to the respect, promotion, protection, and fulfillment of all human rights for everyone. Follow the Social Forum live on UN web TV.
UNESCO and Super Sema have launched “Digital Hero,” a fun, music-driven campaign for Global Media and Information Literacy Week that empowers children to stay safe, think critically, and make smart choices.
Did you know that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalization worldwide? Each year it claims over 100,000 young lives. In this episode of Science in 5, WHO’s Dr Daniel Feikin shares how new immunization options can protect your baby.
Teachers play vital roles in education systems, yet many face isolation and fragmented structures that hinder their professional growth and well-being. This year’s World Teachers’ Day (5 October) focuses on “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession,” emphasizing the importance of collaboration for improving educational quality. It advocates for policies and environments that support mutual aid and shared expertise among educators. To mark the Day, a global celebration highlighting these themes takes place at the Pan-African Conference on Teacher Education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
When a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day 2024, more than 590 people lost their lives and tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Eighteen months later, people in this rural part of central Japan are still recovering, and many still live in temporary shelters. But they are helping each other to rebuild their lives. French photographer Vincent Tremeau spent a decade documenting the dreams and hopes of children affected by crises, often travelling with OCHA staff members. In February 2025 he visited schools on the Noto Peninsula and met some of the children. Here are their stories.
Violence against children in armed conflict is rising, with education increasingly under attack. In the past year, attacks on schools surged by 44%, causing deaths, abductions, and trauma among students and teachers. These violations endanger lives and the future of communities. The UN urges nations to ensure safe access to education, invest in resilient systems, and uphold the Safe Schools Declaration. To mark the International Day to Protect Education from Attack (9 September), UNESCO and partners host a high-level event in Geneva under the theme “Challenging Narratives, Reshaping Action.”
Digitalisation is reshaping learning, work, and social life, offering new opportunities while also deepening inequalities. Despite its potential to improve education access, 739 million people still lack basic literacy, putting them at risk of further exclusion. Digital literacy now includes critical engagement with digital content. This year, International Literacy Day (8 September) focuses on “Promoting literacy in the digital era,” stressing inclusive policies for empowerment and sustainability. To mark the occasion, a global conference is being held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Severe violations against children have become a deadly new norm. UNICEF highlights the six most serious violations affecting children in armed conflicts.
A Chance to Breathe. Tiny cries, big hope: incubators are giving Somalia’s newborns a fighting chance. Imagine holding your breath, waiting for your newborn’s first cry, and hearing only silence... That was Faduma’s reality in Mogadishu, until a simple incubator gave her baby the breath of life. In this powerful, heart-tugging story from UNFPA, discover how a handful of life-saving machines —incubators, oxygen units, and surgical gear — are transforming hospitals once teetering on the edge of despair. Meet the unstoppable health workers defying the odds, mothers who turn fear into joy, and the miracle of modern care in places where even electricity isn’t a guarantee. It’s a story of survival, love, and why funding matters — because every breath counts.
Over half of parents and pregnant women are exposed to misleading formula marketing that violates international standards and undermines informed feeding choices.
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year in the first week of August, championed by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Ministries of Health and civil society partners around the globe. It’s a time to recognize breastfeeding as a powerful foundation for lifelong health, development, and equity. Breastfeeding delivers a hopeful future not only for children, but for societies. It reduces healthcare costs, boosts cognitive development, strengthens economies, and sets children up with healthy beginnings.
“One Day, I Will” is a photography series by Vincent Tremeau that portrays children in crisis-affected areas dressing up as who they want to become, revealing their dreams and resilience.
In 2025, following a devastating earthquake in Japan’s Noto Peninsula, the project highlighted local children’s hopes and strength, and is featured at the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.
Parenting may not always be easy, but it's filled with meaningful, lasting moments that shape both parent and child.