Sixteen-year-old Arleidis, a Wayúu girl from the Pushaina clan, walked hours to study software programming, determined to overcome barriers and inspire her family and community. She now uses digital tools to promote and sell their work, strengthening her community livelihood.
Science and Technology
Exposed to the world of science, technology, engineering and mathmatics (STEM) at a young age, Leen Alaya, a 24-year old innovator from Aleppo, Syria, is on a mission to revolutionize the way children learn programming - with a little help from UNDP. “Some of my earliest memories are of accompanying my mother to work at the University, where she was a professor in the Faculty of Computer Systems Engineering,” recalls Leen. By age eight, she was participating in national informatics Olympiads and hackathons, demonstrating a keen interest in problem-solving and programming. Read all about her innovation called Voo.
Across the United Nations system, Artificial Intelligence is helping anticipate food insecurity, strengthen humanitarian response, protect oceans and promote more equitable work opportunities in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Swiss engineers at Swisspod are developing hyperloop capsules that travel up to 1,200 km/h in low-pressure tubes, aiming to make ultra-fast, affordable transport a reality within the next decade.
Global foreign direct investment rose 14% in 2025, led overwhelmingly by capital-intensive data-centre projects tied to AI growth, though gains were concentrated in developed economies and masked weaker underlying investment activity.
SENATIC is a joint initiative of Colombia’s Ministry of ICT, SENA and the ILO that equips young people such as Rafael Meza, with digital and technical skills through secondary education combined with certified training from global tech companies.
Between 2024 and 2026, the programme will train more than 60,000 students across all 32 departments of Colombia, with nearly 20 percent of beneficiaries coming from indigenous communities.
For decades, farmers have relied on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics to enhance food production. But the rapid modernization of agriculture to meet rising demands has its perils. To solve such problems, biotechnology companies are turning to living organisms and natural materials for inspiration. And alongside their biology‑first innovations, their strategic use of intellectual property (IP) is equally important. The companies featured in this article were shortlisted in the WIPO Global Awards 2025.
Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt says the future of digital technology must put people, creativity and purpose first, as powerful tools become more embedded in daily life. Speaking at a UN meeting on 20 years of global digital cooperation, he highlighted the responsibility to use technology for inclusion and positive change, not just profit.
In Paraguay, where nearly 8 out of 10 women have experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lives, young female scientists, athletes, musicians and others are working to fight that fate, joining an anti-violence campaign spearheaded by UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. The initiative – ¡Quiero vivir así! Sin Violencia – uses social networks, music concerts and community activities like mural painting to raise awareness of the right to live in a world free of violence. It has garnered support from public and private sector partners, civil society organizations and sports institutions, building momentum ever since its launch in 2022. Here, young women involved with the initiative, including Jennifer - a karate champion and teacher - share their experiences and wisdom on how dreams can be achieved when girls lift each other up – and can live their lives without violence.
A UNCTAD publication shows that while AI is becoming a powerful, affordable tool for entrepreneurs in developing countries, its impact depends on supportive ecosystems, skills development and clear, innovation-friendly governance.
Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls is rapidly increasing worldwide, with online abuse such as deepfakes, doxing, and harassment causing real-world harm and demanding urgent action from governments and the tech industry.
As generative AI advances, women journalists face growing threats including deepfakes, harassment, surveillance, and gendered disinformation. UNESCO is leading a global campaign with major media to expose Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which aims to silence and discredit women online and offline. Research shows 73% of women journalists have faced online threats, with many experiencing real-world violence as a result. AI has intensified these attacks, making abuse faster and harder to control. Marking the 2025 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, UNESCO calls for stronger protection, accountability, and action to defend women journalists and freedom of expression worldwide.
Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt tells UN News that as technology reshapes societies, digital cooperation, creativity, and inclusion are essential for a responsible and human-centered future.
A new UN report shows gender-based violence remains rampant and increasingly technology-driven, with adolescent girls disproportionately harmed as laws, policies and protections lag behind rapidly evolving online threats.
The animated film highlights how technology can empower women and girls with disabilities while also being misused to perpetrate gender-based violence. It urges collective, intersectional action to ensure safe, inclusive digital spaces for all.