Find out more in
Global Issues:
US First Lady to preside over UN Security Council session
US First Lady presides over UN Security Council session
First Lady Melania Trump makes history at the United Nations today as she takes the gavel for the United States during its Security Council presidency, highlighting education鈥檚 role in promoting tolerance and global peace. Her appearance marks the first time a sitting US First Lady presides over a Security Council meeting, and the first instance of any first lady or first gentleman doing so. Today鈥檚 session addresses education, technology, peace, and security, with Under鈥慡ecretary鈥慓eneral Rosemary DiCarlo briefing on behalf of the Secretary鈥慓eneral. Follow the at 3 p.m. New York time.
Four years after Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and nearly 12 years since the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, the conflict has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and .
In Sudan, the conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into widespread bloodshed and humanitarian catastrophe.
The devastating civil war began in April 2023 and is expanding beyond the western Darfur region into central Kordofan, taking its toll on civilians and particularly the most vulnerable, including children.
Eva Hinds, Spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Sudan, how the agency is supporting boys and girls amid the brutal conflict and ongoing cuts to aid budgets.
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. 鈥淪ome 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,鈥 recalls Leen. By age eight, she was participating in national informatics Olympiads and hackathons, demonstrating a keen interest in problem-solving and programming. .
UNRWA has been providing education across four generations. For more than 75 years, the Agency has supported more than 2.5 million Palestine Refugees to finish school. Over 66,000 children are being taught in UNRWA鈥檚 temporary learning spaces, and nearly 300,000 through digital learning.
As , displaced children and families sheltering in fragile tents face life-threatening risks from flooding, cold, and disease, even as parents struggle desperately to protect them with almost nothing left.
Youth under 30 make up over half the world鈥檚 population and drive innovation and social change, yet face poverty, inequality and limited access to education and decent work. Their engagement is essential to shape modern education amid rapid technological change. Aligned with the youth must be co鈥慶reators of education at all levels. The Youth highlights their leadership, and the 2026 International Day of Education (24 January) celebrates their role.
Education is crucial for children, providing safety during crises and reducing risks of child labor, early marriage, and recruitment by armed groups. It connects kids to essential services like clean water and nutritious meals, while also fostering hope and stability, ultimately leading to economic growth and reducing conflict. However, a recent analysis indicates that international aid for education may drop by over US$3 billion by the end of 2026, potentially leaving 6 million more children out of school. This isn't just a financial adjustment; it's a significant threat to a whole generation鈥檚 future.
Angela Bassett, award winning actress, highlights that for mothers and newborns in crises, a $5 can mean the difference between life and death.
More than one million people live in Cox鈥檚 Bazar refugee camps, over half children, and funding cuts are forcing UNICEF to make impossible choices about life-saving services, says Orlando Bloom.
World Children鈥檚 Day (20 November) is a global day of action for children and by children, marking the adoption of the . Around the world, children are standing up and talking about their lives, their hopes, and their rights. speaks to a simple truth: from the moment the sun rises, children wake up to a world shaped by choices they didn't make. But every child, everywhere, also wakes up with rights, including the right to be protected, to learn, and to have their voice heard. It鈥檚 time to listen to children and stand up for the rights of every child.
In the Kyiv region, a preschool education centre that once served over 80 children was severely damaged by a missile on 2 March 2022. The blast impacted on the building鈥檚 facade, roof, windows, doors, and heating system, making repairs unaffordable for the community. However, hope arose through the , funded by the European Union and implemented by . Starting in 2024, UNOPS engineers will oversee extensive renovations, including restoration of the facade and roof, new windows and doors, and interior revitalization, creating a safe, modern space for young learners to thrive once again.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a silent creature named ...
The , an annual gathering organized by the 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 .