UNESCO [to 5 March 2016]
http://en.unesco.org/news
Selected Press Releases/News

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3 March 2016
Women on the frontline, protecting World Heritage
n°78 – February 2016
World Heritage and gender equality
It is increasingly recognized that culture has an essential role to play as a driver of sustainable development, contributing to the eradication of poverty and enhancing social inclusion. Culture helps to define people’s identities and determines the way they shape their future. Gender equality, which is a UNESCO priority, refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women and gender dynamics within families, societies and cultures.

2 March 2016
New Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
The launch of an ambitious new three-year scientific assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services was announced on 28 February 2016 at the close of a week-long meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The new global assessment, for completion by 2019, will measure progress towards meeting commitments under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity of the United Nation’s Convention on Biological Diversity (the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, 2011-2020) and the recently adopted Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

29 February 2016
UNESCO and ICRC partner on the protection of culture heritage in the event of armed conflict
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, signed a partnership agreement paving the way for the two organizations to undertake joint projects to enhance the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict.