M4ID » UNESCO http://www.m4id.fi M4ID BLOG Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:22:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Web4Dev 2010: Webtools for Development http://www.m4id.fi/web4dev-2010-webtools-for-development/ http://www.m4id.fi/web4dev-2010-webtools-for-development/#comments Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:32:58 +0000 m4id http://www.m4id.fi/?p=1581 Web for Development – a community devoted to applying Internet related technologies towards the achievement of the UN’s Development Goals – will be organizing its sixth annual conference in Brazil 25-26 February. The conference focuses on developing governance and management of web strategies, as well as facilitates innovative dialogue around the issue.

The specific objectives of the UNESCO- hosted Web4Dev conference are:

  • Fostering an intergovernmental dialogue, exploring existing similarities between UN and national governments with relevant background on Internet use as development tool, as well as potential complementarities and joint actions
  • Exploring learning opportunities, knowledge sharing, and best practices exchange between UN and national government participants on designing and implementing integrated web policies, regulatory frameworks, engagement strategies and on-line expressions
  • Improving coordination and synergies within the UN Web System, aiming at a more efficient “Delivering as One” online

The event presents a range of keynote speakers from UN agencies and web 2.0 professionals from companies and non-profits, who share the passion for leveraging web tools for development. Related workshops and brainstorming sessions will also take place including events like Wiki-camp, focusing on challenges and opportunities of future online collaboration. The event will take a broad focus, themes ranging from professional knowledge exchange and application of tools in the developing country context to engaging global audiences in development work.

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]]> http://www.m4id.fi/web4dev-2010-webtools-for-development/feed/ 0 Education at the heart of HIV/AIDS prevention http://www.m4id.fi/education-at-the-heart-of-hivaids-prevention/ http://www.m4id.fi/education-at-the-heart-of-hivaids-prevention/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:28:45 +0000 m4id http://www.m4id.fi/?p=1109 The World AIDS Day themes - universal access and human rights – were addressed at the Finnish All-Party Group and Family Federation seminar that M4ID also attended this week. The seminar focused on sexual education which has a key role in preventing HIV infections. Since half of the world’s population is now under 25, the need for universal, culture sensitive advocacy work around sex education is critical… many examples show that cutting budgets in this area or removing sexual education from the curriculum, even for a short period, leads to an increase in new HIV infections.

As one of the seminar speakers,  MP Ilkka Kantola said, each individual has a right to protect oneself and should be provided with knowledge, skills and care to find the boundaries of ones own sexuality.  Mark Richmond, UNESCO’s global coordinator for HIV/AIDS, emphasized the importance of building coalitions across organizations, states and nations to boost advocacy work as well as the need to identify a variety of needs with in different cultural context.UNESCO’s International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education -  released next week – will address this issue by providing guidance to decision makers in education and health as well as teachers and other stakeholders.

A message from Gordon Brown for the World AIDS Day can be viewed below.

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