International Mother Language Day 2026; February 21st.

FORUM: "Youth voices on multilingual education." International Mother Language Day 2026. Young people are not only inheritors of linguistic diversity: they are key actors in its future. Ensuring that youth can access education, information and digital spaces in their own languages is essential for inclusion, equity and sustainable development. The theme emphasizes that language is more than a means of communication: it is central to identity, learning, well-being and participation in society. The celebration underscores the importance of education systems that recognize and value every learner’s language to support inclusion and learning outcomes.The 2026 edition will also highlight the growing digital dimension of multilingualism. Online content remains heavily concentrated in a limited number of languages, while AI systems rely primarily on dominant-language data. UNESCO continues to advance multilingualism in cyberspace through global policy frameworks, partnerships and initiatives supporting Indigenous and underrepresented languages. In February, UNESCO will celebrate the 26th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, reaffirming the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism in fostering dignity, peace, and understanding. This milestone highlights decades of efforts to preserve mother tongues, safeguard cultural heritage, and improve education. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #IMLD2026, #MotherLanguageDay, #mothertongue; #21February, #Multilingualeducation, #LanguagesMatter.

EVENT: On February 21st; The symposium to mark the 26th edition and the International Mother Language Day 2026 will take place from 17:00 pm to 18:30 pm in Room I at UNESCO House (Fontenoy). This year’s edition will highlight the vital role of youth in shaping multilingual education. Language is more than a communication tool. It is key to identity, learning, well-being and social participation and reaffirms the need for education systems that value every learner’s language to foster inclusion and improve outcomes. UNESCO places youth at the heart of this global conversation under the theme “Youth voices on multilingual education.”. The program of the 2026 celebration, organised by the Permanent Delegation of Bangladesh, will feature a high-level panel discussion with opening remarks by H.E. Khondker M. Talha, President of the General Conference, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Bangladesh to UNESCO, and H.E. Nasser Hamad Hinzab, President of the Executive Board, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Qatar to UNESCO, followed by an address by UNESCO Director-General Prof. Khaled El-Enany. A keynote address by Prof. Damián Blasi on “The future of mother languages in the AI era” will explore how artificial intelligence can either reinforce linguistic inequalities or help revitalize underrepresented languages. A ministerial panel discussion moderated by UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini will examine the role of language in peacebuilding and sustainable development. The evening will conclude with cultural performances (from 7pm to 8:30pm) organized by the Permanent Delegation of Bangladesh, featuring contributions from Member States and celebrating the richness of the world’s linguistic heritage while reaffirming the value of every language. The event is by invitation only. Register to participate!

ACTIVITIES: On February 13th; Ahead of International Mother Language Day, the UNESCO is organizing an online Campus event. Students aged 13–18 can participate, engage via chat, and exchange with international experts and peers from all regions. The activity offers a space for young people to share experiences and identify concrete actions to promote linguistic diversity in their schools and communities. The celebration of the International Decade on Indigenous Languages (2022 – 2032) is emphasizing the role of languages in achieving global development goals.

 Statement of the Director-General of the UNESCO on the International Mother Language Day 2026; February 21st.

Young people are the main guardians of the world’s linguistic diversity. They are the inheritors of nearly 7,000 spoken or signed languages – and of the responsibility to keep them alive and pass them on. Still, young people need to be introduced to linguistic diversity, and this begins at an early age, through education. This is why UNESCO’s theme for the celebration of this year’s International Mother Language Day, initiated by Bangladesh, is youth voices on multilingual education. The research on the subject is clear. As indicated in our recent report Languages Matter: Global Guidance on Multilingual Education, learning in one’s mother tongue promotes academic success, builds self-confidence and strengthens the predisposition to learning new languages. Yet 40% of the world’s children learn in a language which is not the one they speak at home. In light of this observation, UNESCO is pleased to be collaborating with Cameroon on the integration of more than 200 local languages into school and literacy programmes as international languages are also gradually being introduced. Likewise, within the framework of our collaboration with Mozambique, one in four schools now offers multilingual education, thanks to teacher training. Beyond its proven cognitive benefits, linguistic diversity is also a cultural and ecological matter, since each language carries with it a way of thinking, communicating and being in the world. Our Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity thus ensures the preservation of several types of oral expression on every continent: from the pasillo of Ecuador to the Mongolian Tuuli and to the Xeer Ciise in Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. That is also why, as the lead agency for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), UNESCO provides more than 30 countries with support in this field: from the preservation of Mayan languages in Latin America to the preservation of the languages of the Hadzabe in the United Republic of Tanzania and the preservation of the languages of the Ju/’hoansi San in Namibia. Preserving linguistic diversity is ultimately also a digital issue. With most of online content produced in a dozen or so languages, linguistic exclusion becomes a form of digital exclusion. However, digital technology can also become a tool for transmission, and UNESCO is taking action in this area. For example, with Malaysia, it has helped young people to enrich Wiktionary by adding nearly 3,000 words from 25 endangered Indigenous languages. It has also launched the English–Kiswahili AI Dictionary in order to make artificial intelligence more accessible by providing clear definitions in Kiswahili of key terms related to AI. Finally, the UNESCO World Atlas of Languages enables greater knowledge of all endangered languages. On this International Mother Language Day, UNESCO is calling for investment in language transmission by placing young people at the heart of the solutions involved. Because linguistic diversity is a pillar of peace, dignity and inclusion. And no voice should be missing from the story of our humanity.

 Mr Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO.

PUBLICATION: Languages matter: global guidance on multilingual education published by UNESCO.

World Day of Social Justice 2026, February 20th.

FORUM: "Renewed commitment to Social Development and Social Justice." World Day of Social Justice 2026. The celebration of this day is of particular relevance as it takes place in the aftermath of the Second World Summit for Social Development and the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration. Building on the 2025 theme of strengthening a just transition for a sustainable future, the 2026 commemoration seeks to build on the momentum generated by the World Social Summit and the 64th session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD64) for advancing social development and social justice through effective policy coordination, equity and inclusion. In 2025, the ILO launched a new report on The State of Social Justice: A work in progress showing major gains in education, poverty reduction and productivity over the past three decades, while entrenched inequalities, fragile trust in institutions and slow progress in key areas continued to hold back social justice worldwide. Key achievements since the first World Social Summit in 1995 include halving the rate of child labour among 5- to 14-year-olds from 20 to 10 per cent, reducing extreme poverty from 39 to 10 per cent, raising primary school completion rates by 10 percentage points, and achieving social protection coverage for over half of the world’s population. At the same time, stark deficits remain. Informality has fallen by only two percentage points in two decades and still affects 58 per cent of workers; the gender labour force participation gap has narrowed by just three percentage points since 2005 and remains at 24 per cent; and trust in institutions has been declining worldwide since 1982. The report stresses the need to place social justice at the core of policymaking – from finance and industry to health and climate – and to strengthen cooperation among governments, international institutions and social partners to deliver coherent responses to global challenges. The findings of the United Nations World Social Report 2025 echoes this call asserting the need for a new global policy consensus to accelerate social progress, anchored in equity, economic security for all, and solidarity. At the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, Member States of the United Nations demonstrated the political will to deliver social justice and advance social development as a shared global responsibility. The Doha Political Declaration, adopted at the Summit, reaffirms and renews the commitments made in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, centring poverty eradication, employment, and social inclusion, as the three critical and interrelated pillars of social development. At the same time, the Doha outcome acknowledges today’s global realities and their impact on social development, from the climate crisis and digital transformation to demographic change. The Doha Political Declaration asserts the need for macroeconomic policies that generate decent jobs and living wages, supported by stronger labour institutions and universal social protection for all, and underlines the need for fair and inclusive transitions in the digital and green economies, and greater investment in the care sector to create quality jobs to meet growing demand for care services. It urges stronger action to promote gender equality, expand opportunities for young people, and help workers and enterprises move from the informal to the formal economy. And, in reaffirming the global commitment to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, it acknowledges the work of the Global Coalition for Social Justice.In outlining the process of follow-up, the Doha Political Declaration reaffirms the Commission for Social Development as the primary platform for and review of the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and the outcome of the Doha Summit. In the first session of the Commission following the Summit, Member States considered the theme, “Advancing Social Development and Social Justice through Coordinated, Equitable and Inclusive Policies”, taking first steps to articulate the policy guidance needed for Doha implementation. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #20February, #SocialJusticeDay.

EVENTS: At UNHQ New York; On February 20th, from 01:15 PM. -02:30 PM. (EST); Conference Room 6; The 2026 World Day of Social Justice, convened by the Permanent Mission of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations and the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Division for Inclusive Social Development at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Within this context, this year’s World Day will focus on “Renewed Commitment to Social Development and Social Justice”. It aims to build on the momentum generated by the Second World Summit for Social Development and the first follow-up session of the Commission for Social Development to advance social justice for all. The event will provide an opportunity to examine how the renewed focus of the multilateral system on social development and social justice can be leveraged to strengthen the social dimension of sustainable development, accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and promote social justice for all through concrete and actionable outcomes. Guided by the Doha Political Declaration and the deliberations and outcomes of CSocD64, the event will foster forward-looking dialogue on how progress in advancing social justice can be sustained and further strengthened, while addressing persistent and emerging challenges. Particular emphasis will be placed on multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing shared goals and priorities, and how existing initiatives, such as the Global Coalition for Social Justice, Doha Solutions Platform, and other initiatives showcasing relevant policy and partnerships, can generate political commitments, mobilize investments and deliver concrete action. Register to participate, get the concept note and watch the livestream!

On February 20th 2026; From 15:00 - 16:00 GMT+1 at ILO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the event entitled ''From Doha commitment to action for social justice'' will advocate for sustained engagement by governments, social partners, and key stakeholders to advance the commitments outlined in the Political Declaration and through the implementation of the Coalition’s Key Interventions. Watch the event!

Agenda Programme

Opening session

Annalena Baerbock; President, 80th Session of the General Assembly, United Nations (UN).

Keynote intervention: Growth, innovation and social justice by Philippe Aghion; Nobel Laureate in Economics 2025.

Panel discussion: Operationalizing the Doha Declaration through collaboration and collective action

Colin Jordan; Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector, Barbados.
Christine Nkulikiyinka; Minister of Public Service and Labour, Rwanda.
Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman; President, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
Luc Triangle; General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Gilbert F. Houngbo; Chair of the Panel discussion and Director-General, International Labour Organization (ILO).

Closing remarks

Li Junhua; Secretary-General of the Second World Summit on Social Development and Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations (UN).

INITIATIVES: "Bridging Gaps and Building Alliances". A ground-breaking initiative will be launched to help intensifying collective efforts to urgently address social justice deficits and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Decent Work Agenda. In support of the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Day of Social Justice 2026; February 20th and the Statement of the ILO Director General on World Day of Social Justice 2026; February 20th.

LIVESTREAM: At UNHQ; The celebration of the World Day of Social Justice, 20 February, is a global reminder of The urgent need to build fairer, inclusive, and sustainable societies. The 2026 observance is of particular significance as it follows the Second World Summit on Social Development, held in Doha in November 2025. In this context this 60-minute online event seeks to carry forward the momentum generated by the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration by reaffirming social justice as a shared global priority. The event will provide a timely opportunity to underscore the urgency of translating political commitments into meaningful action. Serving as a moment of reflection and a call to action, the event will advocate for sustained engagement by governments, social partners, and key stakeholders to advance the commitments outlined in the Political Declaration and through the implementation of the Coalition's Key Interventions. Watch rom Doha commitments to action for Social Justice!

Agencies, Funds & Programmes

World Radio Day 2026; Feruary 13th.

FORUM: “Radio and Artificial intelligence” World Radio Day 2026. AI is transforming our relationship with the radio voice, from real-time transcription and noise reduction to highly realistic synthesized voices. At its best, AI makes radio more accessible, enabling captions for deaf and hard of hearing audiences, voice-controlled radios for people who are blind or visually impaired, and AI translation that brings broadcasts into more languages, helping radio reach everyone, everywhere. This transformation is not about replacing the human voice which remains at the heart of radio. Used responsibly, AI can amplify reach human creativity and inclusion. In line with UNESCO’s ethical framework for artificial intelligence, voice technologies must respect human dignity, people’s consent to be recorded, transparency, and human oversight, and must never be used to deceive or exploit. A voice is more than sound: it is identity, and identity is a human right. Artifical Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a challenge to navigate; it’s a chance to reimagine radio with care, creativity, and connection. It invites us to dream bigger, reach further, and honor listeners’ time, intelligence and expectations. AI can help radio blossom in thoughtful ways:
Ease and Flow, letting technology take care of the routine tasks, such as scheduling, voice-tracking, daily weather or sports updates, administrative chores, so your team can focus on what truly matters: inform, educate, entertain.
Meaningful Growth, understanding your audience more deeply, connecting ads to listener needs, improving revenue.
Listener Empowerment, helping every listener feel included, offering personalized experiences, real-time interaction, and space for under-represented voices that deserve to be heard.
Quality Content, using AI to support fact-checking, source verification, rediscovery of archival richness and increased factuality, while keeping human judgment at the center.

All of this builds something precious: trust.

A Thoughtful Approach to AI.
To make the most of AI, radio broadcasters need more than tools - they need a strategy. That means:

1. Clear, caring policies and internal guardrails for ethical AI use
2. Respect for privacy, intellectual property, data ownership and transparency
3. Careful use of generative audio (like AI music, voice cloning, deepfake audio, etc.)
4. Investment in people; their skills, growth, collaborations
5. Legal and security checks to manage emerging risks, data storage and transfer, liabilities, etc.

Broadcasters must prioritize the quality and diversity of information sources, as they play a critical role in addressing climate-related issues. To all radio professionals and volunteers, everywhere in the world, UNESCO salutes your daily work and your commitment to the future of our planet, our future. Here are the ways to Celebrate this year celebration: 1. Put more emphasis on facts 2. Review your programming strategy 3. Present realities from elsewhere 4. Inform from an intersectional point of view 5. Start an "On the way to COP30" chronicle 6. Give the audience a say 7. Prepare for the storm 8. Raise the safety awareness of environmental journalists 9. Redouble your efforts to combat disinformation 10. Encourage your audience to listen to the radio critically 11. Strengthen staff competencies in relation to climate change issues 12. Set the tone 13. Green your radio; Let’s treat this moment as a transformative opportunity to elevate these and every aspect of radio broadcasting. On the 2026 World Radio Day, UNESCO gives radio stations the resources to build confidence in how AI is used, all while preserving the warmth and reliability that audiences cherish. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #13February, #WorldRadioDay.

EVENTS: On Friday, February 13th, the celebration of World Radio Day 2026 will be dedicated to "Radio and Artificial Intelligence" to support radio stations in their journalistic coverage on this issue. Together, let's prepare the celebration the 15th edition of World Radio Day. The UNESCO and its partners invites the worldwide Radio industry in all its many forms - commercial, public, non-profit – to join in this global celebration of the medium at this special journey. Register to participate!

OPPORTUNITIES: To benefit from the 2026 Opportunities and appear on the UNESCO map please click here. Your radio station will also have the chance to connect with a radio station in another locality or country. Thanks to these collaborations, you will be able to exchange programs, guests, sound archives, and even… consider a longer-term relationship beyond February 13th,. Take advantage of this opportunity! Regularly consult the map to discover new radio stations or partners that could match your search…

PUBLICATION: Research on radio's contemporary and historical subject matter, and the audio media that have challenged radio's traditional use. Explore the Journal of Radio & Audio Media.

STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Radio Day 2026; February 13th.

 GET INVOLVED!

To make it easier for every radio station; We've come up with 13 simple, accessible ideas. Each radio station can choose one or more ideas to mark the day in their own way. These ideas can be implemented in two ways:

• Targeting your listeners: special programmes, reports, debates, street interviews, audio capsules or social media visuals. 
• Targeting your teams (employees, volunteers, interns): internal reflection, training, improving your practices.

1. Augmented Voice

Using AI to elevate the human voice.

AI is transforming our relationship with the radio voice, from real-time transcription and noise reduction to highly realistic synthesized voices At its best, AI makes radio more accessible, enabling captions for deaf and hard of hearing audiences, voice-controlled radios for people who are blind or visually impaired, and AI translation that brings broadcasts into more languages, helping radio reach everyone, everywhere. This transformation is not about replacing the human voice which remains at the heart ofradio. Used responsibly, AI can amplify reach human creativity and inclusion. In line with UNESCO’s ethical framework for artificial intelligence, voice technologies must respect human dignity, people’s consent to be recorded, transparency, and human oversight, and must never be used to deceive or exploit. A voice is more than sound: it is identity, and identity is a human right.

Useful links: Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies
Digital Policy, Capacities and Inclusion
Reporting on artificial intelligence: a handbook for journalism educators

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

• For listeners:Can you recognize an AI-generated voice?
• How can AI make radio more accessible for everyone?
• Where should we draw the line between innovation and misuse of voice technology?
• How do we protect voices as part of personal identity in the age of AI?
• Can AI strengthen radio without replacing the human voice?

Potential guests: intellectual property lawyer, text-to-speech specialist

• For the radio teams:Behind the scenes: how AIs clean up interviews
• Testimonial from a journalist using a voice prompter
• Can you automate news flashes? Live test
• Comparison: synthetic voice vs. human voice on the radio

Potential guests: AI technician, journalist testing voice prompter

2. Transparency in the use of on-air voices

Transparency as an ethical imperative.

In the age of AI-generated voices, transparency is no longer optional — it is an ethical requirement. When a voice heard on air is synthesized or generated by artificial intelligence, audiences have the right to know. Clear disclosure helps maintain trust, prevents deception, and respects listeners’ ability to make informed judgments about what they hear. This principle calls for thoughtful disclosure policies, including on-air announcements, credits, or descriptions that clearly indicate when AI is being used. Transparency does not undermine creativity or innovation; on the contrary, it strengthens public confidence and ensures that the use of AI in radio remains responsible, ethical, and aligned with human-centered values.

Useful links:Ethics of Artificial Intelligence - The Recommendation
Letting the sun shine in: transparency and accountability in the digital age
Guidelines for the governance of digital platforms: Safeguarding freedom of expression and access to information through a multi-stakeholder approach

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• How should radio stations disclose the use of AI-generated voices to listeners?
• Does transparency about AI voices strengthen trust or change how audiences perceive content?
• What policies can ensure AI in radio is used ethically without misleading the public?
• Does the audience notice the difference? On-air survey

Potential guests: media sociologist, AI ethicist

For the radio teams:

• Voice AI: copyright, image rights?
• Sticker on visuals using AI

Potential guests: lawyer specialising in digital rights

3. Data protection

When AI and privacy go hand in hand.

Integrating AI tools often involves exporting or analysing content, sometimes via external platforms. But radio manages sensitive data such as voices, testimonials and creations. This idea focuses on the criteria for choosing an AI service: where does the data go? Is it stored? Who has access? Ethical use requires perfect control of data flows.

Useful links:United Nations Digital Library
Data Governance in the Digital Age
Principes mondiaux des Nations Unies pour l’intégrité de l’information
- Recommandations pour une action multipartite

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• Where does your radio station’s audio data go?
• Do guests refuse to be analyzed by an AI?
• AI in management: who has access to confidential content?
• Local radio vs. large AI platforms
• Have you heard of GDPR?
• Street interview: do you know what centralized AI is?

Potential guests: GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) specialist, representative of an AI platform, etc.

For the radio teams:

• How do you choose a ‘clean’ AI tool?
• Potential guests: open source or data security specialists, legal experts

4. Increased accessibility

Radio for everyone, thanks to artificial intelligence.

From live transcription for the hearing impaired and voice synthesis for the visually impaired, to automatic translation for minority languages, AI is making radio more accessible than ever. This idea celebrates AI's ability to open up the airwaves to all audiences, without excluding anyone. It is a technical and ethical challenge, but also democratic progress.

Useful links:Disability equality in the media: Representation, accessibility, management
Indigenous Peoples and the media
Journey through the MILtiverse: Media and Information Literacy toolkit for youth organizations
Multilingualism and Linguistic diversity

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• Demo: the AI that transcribes your show live
• Sign language podcasts: dream or reality?
• Does AI help us to better understand complex subjects?
• Radio for the blind: what tangible benefits can AI bring?
• Feedback from listeners helped by the technology
• Feedback from people with restricted access to radio

Potential guests: representatives of disability advocacy groups, indigenous peoples or minorities, accessibility specialists, etc.

For the radio teams:

No specific sub-theme, but potential workshop to experiment with tools

5. Algorithmic bias

When the machine imposes its stereotypes.

AIs learn from the data they are given. If the data is biased, the results will be too. If AI were used in an uncritical way by radio professionals, it could reproduce and amplify stereotypes, including gender stereotypes. This idea raises concerns about side effects: does AI favour certain voices? Does it suppress certain tones or nuances? Human editorial input remains essential to guarantee diversity.

Useful links: Challenging systematic prejudices: an investigation into bias against women and girls in large language models
Tables rondes ministérielles sur les bonnes pratiques s’agissant de lever les obstacles existants pour réduire la fracture numérique entre les genres et promouvoir l’éducation à l’ère du numérique aux fins de la réalisation de l’égalité des genres

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• Translation AI: what is lost in the meaning of the original text?
• Why do your AI-generated music choices lack surprise?
• Does the algorithm favour certain cultures?
• AI and accents or dialects?

Potential guests: AI researcher, activist defending linguistic minorities, gender equality specialist, etc.

For the radio teams:

• Radio exercise: AI and sound diversity quiz
• What strategies could be put in place to ensure that AI nourishes a wider range of perspectives on air?
• How can AI be used to analyse feedback from listeners and social media in real time, in order to identify and counter violent or discriminatory speech against women and girls?

6. Open source AI

Freedom, transparency, participation.

The world of AI is not just a commercial war between web giants. Numerous free, ethical and community-based AI tools are emerging, often developed by researchers or committed groups. The idea is to promote these open source alternatives, which are more transparent, modular and often more respectful of privacy.

Useful links:AI Tools RADAR

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• What free tools can ethical radio use?
• Live demonstration of open source AI
• Can you create your own radio voice assistant?
• Meeting with developers of free radio solutions

Potential guests: open source developers, members of tech collectives, etc.

For the radio teams:

• Why we should reject ‘black box’ tools
• Risk of damaging journalistic credibility
• Editorial independence and technological dependence?

7. AI Training

Understanding for a better choice.

Adopting AI isn’t about imposing it on others. It's about understanding what it can do, what it can't do, and how to integrate it intelligently and ethically. This idea encourages each radio station to offer awareness-raising sessions, practical training courses or even in-house debates. Because the more the team understands the tool, the better they will use it.

Useful links: Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
User empowerment through media and information literacy responses to the evolution of generative artificial intelligence (GAI)
Artificial intelligence for good

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

• Interview with an AI trainer for journalists
• How to organize an AI test session in your newsroom
• AI: a source of fear or creativity?
• What role for AI in journalism schools?
• Debate between ‘analogue’ and ‘digital’ radio generations
• Brainstorm: “AI scares me when...” Suggested team workshop? facilitator + technician
• Cross-training: veterans/new recruits
• AI for prevention: e.g. to monitor online threats against media professionals

8. Assisted journalism

Can AI really investigate?

AI can make it quicker to verify data, cross-check sources, warn of dubious information, and more. But it can also generate deepfakes and made-up stories. This idea questions the boundary between assistance and manipulation. It's not about rejecting the tool, but establishing safeguards. Augmented journalism is still ethical journalism.

Useful links:AI and the future of journalism: an issue brief for stakeholders

Example of an information integrity challenge:Freedom of expression, artificial intelligence and elections

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• AI that sums up the news: gain or loss?
• Are AIs better at detecting misinformation?
• AI and investigation: useful or dangerous?
• Can we trust a fact-checker AI?
• Test: live interaction with AI?

Potential guests: investigative journalist, fact-checking expert, media AI researcher


For the radio teams:

• List to create: automated verification tools and tools to detect false information
• Thoughts from the editorial team: what should we do with the AI results?
• Sources: reliability and verifiability
• Practical workshop: role-playing with AI and fact-checking
• Digital security tools and AI to sort anonymous contributions received via secure channels
• Setting up protocols: human control + automated tool

9. Editorial suggestions

A tool to assist, not replace the reporter.

Some AI tools can summarize a long article, generate angle ideas or prioritize topics based on current events. AI can also become a strategic tool for reducing informational blind spots in places or contexts where reporting is impossible due to censorship, conflict or lack of access. But the angle, tone, narrative and reporting remain human choices. This idea encourages an active stance: AI suggests, but never decides. The journalist remains the author. AI is a pencil, not a pen. AI is a tool, not a voice.

Useful links:AI and the future of journalism: an issue brief for stakeholders

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• What does AI suggest today? Let’s test it live
• AI and local content: relevant or guesswork?
• Do AIs influence the editorial line?
• Test: AI suggests 3 subjects. How many do I keep?

Potential guests: editorial journalist, editorial innovation manager, specialist in open source intelligence (OSINT)

For the radio teams:

• Create an AI suggestion box for the team?
• Experimentation workshops: writing based on AI suggestions
• Internal discussion: AI and creativity: complement or constraint?
• AI: using data to produce radio surveys; e.g. children's rights under threat
• Use of AI for indirect reporting: satellite imagery, OSINT and others to document ‘silent zones’.

10. Connected listeners

A new form of interaction.

Radio stations can use AI to get to know its audiences better, analysing feedback, answering questions, creating more personalized content, producing and broadcasting dedicated programmes and/or broadcasting programmes about AI-related challenges. From voice chatbots and automated surveys, to intelligent archives, the tools are already available. This idea paves the way for greater interactivity – as long as machines do not replace genuine discussion.

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• AI for managing calls and messages?
• On-air chatbot: friendly or cold?
• Programme personalization: gadget or revolution?
• Should we create programmes dedicated to AI and its challenges?

Potential guests: audience relations specialist, chatbot designer, radio presenter who has experimented with AI on air, journalist networks, media associations, etc.

For the radio teams:

• Automatic listener feedback analysis
• Testing tools for categorising reactions
• Reflection on how personalization affects the editorial line
• Setting up live interactive surveys
• Audience segmentation based on listening habits
• Adapting programme schedules in real time based on detected trends

11. AI sound creation

AI for sound design and creation.

Artificial intelligence is opening up a whole new field of sound creation. Anything from generating a jingle to composing a mood and mixing a voice with background music can now be assisted, or even carried out, by an AI. But the question remains: can an algorithm translate artistic intent? This idea encourages us to experiment with hybrid sound formats and to try out AI-generated sound design, while emphasizing that creative decisions, narrative choices, and artistic direction remain human responsibilities. A new sonic grammar is emerging — one defined by collaboration, suggestion, and thoughtful human engagement.

Useful links:WIPO Conversation on Intellectual Property and Frontier Technologies
Mondiacult - Artificial intelligence and culture
Artificial intelligence and art: a decisive moment?

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• How does the role of sound directors or composers change when AI assists in production?
• How can we balance AI contributions with human creativity and judgment?
• What practices ensure AI use in sound respects human rights and does not replace artistic judgment?
• Differences between human and AI-generated sound identity
• Potential guests: composer, AI sound designer, radio producer, sound artist, art and AI labs

Potential guests: composer, AI sound designer, radio producer, sound artist, art and AI labs

For the radio teams:

• AI as a sound design assistant: comparative test
• Who owns the sound signature? What about copyright?
• Hybrid creation workshop: human voice, AI sound design
• Automatic generation of personalized jingles and sound effects using AI

12. Memory and AI

Radio stations have thousands of hours of archives, often underutilized because they are difficult to index, browse or restore. AI can transform this dormant memory into an active resource, harnessing transcription, keyword searching, automatic summary and thematic upgrading. When direct reporting is impossible, coverage can be enhanced by historical archives. This idea raises the question of what we preserve, what we transmit, and the editorial mission linked to how we use augmented memory.

Useful links:Memory of the World
Managing low-cost digitization projects in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• Testimonial: rebroadcasting or reinterpreting old feature segments
• Memory engine or erasure machine?
• Personalized access to sound archives, on air in real time
• Personalized access to sound archives, via interface
• Participatory features: “Tell us which radio memories you want to listen back to”
• Live voting

Potential guests: radio archivist, documentalist, AI audio engineer, university chairs, specialists in collections of humanity's shared heritage, etc.

For the radio teams:

• How can we use AI to add value to archives?
• AI for summarising and restoring old content
• Voice search engines in older podcasts
• 10 years of podcasts in 10 minutes
• Using archives to hold executives to account
• Instant real-time contextualization during a debate or interview

13. Low-tech and local AI

AI accessible to all radio stations.

Not all radio stations have access to the powerful servers, high-speed connections or premium subscriptions of the big AI platforms. And yet solutions do exist for experimenting with forms of artificial intelligence locally, on modest machines or using open source tools. This idea highlights the technical accessibility of AI and encourages regional, community and independent radio stations to take advantage of these resources, including local transcription, titling AI and thematic clustering. It's a localized, lightweight, controlled AI adapted to the realities of each region.

Sub-themes around this idea for programme content: ways to leverage, develop or angle the topic:

For listeners:

• Listeners meet radio stations testing lightweight open source AIs
• Low-tech AI: a tool for technological independence?
• Participatory workshops to discover local AI
• Comparison between well-equipped and more modest radio stations
• Audience testimonials on the use of AI in regional areas

Potential guests: local radio presenter, developer of open source solutions, representative of a technology NGO, etc.

For the radio teams:

• What AI solutions are available for regional and community radio stations?
• Demonstration of tools that run without an Internet connection
• Can Whisper be deployed locally? Whisper is an open source speech recognition system developed by Open AI, capable of transcribing and translating audio files in a wide range of languages.
• Workshop: installing and testing a local AI on a radio set
• Use of local voices to provide testimonials and verified updates in restricted areas

COMMUNICATIONS MATERIALS: Get the campaign visual assets in English and in French!

Poster 2026 World Radio Day 

Poster de la Journée Mondiale de la Radio.

International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Condustive to Terrorism 2026; February 12th.

FORUM:“Preventing Violent Extremism in the Digital Age: Anticipating New and EmergingTechnologies Risks and Opportunities, Safeguarding Human Rights, and EmpoweringFuture Generations” International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Condustive to Terrorism 2026. The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 77/243, designating 12 February as the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive toTerrorism in December 2022. This resolution underscores the importance of raising awareness about the threats linked to violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism and fostering international cooperation in this regard. It reaffirmed that terrorism and violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group, reflecting commitment to human rights and inclusivity. Furthermore, the resolution emphasizes the primary responsibility of Member States and their national institutions in countering terrorism, in full compliance with their obligations under international human rights law, while acknowledging the critical role of intergovernmental organizations, civil society, academia, religious leaders, and the media in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism as and when conducive to terrorism. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #12february, #extremists, #violentextremism, #counterterrorism, #PVEDay.

EVENTS: On February 12th, from 10:00am–11:30am, Conference Room 5 (TBC) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York will be heald the observance of the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conduciveto Terrorism 2026  which will provide an opportunity for the international community to come together and reaffirm the importance of prevention.Digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, algorithmic systems, evolving social media ecosystems, and emerging online spaces, is reshaping how communities connect, communicate and form identities. While new and emerging technologies hold tremendous promises for advancing human development and accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, they also generate significant risks Terrorist actors have quickly recognized the potential of these technologies and increasingly exploit them to recruit and radicalize, spread harmful narratives, and mobilize for violence1 . New forms of technologically facilitated violent extremism, such as leaderless networks, gamified radicalization to violence , and AI-generated disinformation and misinformation, are creating an increasingly complex prevention landscape. In this rapidly evolving context, the special event to mark the 2026 International Day for the Preventionof Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism will seek to discuss and showcase the solutions, partnerships, and programmatic efforts that are being put in place to translate global commitments into concrete prevention outcomes. Against the backdrop of the UN80 initiative, which underscores the imperative for a more integrated, agile and results-oriented United Nations system, the 2026 observance will also serve as a strategic moment in the lead-up to the 9th Review of the United Nations GlobalCounter-Terrorism Strategy, scheduled for mid-2026. Building on the 8 th review of the Strategy, which expressed concern over the potential use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and reaffirmed the need for Governments and the international community to enhance cooperation to prevent and counter terrorism in a coordinated, inclusive, transparent and human rights-based, gender-responsive manner, this year’s observance offers a timely opportunity to deepen this discussion. With the Strategy approaching its twentieth anniversary and the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism having recently marked its tenth anniversary, the International PVE Day will offer an opportunity for Member States and the United Nations system to assess progress, reaffirm collective commitments, and identify priority actions to strengthen prevention efforts and build resilient, peaceful and cohesive societies for present and future generations. Register to participae!

LIVESTREAM:

Special Commemoration Event for International PVE Day – "Preventing Violent Extremism in the Digital Age: Anticipating New and Emerging Technologies Risks and Opportunities, Safeguarding Human Rights, and Empowering Future Generations"

 

 From Principles to Practice: Special Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism

 

Statement of the United Nations Secretary General on the International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism 2026; February 12th.

Today, we reaffirm our shared resolve to prevent violent extremism and shield communities from the scourge of terrorism.

Terrorist groups routinely exploit instability, runaway technologies, and socio-economic fragility to target and intimidate vulnerable groups. Young people, including children, are increasingly susceptible to radicalization through online social media platforms and unregulated gaming environments.

Both the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which is marking its twentieth anniversary this year, and the United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, which is marking its tenth anniversary, remind us that stronger security measures alone are not enough.

We must get at the source of the problem, through renewed efforts to address grievances and the conditions conducive to terrorism by strengthening education systems, expanding civic space, and fostering dialogue and trust among and within communities.

It also means working with all stakeholders, including the private sector and technology companies, to build guardrails that can prevent violent extremism.

All these efforts must be rooted in human rights and the rule of law, so every person has a voice in shaping their society’s future.

Together, let’s build resilient and inclusive communities where violent extremism finds no foothold, and peace prevails for all.

António Guterres.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026; February 11th.

FORUM: "Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls" International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026. Skill gaps are a key constraint to innovation, hindering productivity growth and economic development. In particular, shortages in the supply of trained professionals in disciplines related to Science, Technology, Engineering, andMathematics (STEM) may weaken the innovation potential of a society. A wide gender gap has persisted over the years at all levels of STEM disciplines throughout the world. Although the participation of women in higher education has increased, they are still underrepresented. Follow the hashtags:#February11 ,#EquityInScience, #ScienceSociety, #Finance4Dev, #GirlsInScience, #WomenInScience.

EVENTS: High-level Events entitled "Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls". The Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) celebrates the 11th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly, taking place on February 11th, 2026 in at the ECOSOC Chamber, UN Headquarters in New York. Following the adoption of Resolution A/RES/70/212 on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, RASIT continues to work with UN Member States, InterGovernmental Organizations and the UN and its entities to achieve equality in science, technology, and innovation for socio-economic sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. The 11th IDWGIS is co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Cyprus, Greece, Kenya, Kuwait, Malta, Moldova, Romania, San Marino, and Viet Nam to the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), UN Women, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), and Pan-African Intergovernmental Agency for Water and Sanitation for Africa. The 11th Assembly is aligned with the 2026 ECOSOC and HLPF theme “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for all”. To support achieving the three pillars of sustainable development, namely economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity, the 11th Assembly will bring together women in science and experts from around the world, highlevel government officials, representatives of international organizations and the private sector to discuss the Goals to undergo in-depth review during the HLPF: Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) , and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The 11th IDWGIS is theme “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls”. As societies grapple with widening inequalities, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), social science, STEM and finance emerges as a 4-pillar approach to accelerate inclusive sustainable development: 

• AI offers powerful tools for data analytics, health diagnostics, climate modelling and more, but its benefits risk bypassing women and girls without targeted interventions. 

• Social science insights guide the design of equitable policies, community engagement and behavioral change strategies that ensure STEM and AI innovations reach marginalized groups. 

• STEM disciplines furnish the technical skills required to develop, implement and maintain AI solutions, while fostering gender-balanced research teams.

• Finance mechanisms, impact investing, blended finance and gender-smart funds, unlock capital to scale women-led innovations and sustainably fund STEM education and R&D. 

Synergizing these four domains can dismantle persistent barriers: closing gender gaps in digital skills, catalyzing women-driven startups, informing gender-responsive AI governance, and mobilizing finance that embeds social inclusion as a performance metric.

Get the Concept Note and Watch the livestream!

The objectives of the 11th IDWGIS Assembly are: 

1. Convene experts to showcase best practices at the intersection of AI, social science,STEM and finance for women’s empowerment.

2. Identify policy and regulatory levers to foster gender-equitable AI development and data governance. 

3. Highlight scalable financing models that support women-led STEM  initiatives and AI startups. 

4. Inclusion of women in science and experts with disabilities as agents for change. 

5. Engage youth and community leaders in co-designing inclusive technology roadmaps. 

6. Develop an outcome declaration with actionable recommendations for Member States, UN agencies, academia and the private sector.

 The Assembly’s Thematic Streams: 

• Integrate the SDG targets most relevant to women and science within each goal. 

• Highlight cross-cutting issues such as digital inclusion, climate resilience, and ethics in AI. 

• Add measurable output (i.e., number of participants, case studies, policy commitments) to strengthen accountability. 

• Include gender-disaggregated data in AI and STEM  discussions, aligning with the UN Data Strategy. • Add mention of ethics and data governance (AI bias, algorithmic transparency...) under the regulatory levers’ objective. 

• Link with the UN Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda and the Summit of the Future (2024–2026) outcomes to ensure policy relevance. The Assembly’s Format and Methodology • Plenary opening with high-level remarks

 • Three thematic panels with policymakers, academic, and industry speakers 

• Plenary Closing with Adoption of the “Outcome Declaration on Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance” 

Expected Outcomes of the 11th IDWGIS Assembly 

• Policy brief summarizing evidence, case studies and regulatory recommendations • Financing toolkit for STEM-responsive impact investors and development banks • Introducing RASIT and women-led AI/STEM innovations with scalability assessments • Female Youth manifesto outlining priorities for future research and entrepreneurship support.

High-level Events

LIVESTREAM: 

PART I - Watch the (Part 1) 11th International Day of Women & Girls in Science Assembly!

PART II