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Today, on International Day of Education, let us take a moment to reflect on the value of learning, and consider, through the lenses of five stories of people from different regions, cultures, age groups, and abilities, how we could support the work of UN country teams established across 162 countries and territories around the world on making education accessible for all.   

Children in four schools which were damaged by devastating earthquake which struck Haiti in August, are due to return to newly renovated buildings

In the Arab region, the rate of female labour force participation is 18% compared to the global average of 48% . Women are often reporting that they are facing discrimination in training and jobs, patriarchal norms and stereotypes, workplace harassment, low wages, and limited labor rights.

The number of Haitians who have tried to migrate by unofficial channels to neighbouring countries by boat has increased dramatically in 2021.

Teams are intensifying their efforts across the globe to tackle COVID-19 and the latest variant: Omicron. They are also helping countries as they face multidimensional challenges like an increase in gender-based violence and political unrest.

Floods are responsible for about two-thirds of the total human casualties incurred by natural disasters in the past 40 years. That’s why flood risk management is now part of disaster risk reduction strategies so critical, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.

Children returning to schools, workplaces re-opening, and vaccines all seemed to point to a return to normal but like 2020, 2021 has been a year of hope, loss, and uncertainty for people around the world. Stories of innovative ways to connect, protect our planet from climate change, and ways we, as a society, have joined forces to protect each other from the pandemic that has ravaged all our lives.