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World Social Science Report 2016 | Challenging Inequalities: Pathways to a Just World

LEACH Melissa
GAVENTA, John
JUSTINO, Patricia
DENIS, Mathieu
November 2016

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Inequalities are multi-dimensional, multi-layered and cumulative. The Report makes clear that understanding and acting effectively upon inequalities requires looking beyond income and wealth disparities to capture their political, environmental, social, cultural, spatial, and knowledge features. Untangling such complexity is a challenge we must fully take on – if we are to develop policies and solutions that are feasible and sustainable.

 

The Report also emphasizes that the costs of inequalities are very high and borne by all – not just by the deprived and the excluded, but collectively, by current and future generations, in the form of heightened conflict and instability, economic and fiscal losses, environmental degradation, and political tensions. Reducing inequalities is thus everyone’s concern.

 

Countering inequalities requires robust knowledge – but knowledge alone is not enough. The challenge is to improve the connection between what we know and how we act: to mobilize the knowledge of the social and human sciences to inform policies, underpin decisions and enable wise and transparent management of the shift towards more equitable and inclusive societies. In this sense, investment in knowledge is a down-payment for informed change.

 

And in some respects, even the knowledge we have is not fully adequate. Social science research agendas equally require revisiting. The Report calls for a step change towards a research agenda that is interdisciplinary, multiscale and globally inclusive, creating pathways for transformative knowledge.

UNESCO guidelines on language and content in HIV- and AIDS-related materials

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)
January 2006

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This document contains guidelines on the use of language and content in HIV- and AIDS-related documents and contexts. As stigma and discrimination are often attached to the disease, the use of culturally-sensitive and appropriate terminology and ethical considerations in the production of materials are vital. Contains seven tables addressing commonly used terminology; stigmatising terms and expressions; culturally sensitive language; precision and differentiation of certain terms; cultural issues and practices; audio and visual content. Table 5 presents some specific examples. Each problematic term or approach is briefly discussed and provided with an alternative/preferred substitute. These guidelines are an essential tool for anyone working in the field of HIV and AIDS

Changing teaching practices : using curriculum differentiation to respond to students’ diversity

PERNER, Darlene
2005

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This guide was developed to facilitate and support inclusive education. It presents strategies and learning activities to facilitate curriculum differentiation, and offers suggestions, strategies, and learning activities to teachers to use in classrooms. This guide is useful to anyone interested in using curriculum differentiation to respond to students’ diversity

Greenstone digital library software

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO)
NEW ZEALAND DIGITAL LIBRARY PROJECT(NZDL)
HUMAN INFO NGO
March 2003

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Greenstone is a suite of software for building and distributing digital library collections. It provides a new way of organising information and publishing it on the Internet or on CD-ROM. This CD-ROM contains the open source software as well as supporting documentation

Measuring and monitoring the information and knowledge societies : a statistical challenge

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO). Institute for Statistics
2003

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The focus of this report is on data systems and measurement issues with regard to ICT, including aspects of data availability, international comparability and quality, as well as content. The overall aim is to support the development of national, regional and international data systems and indicators that are comprehensive, policy relevant and reliable for the proper understanding, monitoring and development of a sustainable and equitable information/knowledge society. The first part of this report includes a stocktaking of selected global ICT data from a variety of sources. This is followed by a discussion of the limitations of the existing data as well as barriers and problems that might be encountered in collecting of such data. The final section of the report discusses what data might be of value to collect in the future. The report concludes with a series of recommendations

Handbook for appropriate communication for behavior change. Culturally appropriate information/education/communication : elaboration and delivery

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO). Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue
2001

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This handbook is part of the UNESCO initiative on HIV and culture. It deals with building culturally appropriate information/education/communication (IEC) material and processes. It aims to tailor the content and pace of action to people's beliefs, value systems, capacity to mobilise, and to modify international and national strategies and policies, project design and field work accordingly. It gives a conceptual introduction to the issue and then presents the methodological research to be carried out (evaluation of the current activities, understanding, sensitising and mobilising cultural references and resources accordingly). It then identifies proposed target audiences and their specific characteristics. It concludes by proposing appropriate IEC models combining message elaboration and delivery

Fieldwork : building local response

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO). Division of Cultural Policies and Intercultural Dialogue
2001

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One of four handbooks derived from the country assessments carried out under UNESCO's 'Cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and care' programme. This handbook presents culturally sensitive approaches to fieldwork. It describes the cultural approach and the major challenges defined by UNAIDS: risk, vulnerability, prevention, care, support and impact reduction. It reviews current trends in fieldwork, especially around community and participation. It then presents key points in building local responses, and action priorities including building partnerships between institutions and the field, culturally-appropriate communication strategies, sensitisation and capacity building

Universal declaration on cultural diversity

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION
2001

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This Declaration supports cultural diversity, cultural rights and the role of culture in development - as a key component of human rights. It states that "All persons have [...] the right to express themselves and to create and disseminate their work in the language of their choice, and particularly in their mother tongue; all persons are entitled to quality education and training that fully respect their cultural identity; and all persons have the right to participate in the cultural life of their choice and conduct their own cultural practices, subject to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms"

Culture and health : orientation texts on the 1996 theme

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO)
THE JOINT UNITED NATIONS PROGRAM ON HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Eds
1996

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This edited volume includes chapters by different authors on cultural issues as they impact on a wide range of health concerns in developing countries. The papers are based on research and experience in many countries, and offer examples of where cultural factors have impacted on project design and outcomes, as well as the theoretical basis for 'endogenous development'. Useful as a general "reader" or background text on this topic as well as a source of examples and illustrations of how to harness culture for health interventions

Inclusion in education

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)

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This section of the UNESCO's education website hosts definitions of concepts, policies and publications relating to inclusive education. UNESCO has identified certain issues as 'flagship initiatives', to strengthen efforts at addressing the issues through partnerships between UN bodies and other stakeholders. Case studies, support materials for teachers and those promoting inclusive education, and a set of guides to the education of different groups of learners are also available in the online materials section

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