Attacks on journalists and journalism are proliferating across the world. UNESCO’s most recent report on global trends in freedom of expression reveals a 10% decline in freedom of expression worldwide since 2012, a setback comparable only to three other periods – World War I, the prelude to World War II, and the late 1970s Cold War period.

Despite decades of progress, inequalities continue to compromise global water security, disproportionally impacting women and girls, who despite of being the main collectors of water, continue to be excluded from water management and leadership roles, says the United Nations World Water Development Report, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water.

UNESCO reports that at least 68 journalists and media workers have been killed in the line of duty so far in 2024 (as of 12 December 2024). More than 60% of the killings took place in countries in conflict, the highest percentage in more than ten years.

Tomyum kung has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, along with the knowledge, skills, traditions and practices related to the production of kebaya traditional garments.

On 14 November, in a ceremony held at the National Museum in Bangkok, the US Embassy returned a set of artifacts from the prehistoric Ban Chiang archaeological site to the Thai government.

Songkhla's bid for World Heritage status could boost the city's stagnant economy, but multicultural communities fear their ways of life may be left out by the monolithic preservation plan.

<p>To mark the 9th International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (IDEA) on 2 November, media workers from around Southeast Asia gathered together with international stakeholders to consider the how best to overcome prevailing constraints on regional media - legal, political and cultural.</p>

<p>The Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex was named a natural World Heritage site during the World Heritage Committee meeting on 26 July despite ongoing concerns about human rights violations against indigenous communities in the forest area.&nbsp;</p>

<p>UN human rights* experts urged the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to defer Thailand&rsquo;s bid to get a prized heritage listing for the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, saying the indigenous Karen are being subjected to rights violations in the park.</p>

<p>Thailand&rsquo;s nomination of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex for World Heritage status should once again be deferred due to concerns about violations of the rights of local indigenous communities, says the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).</p>

<p>Members of the indigenous Karen communities living near the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex have raised concerns over unresolved community rights issues ahead of the Thai government&rsquo;s 4th nomination of the forest for world heritage status in 2021.</p>