UNESCO reports 273 million children out of school; UNEP flags 50% decline in protected migratory species

Key facts

• UNESCO's 2026 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report states 273 million children and young people are out of school worldwide.
• One in six school-age children are excluded from education and only two in three complete secondary school.
• Progress in school participation has slowed across most regions since 2015, with conflict and population growth as key drivers.
• Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly affected by the slowdown in educational participation.
• The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) reported Russia launched nearly 1,000 drones and dozens of missiles at Ukrainian cities during 23-24 March.
• The 23-24 March attacks killed at least six people, injured almost 100, and damaged residential areas, medical facilities, and energy infrastructure.
• Targets included a monastery in Lviv and a maternity hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
• More than 15,000 civilian killings have been confirmed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago.
• 3.7 million people are internally displaced in areas controlled by the Kyiv government.
• The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre report nearly half of migratory species requiring protection are declining.
• Species threatened by extinction have risen to 24% from 22% two years earlier.
• UNEP's Elizabeth Maruma Mrema stated protecting migratory species depends on coordinated international action.
• Environmental multilateralism works and is essential for protecting migratory species that cross borders and oceans.