UNESCO Confirms 10 New World Heritage Sites for 2025—Explore the Must-See Destinations and Surprising Stories Behind Them

Lead: UNESCO has announced that Ecuador’s Afro-Ecuadorian Social Development Foundation, AZÚCAR, and European Council President António Costa will receive the 2024 Félix Houphouët-Boigny – UNESCO Peace Prize, with an award ceremony set for 22 May 2025 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. H2: Why the Jury Chose AZÚCAR Foundation For more than three decades, the Quito-based AZÚCAR Foundation has fought systemic racism and championed social inclusion across Latin America. Key achievements include: • Securing Ecuador’s National Day of Afro-Ecuadorian, Black and Afro-descendant Women (25 July). • Establishing Afro-Ecuadorian People’s Day, observed every first Sunday of October. • Launching the “Three Worlds” Intercultural Festival to spotlight Afro heritage through music, dance and education. • Elevating Afro-descendant voices at global forums such as COP16 to highlight biodiversity stewardship. H2: António Costa Honoured for Multilateral Leadership The jury praised former Portuguese prime minister António Costa for “unyielding commitment to dialogue, sustainable development and multilateral governance,” noting his role in EU COVID-19 recovery plans and advocacy for climate-resilient economies. H2: Ceremony Details – Culture Meets Diplomacy in Abidjan • Date & Venue: 22 May 2025, Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire. • Program Highlights: Keynotes on contemporary peace challenges, live performances by Ivorian and Ecuadorian artists, and a roundtable on racial equity. • Live Stream: UNESCO will broadcast proceedings on its YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) channels using #UNESCOPeacePrize. H2: Broader Impact on Afro-Descendant Communities UN Women data show Afro-Ecuadorian women face 38.9 % multidimensional poverty, well above the national average. By elevating AZÚCAR’s work, UNESCO aims to galvanize funding and policy reforms targeting education, land rights and gender equality throughout the African diaspora. H2: What Happens Next • Peace Prize laureates will mentor youth delegates at UNESCO’s Biennale of Luanda, the Pan-African Forum for a Culture of Peace, in October 2025. • A traveling exhibition on AZÚCAR’s community projects will tour UNESCO field offices in Latin America and Africa from June 2025 to March 2026. H2: How to Engage Researchers, donors and civil-society groups can download the “Towards Justice and Equality” report, co-published by AZÚCAR and UNESCO, to replicate best practices in reparations and social policy. By spotlighting grassroots activism alongside high-level diplomacy, the 2024 Félix Houphouët-Boigny – UNESCO Peace Prize underscores that durable peace begins with racial justice, cultural recognition and inclusive development.