UNESCO will participate in the fourth Internet Governance Forum, to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 15 to 18 November 2009, to advocate the principles of freedom of expression and universal access.

The International Community Media Seminar was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, on 11 November 2009, under the theme “Voice and Empowerment through Community Media: Learning from Good Practices, Strategies for Development”. It was jointly organized by UNESCO and the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC).

UNESCO started the implementation of its project, Alignment to International Standards in the Media Sector of South-East European Countries, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. On 20 October 2009 the Macedonian capital Skopje hosted the first national roundtable of the project, which aims at encouraging, assisting and accelerating media reforms in the South-East European countries.

The Second Global Forum on the Power of Peace, held in Bangkok from 28 to 30 October 2009, brought together young people, students, representatives of universities, NGO, private sector, and governments from around the world to collaborate in building the Power of Peace Network (PPN).

Under the patronage of Lebanese Minister of Education, the Arab Support Centre for Free and Open Source Software, Ma3bar, was officially launched in Beirut on 5 November 2009. The new Centre is the result of cooperation between UNESCO, UNDP-ICTDAR and the University of Balamand. Other leading academic institutions in the region are expected to join the partnership.

An unprecedented study on the increasing use of blogs to publish analysis and comments related to public security has been prepared by the UNESCO Office in Brasilia in cooperation with the Centre for Studies on Public Security and Citizenship (CESeC). Entitled The Police Blogosphere in Brazil: from Shooting to Twitter, the study goes beyond journalistic reporting, and analysis blogs published by security agents themselves.

The United Nations telecommunications agency announced that it has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to build a new museum that will focus on the impact of information communications technology (ICT) on people's lives.

On 27 October 2009 the UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh and the Bophana Audiovisual Resource Centre celebrated the World Day for Audiovisual Heritage. The one-day conference, discussions, screenings and concerts focused on the Cambodian sound and music heritage.