UNESCO announces Brazilian commemorative dates

The Government of Brazil welcomes the announcement made today, 11 April, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of its acceptance of the following Brazilian commemorative dates: 2026 will mark the centenary of the birth of geographer Milton Santos, while 2027 will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the death of writer Carolina Maria de Jesus.

The commemorations approved by UNESCO in the current cycle reflect the Government’s endeavour to secure international recognition for Brazil’s intellectual excellence and cultural diversity. Milton Santos (1926 – 2001) was one of the foremost geographers of the twentieth century, whose influential work addressed urbanisation, globalisation, and Brazilian and world space. Carolina Maria de Jesus (1914 – 1977), author of Quarto de Despejo: Diário de uma Favelada (Child of the Dark: The Diary of Carolina Maria de Jesus), gave international visibility to some of the most complex aspects of Brazil’s social reality.

These commemorative dates embody UNESCO’s objectives in the fields of culture, science, and communication, promoting the ideals of peace, tolerance, intercultural dialogue, and understanding among peoples.