Simone Lawson
The Constitution of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was signed on 16 November 1945 and came into force in 1946. The purpose of UNESCO, as outlined in its constitution, is to advance peace and security by promoting international collaboration in education, science, and culture. The organization aims to achieve this through the pursuit of common purposes with the United Nations, while maintaining its autonomy in its fields of competence. UNESCO's activities include assisting member states in their efforts to eliminate illiteracy, extend free education, and promote human rights education.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding date | 16 November 1945 |
| Founding place | London |
| Founding document | Constitution of UNESCO |
| Founding signatories | 37 countries |
| Current members | 195 |
| Associate members | 8 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Purpose | Advancing peace and security through international collaboration in education, science, and culture |
| Assisting, supporting, and complementing the national efforts of member states to eliminate illiteracy and extend free education | |
| Promoting the free exchange of ideas and knowledge | |
| Creating the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values | |
| Assisting in the reconstruction of schools, libraries, and museums destroyed during World War II | |
| Promoting the inclusion of human rights principles and values within the education system | |
| Sponsoring efforts to preserve ancient monuments and establishing a World Heritage List | |
| Decision-making | Decisions are made by a simple majority, except in cases requiring a two-thirds majority |
| Meetings | The General Conference meets every two years |
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What You'll Learn
- UNESCO promotes international collaboration in education, science and culture
- The organisation works to preserve cultural sites and natural areas
- UNESCO advocates for the inclusion of human rights principles and values within education
- It promotes the free exchange of ideas and knowledge through conferences and exchange services
- UNESCO facilitates the reconstruction of schools, libraries and museums damaged in World War II
UNESCO promotes international collaboration in education, science and culture
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was established in 1945 to promote international collaboration in education, science, and culture. Its constitution, which came into force in 1946, was signed by 37 countries.
UNESCO's work in these areas is underpinned by the belief in "full and equal opportunities for education for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth, and in the free exchange of ideas and knowledge". The organization aims to develop and increase the means of communication between peoples, fostering mutual understanding and a deeper knowledge of each other's lives.
In the field of education, UNESCO has been instrumental in rebuilding schools, libraries, and museums destroyed in Europe during World War II. Its activities have since expanded to support member states in their efforts to eradicate illiteracy and promote free education. UNESCO also works to include human rights principles and values within educational systems, encouraging member states to develop and implement relevant policies, strategies, and programs.
In the scientific domain, UNESCO has facilitated the protection of ancient monuments and natural sites of cultural significance. For example, in the 1960s, the organization sponsored efforts to save ancient Egyptian monuments from the Aswan High Dam. This led to the adoption of the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, which established a World Heritage List of culturally and naturally significant sites that enjoy government protection.
UNESCO also promotes international collaboration in the field of communication, with a focus on the "free flow of ideas by word and image". The organization has a history of supporting media development and the training of journalists, responding to calls for a "New World Information and Communication Order" in the 1970s.
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The organisation works to preserve cultural sites and natural areas
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded to focus on rebuilding schools, libraries, and museums that were destroyed in Europe during World War II. UNESCO's early activities in culture included the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, launched in 1960. The purpose of the campaign was to move the Great Temple of Abu Simbel to a new location 65 metres higher and 200 metres back from the Nile, preventing it from being swamped after the construction of the Aswan Dam. During the 20-year campaign, 22 monuments and architectural complexes were relocated.
Following the success of the Abu Simbel campaign, UNESCO initiated a draft convention to protect cultural heritage. This led to the adoption of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972. The convention, which came into force in 1975, has been ratified by 196 states as of November 2024.
The convention established the UNESCO World Heritage List, which includes cultural sites and natural areas that are protected by governments and recognised for their "outstanding universal value". As of July 2024, there were 1,223 World Heritage Sites, including 952 cultural, 231 natural, and 40 mixed cultural and natural properties across 168 countries.
Being listed as a World Heritage Site provides international recognition and legal protection, as well as access to funds from the World Heritage Fund for conservation. UNESCO has recognised several sites as success stories, including Angkor in Cambodia, the Old City of Dubrovnik in Croatia, the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania.
In addition to safeguarding World Heritage Sites, UNESCO also recognises intangible heritage and supports the creative economy. The organisation works to preserve cultural sites and natural areas by providing the tools and skills needed to make the most of cultural heritage as a renewable energy source.
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UNESCO advocates for the inclusion of human rights principles and values within education
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945, with the aim of creating the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and peoples, based on respect for commonly shared values. UNESCO's work is guided by its constitution, which calls for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
The organization assists member states in formulating and developing sustainable sector policies and strategies, drawing up action plans and programmes, and strengthening national capacity to implement these initiatives. UNESCO's interventions are typically made at the request of governments and can include reviewing the national legal framework in relation to the right to education.
UNESCO has acquired expertise in the inclusion of human rights principles and values within the education system, both at the policy and implementation levels. This includes assisting in the preparation and implementation of national plans of action for human rights education, taking into account the diversity of cultures, historical developments, and the history of education in each country.
UNESCO's work in this area is in line with its overall mission to advance international peace and the common welfare of mankind, as well as the specific goal of creating the conditions for dialogue and mutual understanding among civilizations, cultures, and peoples.
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It promotes the free exchange of ideas and knowledge through conferences and exchange services
The UNESCO constitution, which came into force in 1946, was created to promote international collaboration in education, science, and culture. UNESCO's purpose, as outlined in its constitution, is to "contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture."
One of the ways UNESCO achieves this is by promoting the free exchange of ideas and knowledge through conferences and exchange services. This includes organizing conferences and providing clearinghouse and exchange services to encourage the free flow of ideas and knowledge.
The free exchange of ideas and knowledge is a fundamental principle of UNESCO, which is reflected in its constitution. The organization believes in the “unrestricted pursuit of objective truth” and the “free exchange of ideas and knowledge.” This is especially important in the context of the Second World War, where control of information was used to indoctrinate populations for aggression.
UNESCO has been actively organizing training and education for journalists since the 1950s. In the late 1970s, they established the International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems, which produced the MacBride Report in 1980. This report proposed a New World Information and Communication Order that advocated for communication and freedom of information as basic human rights.
UNESCO also plays a significant role in promoting human rights education. They advocate for the inclusion of human rights principles and values within education systems and support Member States in developing and implementing policies, strategies, and programs for human rights education. This includes promoting dialogue among educational policymakers, practitioners, teachers, and researchers on key components such as curriculum development, teacher training, and the whole school approach.
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UNESCO facilitates the reconstruction of schools, libraries and museums damaged in World War II
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established in 1945, with its constitution coming into force in 1946. The purpose of UNESCO, as outlined in its constitution, is to advance peace and security by promoting international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, UNESCO's efforts were focused on the reconstruction of schools, libraries, and museums damaged or destroyed during the war. While the organization did not have the funding or infrastructure to physically rebuild all the damaged structures, it played a crucial role in coordinating assistance and facilitating their restoration.
One notable example of UNESCO's work in this area is its involvement in the restoration of libraries in France. By providing financial support directly to those in need, UNESCO empowered librarians, publishers, and booksellers to acquire the specific texts they required. This approach, known as the book coupon scheme, ensured that libraries could obtain the resources they needed without imposing certain texts on recipients. The scheme was a success, benefiting a diverse range of individuals, including university professors, students, artists, and more.
In addition to its work in France, UNESCO also facilitated the restoration of libraries in other parts of the world. For example, the organization collaborated with various divisions, such as the Libraries Section, the Reconstruction Program, and international youth groups, to restore the contents of the Valognes library.
UNESCO's early activities in culture also included the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia, launched in 1960. During this 20-year campaign, 22 monuments and architectural complexes were relocated to protect them from the rising waters of the Nile after the construction of the Aswan Dam. This initiative set a precedent for similar campaigns in Pakistan, Morocco, Nepal, Indonesia, and Greece.
Through these efforts, UNESCO demonstrated its commitment to preserving cultural heritage and facilitating the reconstruction of educational and cultural institutions damaged by World War II. The organization's work in this area has contributed to the advancement of international collaboration and the promotion of education, science, and culture, in line with the purpose set by its constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded to promote international collaboration in education, science, and culture. UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values.
The preamble to the constitution of UNESCO declares that "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed". UNESCO's constitution emphasizes the importance of full and equal opportunities for education for all, the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth, and the free exchange of ideas and knowledge.
UNESCO's activities have been mainly facilitative, aimed at assisting, supporting, and complementing the national efforts of member states to eliminate illiteracy and extend free education. UNESCO also organizes conferences, provides clearinghouse and exchange services, and works with member states to implement policies, strategies, and programs for human rights education.
UNESCO is governed by the General Conference, composed of member states and associate members. The General Conference meets every two years to set the agency's budget, program of activities, and the scale of contributions from member states. It also elects members of the executive board, which manages UNESCO's work, and appoints a Director-General every four years.
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