New Service: Glossary with relevant terms; Today: UNESCO
The UNESCO
The UNESCO is a specialized UN Agency.
UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
At the moment there are 190 member states.
The UNESCO is working in the fields of education, science, culture and communication.
For the third milennium the UNESCO set the following goals:
Through its strategies and activities,
UNESCO is actively pursuing the United Nations Millenium
Development Goals, especially those aiming to:
- halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in developing countries by 2015
- achieve universal primary education in all countries by 2015
- eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005
- help countries implement a national strategy for sustainable development by 2005 to reverse current trends in
the loss of environmental resources by 2015.
Source:http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals
For the UNESCO World Heritage Programm the department of culture is in charge:
UNESCO is in the vanguard of international efforts to protect heritage. The Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted in 1972, was founded on the premise that certain places on Earth are of outstanding universal value and as such should form part of the common heritage of humankind. While fully respecting the national sovereignty, and without prejudice to property rights provided by national legislation, the States Parties to the Convention recognize that the protection of the World Heritage is the duty of the international community as a whole. The World Heritage List currently includes more than 700 natural and cultural sites, from Indias Taj Mahal to Malis ancient city of Timbuktu and such natural wonders as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The World Heritage Centre is the permanent secretariate of the Convention. Source:http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001315/131585e.pdf
But beside culture the UNESCO is activ in much more different fields:
For, if peace is to exist, it must first of all be desired by the women and the men of the whole world. But before that idea takes shape in the minds of each one of us, a long road remains to be traveled.
All individuals, no matter where they live, must have the opportunity to learn how to reason and to cultivate humanistic values, the first as the motor for material progress, the second to lay the foundations for peace and respect for human rights. An educated population, aware of its fundamental rights, is more likely to share in the fruits of democracy. And sharing the benefits of science and technology equally among the peoples of the world will improve their health and well-being.However, harmony between peoples is still fragile. Day after day we are forced to recognize that this goal of peace and the common welfare is still distant. Solidarity and sharing are therefore more than ever cardinal values. UNESCO then fosters these values by multiplying and reinforcing educational, scientific and cultural relations, pursuing two closely linked objectives: development which, beyond the simple demands of material progress, must also respond to a full range of human aspirations without jeopardizing the heritage of future generations; and establishment of a Culture of Peace, based on education for responsible citizenship and full participation in democratic processes. Source:http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=14605&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
UNESCO is organized worldwide in National Commissions.
National Commissions
The UNESCO National Commissions are national cooperating bodies set up by the Member States for the purpose of associating their governmental and non-governmental bodies with the work of the Organization. There are 192 National Commissions . Member States' representatives to UNESCO's Executive Board and General Conference are often advised by National Commissions in matters relating to the Organization. Source:http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3448&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
The Headquarter is based in Paris:
UNESCO
7, Place de Fontenoy
75352 PARIS 07 SP
France
http://www.unesco.org
