Unesco Backgrounder

		UNESCO Mandate and Mission
		UNESCO's Thrusts
		UNESCO Main Website

UNESCO Mandate and Mission

Its constitution was adopted by the London Conference in November 1945, and entered into effect on 4 November 1946 when 20 states had deposited instruments of acceptance.

It currently has 186 Member States.

The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.

To fulfil its mandates, UNESCO performs five principal functions:

Prospective studies: what forms of education, science, culture and communication for tomorrow’s world?

The advancement, transfer, and sharing of knowledge: relying primarily on research, training and teaching activities.

Standard-setting action: the preparation and adoption of international instruments and statutory recommendations.

Expertise: provided to Member States for their development policies and projects in the form of "technical co-operation."

Exchange of specialized information

The Preamble of its Constitution declares: "Since wars begin in the minds of men it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed." Thus, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was set up on November 4, 1946 by 20 Founding Member States to advance, through the educational, scientific and cultural relations of the peoples of the world, the objectives of international peace and the common welfare of humankind. On its 50^th anniversary in 1995, UNESCO had 184 members. Now, it has 186.

As an "intellectual forum" with an ethical mission UNESCO seeks to forge the "intellectual and moral solidarity" of humankind through the advancement, sharing, and transfer of knowledge in education, the natural and human sciences, culture, and communication, towards the building of a genuine and sustainable culture of peace.

UNESCO comprises three bodies: the General Conference of Member States, the Executive Board and the Secretariat. The General Conference, the main decision-making body, determines the policies and approves the programme and budget. The Executive Board, which is composed of 58 representatives of Member States, is responsible for the execution of the Conference’s decisions. The Secretariat prepares the draft Programme and Budget, and formulates proposals for appropriate action. It is headed by a Director-General, who is recommended by the Executive Board for election by the General Conference.

Unique to the UN system, the UNESCO Constitution provides that Member States , serves as a vital link between the Organization and the government, professional associations, academe, non-government organizations, and the public.

UNESCO's Thrusts

Development for peace and peace for development are two main strands - closely intertwined - of the Medium - Term Strategy of UNESCO (1996-2000).

Programme Areas

In support of the Medium-Term Strategy, UNESCO programmes include four major programme areas corresponding to the Organization’s principal fields of competence and two transdisciplinary projects. The main thrusts are: Towards lifelong education for all; Sciences in the service of development; Cultural development: the heritage and creativity; and Communication, information, and informatics.

The two transdisciplinary projects are Environment and population education and information for development; and Towards a culture of peace. Many of UNESCO’s activities take a transdisciplinary perspective where programmes and projects highlight the interrelationships of the programme areas.

Towards Lifelong Education for All

UNESCO’s priorities are the promotion of access for all to basic education, the improvement of vocational and technical education, and the provision of quality, relevant and continuing education. These prepare today’s children and youth to live and work in a changing world and to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.

Since the 1990 World Conference for All (EFA) meeting in Jomtien, Thailand, UNESCO has concentrated on the Eradication of Illiteracy by the Year 2000 and the implementation of the Framework for Action to Meet Basic Learning Needs. Thus, basic education for all is an absolute priority.

The 1995 Report of the International Commission on Education for the 21^st Century underscores the four pillars of education: "learning to know; learning to do; learning to be; and learning to live together." The Commission is an interdisciplinary panel headed by former European Economic Community President Jacques Delors, and was created to reflect on the challenges of the four pillars.

Sciences in the Service of Development

UNESCO’s science and technology programmes and projects focus on research, training, and information. They link environmental protection with sustainable development. They also develop human resources, disseminate scientific information on basic and engineering sciences, and promote science and technology.

These programmes and projects include the following:

Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme is a worldwide effort based on maintaining a network of bio-sphere reserves to study and preserve biodiversity, and demonstrate how to make sustainable use of natural resources.

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) examines life-supporting global marine ecosystems and factors affecting fisheries and coastal management.

International Hydrological Programme (IHP) studies how human activity affects the water cycle and how possible climate change affects water resources.

Coastal Marine Project (CMP) works to control erosion and manage tropical ecosystems, such as seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove swamps, which house many different species.

Cultural Development: The Heritage and Creativity

UNESCO seeks to promote a better appreciation of the different cultures by helping to enhance creativity and cultural development, as well as preserve the world’s diverse cultures. It assists governments to take the necessary legislative, administrative, financial, and technical measures to protect and enrich their cultural heritage.

The World Decade for Culture and Development, initiated in 1988, serves as the framework for broadening awareness on the link between culture and development by bringing together social scientists to study and share their findings on values and cultural patterns that facilitate or impede development; for asserting and enhancing cultural identity; for broadening participation in social and cultural life; and for expanding international cooperation in fostering tolerance and mutual respect.

In 1995, the World Commission on Culture and Development (WCCD), established with the mandate "to explore the ties that bind culture and development," prepared the World Report on Culture and Development entitiled "Our Creative Diversity." The former UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar served as Chairman, with four Nobel Prize winners as members.

Communication, Information and Informatics

UNESCO’s programme in communication and information has three objectives:

to promote independent and pluralistic media while developing communication infrastructure and human resources in developing countries;

to promote international cooperation in the sharing of scientific and technological information, and in improving the organization and operation of libraries and archives to ensure greater access to knowledge; and

to accelerate the technological convergence among telecommunication, computing, information products and mass communication and to harness informatics for social development.

Many of UNESCO’s activities take a "transdisciplinary perspective." This means that programmes and projects highlight the interrelationships of the programme areas, such as "Environment and Population Education, Information for Development, and Culture of Peace and Tolerance