United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, also known as UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to build peace through international cooperation in Education, Sciences and Cooperation. It was formed though a conference held in London in 1945 and finally came into existence in 1946 and got consent of United Nations General Assembly on 14th December 1946.

UNESCO works in brining change in the minds of people such that they develop trust and respect for the process of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms to maintain international peace and security through science, culture and education.

Some of the successful functions performed by UNESCO are:

1. Building youth networks across 9 Mediterranean countries.

2. Preserving 1073 World Heritage sites throughout 167 countries.

3. Early tsunami warning systems throughout the globe.

4. 177 member Intangible heritage convention.

5. Launching world class SEASAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) laboratory in the Middle East.

6. Taking stand for freedom of expression and condemning the killing of journalists.

7. Designating 10 million km2 areas as UNESCO designated.

8. Running the agency with 193 member states, 11 associate members and 11,000 associated schools.

9. Published general history on many subjects worldwide.

10. Efforts for best quality education for all.

11. Migration Museums Initiative promoting establishment of museums and dialogue with communities for exchange and conservation of knowledge.

12. UNESCO CEPES which is an institution promoting higher education in Europe.

13. Free Software Directory in collaboration with Free Software Foundation.

14. UNESCO Goodwill ambassadors.

15. International Council of Science

16. Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies

and many more functions. UNESCO works on a very broad level by partnering not just with states but also, non government organizations, intergovernmental organizations and private sectors. With headquarters in Paris, France it has 199 national commissions and 53 regional field offices.

States that are a part of United Nations can easily become a member of UNESCO but states that are not, require a 2/3 majority in the general conference. UNESCO has three main organs which are explained as under:

1. General Conference

General Conference is where each member state meets through its representatives and this meeting happens twice every year. This organ makes policies. Policies for adopting measures internationally require 2/3 majority whereas matters of less importance like recommendations require only a simple majority of 1/2. This organ through its members elects the members of the Executive Board and Director General for the Secretariat.

2. Executive Board

For four year tenure each, 24 members are elected in the general conference. Executive Board then performs the functions necessary to implement decision taken in the General Conference.

3. Secretariat

Executive Board nominates members as nominations for chief for its operations i.e. Director General. Out of these nominations, the General Conference then elects the Director General. Director General performs his routine leadership functions, attends Executive Board meetings, attend meetings of General Conference and lastly, meetings of the technical committees.

UNESCO organizes events or sponsors events that work for brining changes in the society though education, culture and science to fight important issues in the society like harassment of human rights, preserving regional history and culture, press rights etc.

UNESCO is itself a member of United Nations Development Program which is a coalition of United Nations' agencies for sustainable development. Since this organization works towards upliftment of poor and under privileged sections of the society, members have often taken actions when they did not agree with UNESCO's actions. Actions here include leaving UNESCO, budget cuts, withdrawal etc. UNESCO started a program in 1992 called UNESCO Chairs which worked for advancement of research, training and program development in higher education by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation through collaborations and programs to exchange knowledge. This is an international network of 644 UNESCO Chairs and 770 institutions in 126 countries. UNESCO has agreed on having official relations with 322 Non-government organizations that are international across the globe working in diverse fields and also gives 22 international awards each year