View source for UNESCO

{{Short description|Specialized agency of the United Nations}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| logo_size = 200px
| image = Flag of UNESCO.svg
| name = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
| caption = [[Flag of UNESCO]]
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
|staff=2,341
|staff_year= 2022<ref>https://unsceb.org/hr-organization</ref>
| type = [[List of specialized agencies of the United Nations|United Nations specialized agency]]
| abbreviation = UNESCO
| leader_title = Director-General
| leader_name = [[Audrey Azoulay]]
| leader_title2 = Deputy Director-General
| leader_name2  = [[Xing Qu]]
| status = Active
| formation = {{start date and age|1945|11|16|df=yes}}
| logo = Logo UNESCO 2021.svg
| headquarters = [[Paris]], France
| website = {{official URL}}
| parent_organization = [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]]
| subsidiaries =
| footnotes = {{Portal-inline|Politics|size=tiny}}
}}

The '''United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization''' ('''UNESCO'''; pronounced {{IPAc-en|j|uː|ˈ|n|ɛ|s|k|oʊ}})<ref>{{cite web|title = UNESCO|url = https://en.unesco.org/|website = UNESCO|access-date = 25 September 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130925093242/http://en.unesco.org/|archive-date = 25 September 2013|url-status = live}}</ref>{{Efn|{{langx|fr|link=no|Organisation des Nations unites pour l'éducation, la science et la culture}}}} is a [[List of specialized agencies of the United Nations|specialized agency]] of the [[United Nations]] (UN) with the aim of promoting [[world peace]] and [[International security|security]] through international cooperation in education, arts, [[sciences]] and culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/|title=Introducing UNESCO|publisher=UNESCO|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818121902/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco|archive-date=18 August 2011|access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="history">{{cite web |url = http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/history/ |title = UNESCO history |publisher = UNESCO |access-date = 23 April 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100409011030/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/history/ |archive-date = 9 April 2010 |url-status = live }}</ref> It has [[Member states of UNESCO|194 member states]] and 12 associate members,<ref>{{cite web |title=List of UNESCO members and associates |url=https://en.unesco.org/countries |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815012241/https://en.unesco.org/countries/ |archive-date=15 August 2022 |access-date=23 August 2022 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> as well as partners in the [[Non-governmental organization|non-governmental]], [[Intergovernmental organization|intergovernmental]] and [[private sector]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 June 2013|title=Partnerships|url=https://en.unesco.org/partnerships|access-date=19 August 2020|website=UNESCO|language=en|archive-date=23 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823220827/https://en.unesco.org/partnerships|url-status=live}}</ref> Headquartered in [[Paris]], France, UNESCO has 53 regional field offices<ref>{{Cite web|title=Field offices|url=https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice|access-date=19 August 2020|website=UNESCO|language=en|archive-date=17 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817141658/https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/|url-status=live}}</ref> and 199 national commissions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2012|title=National Commissions |url=https://en.unesco.org/countries/national-commissions |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=UNESCO |language=en |archive-date=22 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822204031/https://en.unesco.org/countries/national-commissions|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1 August 2019 |title=About UNESCO Office for the Pacific States |url=https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/apia/about |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=UNESCO |language=en}}</ref>

UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the [[League of Nations]]' [[International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation]].<ref name="intellectualcooperation">{{cite book|last=Grandjean|first=Martin|url=https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01853903/document|title=Les réseaux de la coopération intellectuelle. La Société des Nations comme actrice des échanges scientifiques et culturels dans l'entre-deux-guerres|date=2018|publisher=Université de Lausanne|location=Lausanne|trans-title=The Networks of Intellectual Cooperation. The League of Nations as an Actor of the Scientific and Cultural Exchanges in the Inter-War Period|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912022034/https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01853903/document|archive-date=12 September 2018|url-status=live}} ([http://www.martingrandjean.ch/the-networks-of-intellectual-cooperation/ English summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322103701/http://www.martingrandjean.ch/the-networks-of-intellectual-cooperation/|date=22 March 2019}}).</ref> UNESCO's founding mission, which was shaped by the events of [[World War II]], is to advance [[peace]], [[sustainable development]] and human rights by facilitating collaboration and dialogue among nations.<ref name="unesdoc.unesco.org">{{Cite web |title=UNESCO. General Conference, 39th, 2017 [892] |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000261751.page=6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409073606/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000261751.page=6 |archive-date=9 April 2020 |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=UNESCO Digital Library}}</ref> It pursues this objective through five major programme areas: education, [[natural science]]s, [[social science|social]]/[[human science]]s, culture and communication/information. UNESCO sponsors projects that improve [[literacy]], provide technical training and education, advance science, protect independent media and [[freedom of the press|press freedom]], preserve [[region]]al and [[cultural history]], and promote [[cultural diversity]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MOFA: Project list of The UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Capacity-building of Human Resources |url=https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/culture/coop/unesco/program/list.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=mofa.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sponsors |url=https://www.climats-bourgogne.com/en/sponsors_30.html |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=climats-bourgogne.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sponsors and Contributors |url=https://www.wcrp-climate.org/sponsors |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=wcrp-climate.org}}</ref> The organization prominently helps establish and secure [[World Heritage Site]]s of [[cultural heritage|cultural]] and [[natural heritage|natural]] importance.<ref>{{cite web|title=UNESCO • General Conference; 34th; Medium-term Strategy, 2008–2013; 2007|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001499/149999e.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728152547/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001499/149999e.pdf|archive-date=28 July 2011|access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref> 

UNESCO is governed by the General Conference composed of member states and associate members, which meets biannually to set the agency's programs and budget. It also elects members of the executive board, which manages UNESCO's work, and appoints every four years a Director-General, who serves as UNESCO's chief administrator.

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== History ==

=== Origins ===

UNESCO and its mandate for international cooperation can be traced back to a [[League of Nations]] resolution on 21 September 1921, to elect a Commission to study the feasibility of having nations freely share cultural, educational and scientific achievements.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = League of Nations | series = Records of the Second Assembly | title = Plenary Meetings | date = 5 September – 5 October 1921 | place = Geneva}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | quote = The [[International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation]] (ICIC) was created on 4 January 1922, as a consultative organ composed of individuals elected based on their personal qualifications. | title = A Chronology of UNESCO: 1945–1987 | url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000790/079049eb.pdf | place = Paris | date = December 1987 | id = LAD.85/WS/4 Rev | series = UNESDOC database | ref = {{Harvid | UNESCO |1987}} | access-date = 13 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110202095140/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0007/000790/079049eb.pdf | archive-date = 2 February 2011 | url-status = live }}.</ref> This new body, the [[International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation]] (ICIC), was created in 1922<ref name="intellectualcooperation"/> and counted such figures as [[Henri Bergson]], [[Albert Einstein]], [[Marie Curie]], [[Robert A. Millikan]], and [[Gonzague de Reynold]] among its members (being thus a small commission of the League of Nations essentially centred on Western Europe<ref>{{Cite journal| last = Grandjean| first = Martin| title = A Representative Organization? Ibero-American Networks in the Committee on Intellectual Cooperation of the League of Nations (1922–1939)| journal = Cultural Organizations, Networks and Mediators in Contemporary Ibero-America| pages = 65–89| date = 2020| doi = 10.4324/9780429299407-4| s2cid = 243387712| url = https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_F8F05A6DBC3C.P001/REF| access-date = 13 August 2020| archive-date = 17 January 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210117191605/https://serval.unil.ch/resource/serval:BIB_F8F05A6DBC3C.P001/REF| url-status = live| doi-access = free}}</ref>). The International Institute for Intellectual Cooperation (IIIC) was then created in Paris in September 1924, to act as the executing agency for the ICIC.<ref>{{Citation | publisher = United Nations library resources | title = International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation | date = 1930 | url = https://libraryresources.unog.ch/ld.php?content_id=31390699 | access-date = 27 March 2021 | archive-date = 19 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210819035239/https://libraryresources.unog.ch/ld.php?content_id=31390699 | url-status = live }}</ref> However, the onset of [[World War II]] largely interrupted the work of these predecessor organizations.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hamen |first1=Susan E |last2=Wilson |first2=Theodore A |title=The Great Depression and World War II : 1929–1945|year=2014|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company |isbn=978-1-62403-178-6|oclc=870724668}}</ref> As for private initiatives, the [[International Bureau of Education]] (IBE) began to work as a [[non-governmental]] organization in the service of international educational development since December 1925{{Sfn | UNESCO | 1987}} and joined UNESCO in 1969, after having established a joint commission in 1952.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IBE — Digital Collections — IBE History, 1925-1969 |url=https://digitalcollections.ibe-unesco.org/about/ibe-history/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=IBE — Digital Collections |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Creation ===

After the signing of the [[Atlantic Charter]] and the [[Declaration of the United Nations]], the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME) began meetings in London which continued from 16 November 1942 to 5 December 1945. On 30 October 1943, the necessity for an international organization was expressed in the Moscow Declaration, agreed upon by [[Nationalist government|China]], the United Kingdom, the United States and the USSR. This was followed by the [[Dumbarton Oaks Conference]] proposals of 9 October 1944. Upon the proposal of CAME and in accordance with the recommendations of the [[United Nations Conference on International Organization]] (UNCIO), held in San Francisco from April to June 1945, a United Nations Conference for the establishment of an educational and cultural organization (ECO/CONF) was convened in London from 1 to 16 November 1945 with 44 governments represented. The idea of UNESCO was largely developed by [[Rab Butler]], the [[Minister of Education]] for the United Kingdom, who had a great deal of influence in its development.<ref>[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/lords/1949/jan/26/the-work-of-unesco The work of U.N.E.S.C.O. (Hansard, 26 January 1949)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019103837/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1949/jan/26/the-work-of-unesco |date=19 October 2017 }}. Millbank systems. Retrieved 12 July 2013.</ref> At the ECO/CONF, the Constitution of UNESCO was introduced and signed by 37 countries, and a Preparatory Commission was established.<ref>{{cite web | ref = {{Harvid | Unesco | 1945}} | url = http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001176/117626e.pdf | title = United Nations Conference for the Establishment of an Educational and Cultural Organisation. Conference for the Establishment of an Educational and Cultural Organisation | place = The Institute of Civil Engineers, London | date = 1–16 November 1945 | id = ECO/Conf./29 | series = UNESDOC database | access-date = 8 June 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120315024012/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001176/117626e.pdf | archive-date = 15 March 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref> The Preparatory Commission operated between 16 November 1945, and 4 November 1946 — the date when UNESCO's Constitution came into force with the deposit of the twentieth ratification by a member state.{{Sfn | Unesco | 1945}}

The first General Conference took place from 19 November to 10 December 1946, and elected [[Julian Huxley]] to Director-General.<ref>{{cite conference|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001145/114580e.pdf |publisher=UNESCO |year=1947 |title=General Conference, First Session |place=UNESCO House, Paris |at=Item 14, p. 73 |series=UNESDOC database |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904090227/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001145/114580e.pdf |archive-date=4 September 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> United States Army colonel, university president and [[civil rights]] advocate [[Blake R. Van Leer]] joined as a member as well.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3N_KlLQISQMC&dq=blake+%22van+leer%22&pg=PA35|title=Summary Minutes of Meetings 1956|year=1956|publisher=United States National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.|access-date=27 December 2021|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209082914/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Summary_Minutes_of_Meeting/3N_KlLQISQMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=blake+%22van+leer%22&pg=PA35&printsec=frontcover|url-status=live}}</ref> The Constitution was amended in November 1954 when the General Conference resolved that members of the executive board would be representatives of the governments of the States of which they are nationals and would not, as before, act in their personal capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001145/114586e.pdf |title=Records of the General Conference, Eighth Session |website=UNESCO Digital Library |access-date=13 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202095202/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001145/114586e.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> This change in governance distinguished UNESCO from its predecessor, the ICIC, in how member states would work together in the organization's fields of competence. As member states worked together over time to realize UNESCO's mandate, political and historical factors have shaped the organization's operations in particular during the [[Cold War]], the [[decolonization]] process, and the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]].<ref>{{Citation|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203307434_chapter_2|work=United Nations Peacekeeping in the Post-Cold War Era|pages=23–45|place=Abingdon, UK|publisher=Taylor & Francis|doi=10.4324/9780203307434_chapter_2|isbn=978-0-203-30743-4|access-date=17 September 2020|title=Peacekeeping in the Cold War/Post-Cold War|year=2005|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312003333/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/united-nations-peacekeeping-post-cold-war-era-john-terence-neill-nick-rees/10.4324/9780203307434|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Schmidt, Christopher.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/650842164|title=Into the heart of darkness : cosmopolitanism vs. realism and the Democratic Republic of Congo|date=2010|oclc=650842164|access-date=17 September 2020|archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312003433/https://www.worldcat.org/title/into-the-heart-of-darkness-cosmopolitanism-vs-realism-and-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/oclc/650842164|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Development ===
Among the major achievements of the organization is its work against racism, for example through influential [[The Race Question|statements on race]] starting with a declaration of anthropologists (among them was [[Claude Lévi-Strauss]]) and other scientists in 1950 and concluding with the 1978 [[The Race Question#Legacy and other UNESCO statements|Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Claude Lévi-Strauss and UNESCO |first=Wiktor |last=Stoczkowski |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000162769 |access-date=2024-07-26 |journal=The UNESCO Courier |publisher=UNESCO |location=Paris, France |date=2008 |number=5 |issn=1993-8616}}</ref>

In 1955, the [[Republic of South Africa]] withdrew from UNESCO saying that some of the organization's publications amounted to "interference" in the country's "racial problems".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apartheid: its effects on education, science, culture and information |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000002428 |access-date=2024-07-26 |date=1967 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> It rejoined the organization in 1994 under the leadership of [[Nelson Mandela]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson, Leonard Monteath |title=A history of South Africa|date=January 2001|isbn=978-0-300-12806-2|edition=Third|location=New Haven|oclc=560542020 |publisher=Yale University Press }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Nygren|first=Thomas|title=UNESCO Teaches History: Implementing International Understanding in Sweden|date=2016|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-58120-4_11|work=A History of UNESCO|pages=201–230|place=London|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|doi=10.1007/978-1-137-58120-4_11|isbn=978-1-349-84528-6|access-date=17 September 2020|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209082907/https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-137-58120-4_11|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of the early work of UNESCO in the education field was a pilot project on fundamental education in the Marbial Valley, Haiti, which was launched in 1947. Following this project one of expert missions to other countries, included a 1949 mission to Afghanistan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=UNESCO at 74: An overview of its laudable progress |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/reviews/unesco-at-74-an-overview-of-its-laudable-progress-1573916648 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=The Financial Express}}</ref> UNESCO recommended in 1948 that Member countries should make free primary education [[compulsory education|compulsory]] and universal.<ref name=":0" /> The [[The 1990 World Conference on Education for All |World Conference on Education for All]], in [[Jomtien]], Thailand, started a global movement in 1990 to provide basic education for all children, youths and adults.<ref name=":0" /> In 2000, [[World Education Forum]] in [[Dakar]], Senegal, led member governments to commit for achieving basic education for all in 2015.<ref name=":0" />

The [[World Declaration on Higher Education]] was adopted by UNESCO's World Conference on Higher Education on 9 October 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000141952|title=World Declaration On Higher Education For The Twenty-First Century: Vision And Action |publisher=UNESCO |date=1998-10-09 |access-date=2012-11-12}}</ref> with the aim of setting global standards on the ideals and accessibility of [[higher education]].

UNESCO's early activities in culture included the [[International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia]], launched in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monuments of Nubia-International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/172/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> The purpose of the campaign was to move the Great Temple of [[Abu Simbel]] to keep it from being swamped by the Nile after the construction of the [[Aswan Dam]]. During the 20-year campaign, 22 monuments and architectural complexes were relocated. This was the first and largest in a series of campaigns including [[Mohenjo-daro]] (Pakistan), [[Fes]] (Morocco), [[Kathmandu]] (Nepal), [[Borobudur]] (Indonesia) and the [[Acropolis of Athens]] (Greece).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Nagaoka|first=Masanori|title=Cultural landscape management at Borobudur, Indonesia|date=2016|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-42046-2|oclc=957437019}}</ref> The organization's work on heritage led to the adoption, in 1972, of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World Heritage Convention |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/convention/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> In 1976, the [[World Heritage Committee]] was established and the first sites were included on the [[World Heritage List]] in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=41st Session of the World Heritage Committee |publisher=The City of Krakow |url=https://www.krakow.pl/krakow_open_city/see_also___/211447,339,komunikat,41st_session_of_the_world_heritage_committee_.html |date=18 August 2017 |access-date=2024-07-26}}</ref> Since then important legal instruments on cultural heritage and diversity have been adopted by UNESCO member states in 2003 (Convention for the Safeguarding of the [[Intangible Cultural Heritage]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention |access-date=2024-07-26 |publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> and 2005 ([[Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/convention-protection-and-promotion-diversity-cultural-expressions |title=Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref>

An intergovernmental meeting of UNESCO in Paris in December 1951 led to the creation of the [[European Council for Nuclear Research]], which was responsible for establishing the [[European Organization for Nuclear Research]] (CERN)<ref>{{Cite web |title=About CERN |url=https://home.cern/about |access-date=2024-07-26 |publisher=[[CERN]]}}</ref> later on, in 1954.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=25 November 2020 |title=UNESCO must reform to stay relevant – and reconnect people through science |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03311-3 |journal=Nature |volume=587 |issue=7835 |pages=521–522 |doi=10.1038/d41586-020-03311-3|pmid=33239811 |bibcode=2020Natur.587..521. |s2cid=227176079 }}</ref>

Arid Zone programming, 1948–1966, is another example of an early major UNESCO project in the field of natural sciences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO in the Making |url=https://en.geneva.unesco.org/70years/unesco_making |year=2019 |access-date=16 August 2024 |publisher=UNESCO |location=Paris, France}}</ref>

In 1968, UNESCO organized the first intergovernmental conference aimed at reconciling the environment and development, a problem that continues to be addressed in the field of [[sustainable development]]. The main outcome of the 1968 conference was the creation of UNESCO's [[Man and the Biosphere Programme]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000677/067785eo.pdf |title=Use and conservation of the biosphere: Proceedings of the intergovernmental conference of experts on the scientific basis for rational use and conservation of the resources of the biosphere, Paris, 4–13 September 1968 |date=1970 |journal=Natural Resources Research |volume=X  |access-date=8 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407031659/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0006/000677/067785eo.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

UNESCO has been credited with the diffusion of national science bureaucracies.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Finnemore|first=Martha|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt1rv61rh|title=National Interests in International Society|date=1996|publisher=Cornell University Press|pages=4|jstor=10.7591/j.ctt1rv61rh|isbn=978-0-8014-8323-3 |access-date=11 May 2021|archive-date=1 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601221422/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt1rv61rh|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the field of communication, the "free flow of ideas by word and image" has been in UNESCO's constitution since it was established, following the experience of the Second World War when control of information was a factor in indoctrinating populations for aggression.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: Seeds of Peace, Weeds of War |url=https://irpj.euclid.int/articles/united-nations-educational-scientific-and-cultural-organization-seeds-of-peace-weeds-of-war/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=IRPJ = Intergovernmental Research and Policy Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> In the years immediately following World War II, efforts were concentrated on reconstruction and on the identification of needs for means of mass communication around the world. UNESCO started organizing training and education for journalists in the 1950s.<ref name=":1" /> In response to calls for a "[[New World Information and Communication Order]]" in the late 1970s, UNESCO established the International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |chapter=UNESCO and the promotion of cultural exchange and cultural diversity |last1=Wouters |first1=Jan |last2=Vidal |first2=Maarten |pages=147–169 |title=Normative Action in Education, Science and Culture – Essays in Commemoration of the Sixtieth Anniversary of UNESCO |volume=1 |series=Standard-Setting in UNESCO |date=29 June 1905 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000156697 |publisher=UNESCO Publishing |access-date=2024-07-26 |isbn=978-92-3-104067-2}}</ref> which produced the 1980 [[MacBride report]] (named after the chair of the commission, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate [[Seán MacBride]]).<ref name=":2" /> The same year, UNESCO created the [[International Programme for the Development of Communication]] (IPDC), a multilateral forum designed to promote media development in developing countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/international-programme-development-communication/about |title=
International Programme for the Development of Communication – About |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref> In 1993, UNESCO's General Conference endorsed the [[Windhoek Declaration]] on [[media independence]] and pluralism, which led the UN General Assembly to declare the date of its adoption, 3 May, as [[World Press Freedom Day]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Press Freedom Day  |url=https://www.un.org/en/observances/press-freedom-day |access-date=2024-07-26 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref> Since 1997, UNESCO has awarded the [[UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize|UNESCO / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize]] every 3 May.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize? |url=https://www.manoramayearbook.in/current-affairs/world/2024/05/03/unesco-guillermo-cano-world-press-freedom-prize.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.manoramayearbook.in}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===

UNESCO admitted Palestine as a member in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/general_conference_admits_palestine_as_unesco_member_state/|title = General Conference admits Palestine as UNESCO Member|date = 31 October 2011|access-date = 11 December 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111214135140/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/general_conference_admits_palestine_as_unesco_member_state/|archive-date = 14 December 2011|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/8860951/US-withdraws-Unesco-funding-after-it-accepts-Palestinian-membership.html |title = US withdraws Unesco funding after it accepts Palestinian membership |first = Adrian |last = Blomfield |work = The Telegraph |date = 31 October 2011 |access-date = 31 October 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111101190549/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/8860951/US-withdraws-Unesco-funding-after-it-accepts-Palestinian-membership.html |archive-date = 1 November 2011 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Laws passed in the United States after Palestine applied for UNESCO and [[World Health Organization|WHO]] membership in April 1989<ref name="Sakran2019">{{cite book|author=Shadi Sakran|title=The Legal Consequences of Limited Statehood: Palestine in Multilateral Frameworks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bk7ADwAAQBAJ&pg=PT64|date=26 November 2019|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-00-076357-7|pages=64–|access-date=27 February 2020|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224172201/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bk7ADwAAQBAJ&pg=PT64|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000082711_eng Request for the admission of the State of Palestine to UNESCO as a Member State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413024831/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000082711_eng |date=13 April 2020 }}, UNESCO Executive Board, 131st, 1989</ref> mean that the United States cannot contribute financially to any UN organization that accepts Palestine as a full member.<ref>The laws originated in {{USBill|101|hr|2145}} and {{USBill|101|s|875}}; for further details, see committee discussions at: {{cite book|author=United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations|title=The PLO's Efforts to Obtain Statehood Status at the World Health Organization and Other International Organizations: Hearing and Markup Before the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, First Session, on H.R. 2145, May 4, 1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sel5XgE6eGQC|year=1989|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|access-date=27 February 2020|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819213216/https://books.google.com/books?id=Sel5XgE6eGQC|url-status=live}}. The texts of the House and Senate resolutions were subsequently put into the following laws: {{USBill|101|hr|3743}} (which produced {{USPL|101|246}}), {{USBill|102|hr|5368}}, {{USBill|103|hr|2295}} and finally {{USBill|103|hr|2333}} (which produced {{USPL|103|236}}). See also: {{cite book|last=Beattie|first=Kirk|title=Congress and the Shaping of the Middle East|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gEMJAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT287|date=3 May 2016|publisher=Seven Stories Press|isbn=978-1-60980-562-3|page=287 online|quote=...1989 Senate and House efforts like... Senate Resolution 875 and House Resolution 2145, both of which contained language similar to that found in the public laws of 1990 and 1994. Sen. [[Bob Kasten|Robert Kasten, Jr.]] (R-WI) was the primary sponsor of S 875, and Rep. [[Tom Lantos]] sponsored HR 2145. In a nutshell, recognition by any UN body of the Palestinians' right to statehood or its achievement of statehood status would trigger a suspension of US funding to the "offending" UN body under these laws.|access-date=27 February 2020|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819091928/https://books.google.com/books?id=gEMJAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT287|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=U.S. stops UNESCO funding over Palestinian vote|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-unesco-usa-funding/u-s-stops-unesco-funding-over-palestinian-vote-idUSTRE79U5ED20111031|work=Reuters|date=31 October 2011|access-date=26 February 2020|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226162636/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-unesco-usa-funding/u-s-stops-unesco-funding-over-palestinian-vote-idUSTRE79U5ED20111031|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, the United States withdrew its funding, which had accounted for about 22% of UNESCO's budget.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/world/middleeast/unesco-approves-full-membership-for-palestinians.html |title= Unesco Approves Full Membership for Palestinians |first1= Steven |last1= Erlanger |first2= Scott |last2= Sayare |work= The New York Times |date= 31 October 2011 |access-date= 31 October 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111031171156/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/world/middleeast/unesco-approves-full-membership-for-palestinians.html |archive-date= 31 October 2011 |url-status= live }}</ref> Israel also reacted to Palestine's admittance to UNESCO by freezing Israeli payments to UNESCO and imposing sanctions on the [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]],<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/after-unesco-vote-israeli-sanctions-on-palestinian-authority-anger-u-s-1.393600|title= After UNESCO vote, Israeli sanctions on Palestinian Authority anger U.S.|work= Haaretz|date= 4 November 2011|access-date= 11 December 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111207205936/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/after-unesco-vote-israeli-sanctions-on-palestinian-authority-anger-u-s-1.393600|archive-date= 7 December 2011|url-status= live}}</ref> stating that Palestine's admittance would be detrimental "to potential peace talks".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-03/middleeast/world_meast_israel-unesco_1_unesco-palestinian-bid-palestinian-state?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST |publisher=CNN|title=Israel freezes UNESCO funds |date=3 December 2011 |access-date=11 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106053150/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-03/middleeast/world_meast_israel-unesco_1_unesco-palestinian-bid-palestinian-state?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST |archive-date=6 November 2011 }}</ref> Two years after stopping payment of its dues to UNESCO, the United States and Israel lost UNESCO voting rights in 2013 without losing the right to be elected; thus, the United States was elected as a member of the executive board for the period 2016–19.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-unesco-idUSBRE9A70I320131108 | title= U.S., Israel lose voting rights at UNESCO over Palestine row | work= Reuters| date= 8 November 2013 | access-date= 29 June 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140709192541/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/08/us-unesco-idUSBRE9A70I320131108 | archive-date= 9 July 2014 | url-status= live }}</ref> In 2019, Israel left UNESCO after 69 years of membership, with Israel's ambassador to the UN [[Danny Danon]] writing: "UNESCO is the body that continually rewrites history, including by erasing the Jewish connection to Jerusalem... it is corrupted and manipulated by Israel's enemies... we are not going to be a member of an organisation that deliberately acts against us".<ref>{{Cite web|title="69 years after joining, Israel formally leaves UNESCO; so, too, does the US" – The Times of Israel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/69-years-after-joining-israel-formally-leaves-un-cultural-body/|access-date=2 February 2021|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|archive-date=30 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230161001/https://www.timesofisrael.com/69-years-after-joining-israel-formally-leaves-un-cultural-body/|url-status=live}}</ref>

2023 saw Russia excluded from the executive committee for the first time, after failing to get sufficient votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Russia not elected to UNESCO Executive Board for the first time |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russia-not-elected-to-unesco-executive-board-for-the-first-time/ |date=15 November 2023}}</ref>
The United States stated its intent to rejoin UNESCO in 2023, 5 years after leaving, and to pay its $600 million in back dues.<ref name="usa2023">{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/unesco-us-rejoin-palestine-china-5b7849bd2cae966e4e9837380c0c094f |first=Angela |last=Charlton |date=2023-06-12 |accessdate=2024-09-26 |language=en-US |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |title=US decides to rejoin UNESCO and pay back dues, to counter Chinese influence}}</ref> The United States was readmitted by the [[UNESCO General Conference]] that July.<ref name="uspbs">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-formally-rejoins-unesco-5-years-after-withdraw |title=U.S. formally rejoins UNESCO 5 years after withdraw |last=Lee |first=Matthew |website=[[PBS]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=2024-09-26 |accessdate=2023-07-11}}</ref>

== Activities ==

[[File:UNESCO Brasília Office.jpg|thumb|UNESCO offices in [[Brasília]]]]

UNESCO implements its activities through five programme areas: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/fieldoffice/newdelhi/expertise |title=Expertise |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=9 August 2024}}</ref>
* UNESCO supports research in [[comparative education]], provides expertise and fosters partnerships to strengthen national educational leadership and the capacity of countries to offer quality education for all. This includes the
** [[UNESCO Chairs]], an international network of 644 UNESCO chairs, involving more than 770 institutions in 126 countries
** Environmental Conservation Organization
** [[Convention against Discrimination in Education]] adopted in 1960
** Organization of the International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) in an interval of 12 years
** Publication of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report
** Publication of the ''Four Pillars of Learning'' seminal document
** [[UNESCO ASPNet]], an international network of more than 12,000 schools in 182 countries

UNESCO does not accredit institutions of higher learning.<ref>Because [[diploma mill]]s have falsely claimed UNESCO accreditation, UNESCO itself has published warnings against education organizations that claim UNESCO recognition or affiliation. See Luca Lantero, [http://www.cimea.it/files/fileusers/Diploma_mills_Luca_Lantero_EN.pdf Degree Mills: non-accredited and irregular higher education institutions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513185433/http://www.cimea.it/files/fileusers/Diploma_mills_Luca_Lantero_EN.pdf |date=13 May 2015 }}, [[Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence|Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence (CIMEA)]], Italy. and [http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090521152755/http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=48787&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html UNESCO "Alert: Misuse of UNESCO Name by Bogus Institutions"]</ref>
* UNESCO also issues public statements to educate the public:
** [[Seville Statement on Violence]]: A statement adopted by UNESCO in 1989 to refute the notion that humans are biologically predisposed to organized violence.
* Designating projects and places of cultural and scientific significance, such as:
** [[Global Geoparks Network]]
** [[Biosphere reserve]]s, through the [[Programme on Man and the Biosphere]] (MAB), since 1971
** [[City of Literature]]; in 2007, the first city to be given this title was [[Edinburgh]], the site of Scotland's first [[circulating library]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Varga, Susan |title=Edinburgh Old Town (Images of Scotland) |publisher=The History Press Ltd |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7524-4083-5 }}</ref> In 2008, Iowa City, Iowa, became the City of Literature.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Iowa City, nation's only 'UNESCO City of Literature' disappointed over withdrawal|url=https://www.thegazette.com/nation-world/iowa-city-nations-only-unesco-city-of-literature-disappointed-over-withdrawal/ |first1=Mitchell |last1=Schmidt |date=12 October 2017 |access-date=23 September 2021|website=The Gazette |language=en-US|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209082906/https://www.thegazette.com/nation-world/iowa-city-nations-only-unesco-city-of-literature-disappointed-over-withdrawal/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Phipps|first=Kinsey|title=Iowa City grows after 10 years as City of Literature|url=https://dailyiowan.com/2018/12/09/iowa-city-grows-after-10-years-as-city-of-literature/ |date= 9 December 2018 |access-date=23 September 2021|website=The Daily Iowan|archive-date=11 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211133329/https://dailyiowan.com/2018/12/09/iowa-city-grows-after-10-years-as-city-of-literature/|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[Endangered language]]s and [[linguistic diversity]] projects (''[[UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]]'')
** [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]
** [[Memory of the World]] International Register, since 1997
** [[Water resources management]], through the [[International Hydrological Programme]] (IHP), since 1965
** [[World Heritage Site]]s
** [[World Digital Library]]
* Encouraging the "free flow of ideas by images and words" by:
** Promoting [[freedom of expression]], including [[freedom of the press]] and [[freedom of information legislation]], through the Division of Freedom of Expression and Media Development,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-freedom-expression|title=Fostering Freedom of Expression|website=UNESCO|access-date=19 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210053749/https://en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-freedom-expression|archive-date=10 December 2019|url-status=deviated }}</ref> including the [[International Programme for the Development of Communication]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/ipdc/homepage|title=International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618011854/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/ipdc/homepage|archive-date=18 June 2017|url-status=dead }}</ref>
** Promoting the [[safety of journalists]] and combatting impunity for those who attack them,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/themes/safety-journalists|title=Safety of Journalists|website=UNESCO|access-date=19 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120131159/https://en.unesco.org/themes/safety-journalists|archive-date=20 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> through coordination of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/freedom-of-expression/safety-of-journalists/un-plan-of-action/|title=UN Plan of Action |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811103326/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/freedom-of-expression/safety-of-journalists/un-plan-of-action|archive-date=11 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Promoting universal access to and preservation of information and open solutions for sustainable development through the Knowledge Societies Division,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/themes/building-knowledge-societies|title=Building Knowledge Societies|website=UNESCO|access-date=19 December 2016|date=18 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116181422/https://en.unesco.org/themes/building-knowledge-societies|archive-date=16 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[Memory of the World Programme]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-world/homepage/|title=Memory of the World |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710050933/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-world/homepage|archive-date=10 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Information for All Programme (IFAP)|Information for All Programme]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/information-for-all-programme-ifap/|title=Information for All Programme (IFAP) |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910112204/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/information-for-all-programme-ifap/|archive-date=10 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Promoting [[Pluralism (political philosophy)|pluralism]], [[gender equality]] and [[cultural diversity]] in the media
** Promoting [[Internet Universality]] and its principles, that the Internet should be (I) [[Human rights|human Rights]]-based, (ii) Open, (iii) [[Accessibility|Accessible]] to all, and (iv) nurtured by [[Multistakeholder governance model|Multi-stakeholder]] participation (summarized as the acronym R.O.A.M.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/crosscutting-priorities/unesco-internet-study/internet-universality/|title=Internet Universality |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728033751/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/crosscutting-priorities/unesco-internet-study/internet-universality/|archive-date=28 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
** Generating knowledge through publications such as ''World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/world-media-trends|title=World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826003315/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/world-media-trends|archive-date=26 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> the UNESCO Series on Internet Freedom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/publications-and-communication-materials/publications/publications-by-series/unesco-series-on-internet-freedom|title=UNESCO Series on Internet Freedom |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821161616/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/resources/publications-and-communication-materials/publications/publications-by-series/unesco-series-on-internet-freedom|archive-date=21 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Media Development Indicators,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/ipdc/initiatives/media-development-indicators-mdis/|title=Media Development Indicators (MDIs) |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612042809/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/intergovernmental-programmes/ipdc/initiatives/media-development-indicators-mdis/|archive-date=12 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as other indicator-based studies.
* Promoting events, such as:
** [[International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World]]: 2001–2010, proclaimed by the UN in 1998
** [[World Press Freedom Day]], 3 May each year, to promote [[freedom of expression]] and [[freedom of the press]] as a basic human right and as crucial components of any healthy, democratic and free society.
** ''Criança Esperança'' in Brazil, in partnership with [[Rede Globo]], to raise funds for community-based projects that foster social integration and violence prevention.
** [[International Literacy Day]], 8 September each year
** [[International Year for the Culture of Peace]], 2000
** Health Education for Behavior Change programme in partnership with the Ministry of Education of [[Kenya]] which was financially supported by the Government of [[Azerbaijan]] to promote health education among 10-19-year-old young people who live in informal camp in [[Kibera]], Nairobi. The project was carried out between September 2014 – December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/media-services/single-view/news/promoting_health_education_among_youth_in_nairobis_kibera/|title=Promouvoir l'éducation à la santé chez les jeunes du campement informel de Kibera à Nairobi {{!}} Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'éducation, la science et la culture|website=unesco.org|language=fr|access-date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820102139/http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/media-services/single-view/news/promoting_health_education_among_youth_in_nairobis_kibera|archive-date=20 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development]] 21 May each year
* Founding and funding projects, such as:
** [[Migration Museums]] Initiative: Promoting the establishment of museums for cultural dialogue with migrant populations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationmuseums.org/web/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305005432/http://www.migrationmuseums.org/web/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 March 2007 |title=Migration Institutions – Home |publisher=Migrationmuseums.org |access-date=23 April 2010 }}</ref>
** [[UNESCO-CEPES]], the European Centre for Higher Education: established in 1972 in Bucharest, Romania, as a decentralized office to promote international co-operation in higher education in Europe as well as Canada, USA and Israel. ''Higher Education in Europe'' is its official journal.
** [[Free Software Directory]]: since 1998 UNESCO and the [[Free Software Foundation]] have jointly funded this project cataloguing [[free software]].
** [[FRESH, UNESCO|FRESH]], Focusing Resources on [[School health services|Effective School Health]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=35173&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |title=Education &#124; EDUCATION – |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006100958/http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D35173%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=6 October 2009 }}</ref>
** [[OANA]], Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies
** [[International Council of Science]]
** [[UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador]]s
** [[ASOMPS]], Asian Symposium on Medicinal Plants and Spices, a series of scientific conferences held in Asia
** [[Botany 2000]], a programme supporting taxonomy, and [[biodiversity|biological]] and [[cultural diversity]] of medicinal and ornamental plants, and their protection against [[environmental pollution]]
** The [[UNESCO Collection of Representative Works]], translating works of world literature both to and from multiple languages, from 1948 to 2005
** [[GoUNESCO]], an umbrella of initiatives to make heritage fun supported by UNESCO, New Delhi Office<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gounesco.com/unesco-new-delhi-support-gounesco/|title=Official support for GoUNESCO from UNESCO New Delhi|date=24 March 2014|website=GoUNESCO – Make Heritage Fun!|language=en-US|access-date=15 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815083136/https://www.gounesco.com/unesco-new-delhi-support-gounesco/|archive-date=15 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[UNESCO-CHIC BIRUP]], UNESCO-CHIC Group (China) Biosphere Rural and Urbanization Programme<ref name="UNESCO-CHIC Biosphere Integrated Rural Urbanization Project (BIRUP)">[http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/unesco_chic_biosphere_integrated_rural_urbanization_project_birup/], UNESCO-CHIC Biosphere Integrated Rural Urbanization Project (BIRUP).</ref>

The UNESCO transparency portal<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNESCO Transparency Portal|url=https://opendata.unesco.org/en/|access-date=1 March 2021|website=opendata.unesco.org|archive-date=10 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510034410/https://opendata.unesco.org/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> has been designed to enable public [[access to information]] regarding the Organization's activities, such as its aggregate budget for a biennium, as well as links to relevant programmatic and financial documents. These two distinct sets of information are published on the [[International Aid Transparency Initiative|IATI]] registry, respectively based on the IATI Activity Standard and the IATI Organization Standard.

There have been proposals to establish two new UNESCO lists. The first proposed list will focus on movable cultural heritage such as artifacts, paintings, and biofacts. The list may include cultural objects, such as the [[Jōmon Venus]] of Japan, the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' of France, the [[Gebel el-Arak Knife]] of [[Egypt]], ''[[The Ninth Wave]]'' of Russia, the [[Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük]] of Turkey, the [[David (Michelangelo)|''David'' (Michelangelo)]] of Italy, the [[Mathura Herakles]] of India, the [[Manunggul Jar]] of the Philippines, the [[Crown of Baekje]] of South Korea, ''[[The Hay Wain]]'' of the United Kingdom and the [[Benin Bronzes]] of Nigeria. The second proposed list will focus on the world's living species, such as the [[komodo dragon]] of Indonesia, the [[panda]] of China, the [[bald eagle]] of North American countries, the [[aye-aye]] of Madagascar, the [[Asiatic lion]] of India, the [[kākāpō]] of New Zealand, and the [[mountain tapir]] of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/cairo/culture/tangible-cultural-heritage/|title=Tangible Cultural Heritage – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|website=unesco.org|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319084612/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/cairo/culture/tangible-cultural-heritage/|archive-date=19 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/114908|title=UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Document – Discovered artifacts under preservation, Archaeological Site, 18 Hoang Dieu street|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=whc.unesco.org|access-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103001256/https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/114908/|archive-date=3 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Media ==

UNESCO and its specialized institutions issue a number of magazines.

Created in 1945, ''[[The UNESCO Courier]]'' magazine states its mission to "promote UNESCO's ideals, maintain a platform for the dialogue between cultures and provide a forum for international debate". Since March 2006 it has been available free online, with limited printed issues. Its articles express the opinions of the authors which are not necessarily the opinions of UNESCO. There was a hiatus in publishing between 2012 and 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/courier/archives|title=Archives|website=The UNESCO Courier|publisher=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=14 November 2018|date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224552/https://en.unesco.org/courier/archives|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1950, UNESCO initiated the quarterly review ''Impact of Science on Society'' (also known as ''Impact'') to discuss the influence of science on society. The journal ceased publication in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.unesco.org/education/nfsunesco/brochure/E29.PDF |title = Science and Technology Education |publisher = UNESCO |date = 1998 |access-date = 23 June 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160813140445/http://www.unesco.org/education/nfsunesco/brochure/E29.PDF |archive-date = 13 August 2016 |url-status = live }}</ref> UNESCO also published Museum International Quarterly from the year 1948.

== Official UNESCO NGOs ==

UNESCO has official relations with 322 [[international non-governmental organization]]s (NGOs).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ngo-db.unesco.org/s/or/en |title=Quoted on UNESCO official site |publisher=Ngo-db.unesco.org |access-date=1 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625221827/http://ngo-db.unesco.org/s/or/en |archive-date=25 June 2012 }}</ref> Most of these are what UNESCO calls "operational"; a select few are "formal".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=35293&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |title=Full list of NGOs that have official relations with UNESCO |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623000619/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D35293%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The highest form of affiliation to UNESCO is "formal associate", and the 22 NGOs<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ngo-db.unesco.org/s/or/en |title=UNESCO Headquarters Committee 107th session 13 Feb 2009 |publisher=Ngo-db.unesco.org |access-date=1 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625221827/http://ngo-db.unesco.org/s/or/en |archive-date=25 June 2012 }}</ref> with ''formal associate'' (ASC) relations occupying offices at UNESCO are:

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Abbr
! Organization
|-
| IB || [[International Baccalaureate]]
|-
| CCIVS || Co-ordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service
|-
| CIPSH || [[International Council for Philosophy and Humanistic Studies]] (''Conseil International de Philosophie et des Sciences Humaines''; publishes [[Diogenes (journal)|Diogenes]])
|-
| CIOFF || [[International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts]] (''Conseil International des Organisations de Festivals de Folklore et d'Arts Traditionnels'')
|-
| EI || [[Education International]]
|-
| IAU || [[International Association of Universities]]
|-
| IFTC || [[International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication]]
|-
| ICOM || [[International Council of Museums]]
|-
| ICSSPE || [[International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education]]
|-
| ICA || [[International Council on Archives]]
|-
| ICOMOS || [[International Council on Monuments and Sites]]
|-
| IFJ || [[International Federation of Journalists]]
|-
| IFLA || [[International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions]]
|-
| IFPA || International Federation of Poetry Associations
|-
| IMC || [[International Music Council]]
|-
| IPA || [[International Police Association]]
|-
| INSULA || International Scientific Council for Island Development
|-
| ISC || [[International Science Council]] (formerly [[International Council for Science|ICSU]] and [[International Social Science Council|ISSC]])
|-
| ITI || [[International Theatre Institute]]
|-
| IUCN || [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources]]
|-
| IUTAO || International Union of Technical Associations and Organizations
|-
| UIA || [[Union of International Associations]]
|-
| WAN || [[World Association of Newspapers]]
|-
| WFEO || [[World Federation of Engineering Organizations]]
|-
| WFUCA || World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations
|}

[[File:Unesco-IHE.JPG|thumb|[[UNESCO-IHE|UNESCO Institute for Water Education]] in [[Delft]]]]

== Institutes and centres ==

The institutes are specialized departments of the organization that support UNESCO's programme, providing specialized support for cluster and national offices.

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Abbr
! Name
! Location
|-
| IBE
| [[International Bureau of Education]]
| [[Geneva]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibe.unesco.org/en|title=International Bureau of Education|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224448/http://www.ibe.unesco.org/en|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| UIL
| [[UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning]]
| [[Hamburg]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uil.unesco.org/unesco-institute|website=UIL – UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning|title=About the Institute|access-date=14 November 2018|date=29 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224304/http://uil.unesco.org/unesco-institute|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| IIEP
| [[UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning]]
| Paris (headquarters) and [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Dakar]] (regional offices)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iiep.unesco.org/|title=IIEP UNESCO|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119121935/http://www.iiep.unesco.org/|archive-date=19 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| IITE
| UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education
| Moscow<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iite.unesco.org/contact-us/|website=UNESCO IITE|title=Contact Us|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224424/https://iite.unesco.org/contact-us/|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| IICBA
| UNESCO International Institute for [[Capacity Building]] in Africa
| [[Addis Ababa]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iicba.unesco.org/?q=node/146|title=Contact Us|publisher=UNESCO|website=IICBA|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224657/http://www.iicba.unesco.org/?q=node%2F146|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| IESALC
| UNESCO International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean
| [[Caracas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2030&Itemid=1411&lang=en|title=Contact Us|publisher=UNESCO|website=IESALC|language=es|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224903/http://www.iesalc.unesco.org.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2030&Itemid=1411&lang=en|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| MGIEP
| [[Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development]]
| New Delhi<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mgiep.unesco.org|title=Building Social and Emotional Learning for Education 2030|publisher=UNESCO|website=UNESCO MGIEP|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092511/https://mgiep.unesco.org/|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| UNESCO-UNEVOC
| [[UNESCO-UNEVOC|UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training]]
| [[Bonn]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unevoc.unesco.org/go.php?q=page_contact|title=UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224349/https://unevoc.unesco.org/go.php?q=page_contact|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ICWRGC
| International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change
| [[Koblenz]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waterandchange.org/en|website=ICWRGC – International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change|title=The International Centre for Water Resources and Global Change (ICWRGC)|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120200655/https://www.waterandchange.org/en/|archive-date=20 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| IHE
| [[UNESCO-IHE|IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education]]
| [[Delft]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un-ihe.org/|title=Home|website=IHE Delft Institute for Water Education|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024023035/http://www.un-ihe.org/|archive-date=24 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ICTP
| [[International Centre for Theoretical Physics]]
| [[Trieste]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ictp.it/about-ictp/mission-history.aspx|website=ICTP – International Centre for Theoretical Physics|publisher=UNESCO|title=Mission & History|access-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224535/https://www.ictp.it/about-ictp/mission-history.aspx|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| UIS
| [[UNESCO Institute for Statistics]]
| [[Montreal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uis.unesco.org/en/contact-us|title=Contact Us|website=UNESCO Institute for Statistics|access-date=14 November 2018|date=21 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224907/http://uis.unesco.org/en/contact-us|archive-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

== Prizes ==

UNESCO awards 26 prizes<ref>UNESCO Executive Board Document [http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001892/189255e.pdf 185 EX/38] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202095215/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001892/189255e.pdf |date=2 February 2011 }}, Paris, 10 September 2010</ref> in education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, communication and information as well as peace:

=== Education ===
* [[UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize|UNESCO/King Sejong Literacy Prize]]
* [[UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy|UNESCO/Confucius Prize for Literacy]]
* UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
* UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education
* UNESCO/Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practice and Performance in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Teachers
* [[UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize]] for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education

=== Natural Sciences ===
* [[L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards|L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science]]<ref> Peccia, Tiziano, Rasha Kelej, Ahmed Hamdy, and Ahmed Fahmi. "A reflection on Public-Private Partnerships’ contribution to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.", Scienza e Pace - Università di Pisa, 8.1 (2017): Research Papers.</ref> <ref> Hamdy, Ahmed, Mohammed Kyari, Marie Johnson, Ahmed Fahmi, and Tiziano Peccia. "Towards Women participation in Scientific Research in Africa." Published by African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC).</ref>
* [[Kalinga Prize|UNESCO/Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science]]
* [[UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences]]
* [[Carlos J. Finlay Prize for Microbiology]]
* [[Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation|UNESCO/Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation]]
* UNESCO-Russia Mendeleev International Prize in the Basic Sciences
* UNESCO-Al Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in STEM
* Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management

=== Social and Human Sciences ===
* UNESCO Avicenna Prize for Ethics in Science
* UNESCO/Juan Bosch Prize for the Promotion of Social Science Research in Latin America and the Caribbean
* UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence
* UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture
* [[International José Martí Prize|UNESCO/International José Martí Prize]]
* UNESCO-UNAM / Jaime Torres Bodet Prize in social sciences, humanities and arts

=== Culture ===
* Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes (UNESCO-Greece)

=== Communication and Information ===
* [[UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize]]
* UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize to promote Quality Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
* UNESCO/Jikji [[Memory of the World Programme|Memory of the World]] Prize

=== Peace ===
* [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize]]

=== Inactive prizes ===
* [[International Simón Bolívar Prize]] (inactive since 2004)
* [[UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education]]
* UNESCO/Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences (inactive since 2010)
* UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts

== International Days observed at UNESCO ==

International Days observed at UNESCO are provided in the table below:<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/ International Days | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110162831/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/ |date=10 November 2012 }}. UNESCO. Retrieved 12 July 2013.</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Name
|-
| 14 January
| [[World Logic Day]]
|-
|24 January
|World Day for African and [[African diaspora|Afrodescendant]] [[Culture of Africa|Culture]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture |url=https://www.un.org/en/observances/decade-people-african-descent/world-day |access-date=16 March 2023 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref>
|-
| 24 January
| [[International Day of Education]]
|-
| 27 January
| [[International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust]]
|-
| 11 February
| [[International Day of Women and Girls in Science]]
|-
| 13 February
| [[World Radio Day]]
|-
| 21 February
| [[International Mother Language Day]]
|-
|4 March
|[[UNESCO World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development]]
|-
| 8 March
| [[International Women's Day]]
|-
| 14 March
| [[International Day of Mathematics]]
|-
| 20 March
| [[International Francophonie Day]]
|-
| 21 March
| International Day of [[Nowruz]]
|-
| 21 March
| [[World Poetry Day]]
|-
| 21 March
| [[International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination]]
|-
| 22 March
| [[World Water Day]]
|-
| 5 April
| [[International Day of Conscience]]
|-
| 6 April
| [[International Day of Sport for Development and Peace]]
|-
| 15 April
| [[World Art Day]]
|-
| 23 April
| [[World Book and Copyright Day]]
|-
| 30 April
| [[International Jazz Day]]
|-
| 3 May
| [[World Press Freedom Day]]
|-
| 5 May
| [[African World Heritage Day]]
|-
| 5 May
| [[World Portuguese Language Day]]
|-
| 16 May
| [[International Day of Light]]
|-
| 21 May
| [[World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development]]
|-
| 22 May
| [[International Day for Biological Diversity]]
|-
| 5 June
| [[World Environment Day]]
|-
| 8 June
| [[World Oceans Day]]
|-
| 17 June
| [[World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought]]
|-
|7 July
|[[UN Swahili Language Day|Kiswahili Language Day]]
|-
| 18 July
| [[Mandela Day|Nelson Mandela International Day]]
|-
|26 July
|[[International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem]]
|-
| 9 August
| [[International Day of the World's Indigenous People]]
|-
| 12 August
| [[International Youth Day]]
|-
| 23 August
| [[International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition]]
|-
| 8 September
| [[International Literacy Day]]
|-
|9 September
|[[International Day to Protect Education from Attack]]
|-
| 15 September
| [[International Day of Democracy]]
|-
|20 September
|[[International Day of University Sport|International Day for University Sport]]
|-
| 21 September
| [[International Day of Peace]]
|-
| 28 September
| [[Access to Information Day|International Day for the Universal Access to Information]]
|-
| 5 October
| [[World Teachers' Day]]
|-
|6 October
|International Geodiversity Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.geodiversityday.org/ |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=Geodiversity Day |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 11 October
| [[International Day of the Girl Child]]
|-
| 13 October
| [[International Day for Disaster Reduction]]
|-
| 17 October
| [[International Day for the Eradication of Poverty]]
|-
| 24 October
| [[United Nations Day]]
|-
| 27 October
| [[World Day for Audiovisual Heritage]]
|-
| 2 November
| [[International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/day/endimpunity|title=International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists|website=UNESCO|access-date=19 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030214202/https://en.unesco.org/day/endimpunity|archive-date=30 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|3 November
|International Day for Biosphere Reserves<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Day for Biosphere Reserves |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/days/biosphere-reserves?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab2000da82692511cafaf52f6dc60629ec28f02c5d16a29ee92a049979ffb2615f863908148ab7051430007100a07811529af602e22ee9de55e3b31523e0322c4f6fece108d426e21efdeb40145b3201dea7291bb4b36bf1200928 |access-date=20 March 2023 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>
|-
|First Thursday of November
|[[International day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=International day against violence and bullying at school including cyberbullying |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/days/against-school-violence-and-bullying?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab2000215100c9b55f50f01ef1e64051f85d005ed160afdcf1a51bcf3583574677710208e8af9298143000018e9fdf83784eb3679536c40b01a90b0f25955889d57dd8600be4d679c6274bfbe91309740e894263ea1c504e76b6e1 |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>
|-
| 5 November
| [[World Day of Romani Language]]
|-
|5 November
|[[World Tsunami Awareness Day]]
|-
| 10 November
| World Science Day for Peace and Development
|-
|14 November
|International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/days/against-illicit-trafficking?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab2000821549653dba7a376b0a5b441f23d8634a07fe1a0b8047f8ed7274eefcb8bf83086389fffe143000c64e4284c7d7279202386844466d3c243ced0a6346867120dacca3b36c89c6166e3a5033c235a8e5bac9a20c2a095b25 |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>
|-
| Third Thursday of November
| [[World Philosophy Day]]
|-
| 16 November
| [[International Day for Tolerance]]
|-
|18 November
|International International Day of Islamic Art<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Day of Islamic Art |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/international-day-islamic-art?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab20007f0fb6123af772d877095c654e99dffd11b638c1dbcfcbe0ded4d7755fbb64e908fe0b245d143000d659354dbf4355519b3d6ff69fa0fe3d4dd01e13569dc94bfb468157404a5baea6571b52e128f194aedd3ef1a92e404c |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>
|-
| 25 November
| [[International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women]]
|-
|26 November
|World Olive Tree Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Day of the Olive Tree |url=https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/olive-world/world-day-of-the-olive-tree/ |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=International Olive Council |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 29 November
| [[International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People]]
|-
| 1 December
| [[World AIDS Day]]
|-
|2 December
|World Futures Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Futures Day |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-futures?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab20005a8944393e54498a6a76c337f206b93f3df96e7230f9cb8d5bfbd1f7d90c5ceb087a862064143000d48518290f2d33eede6cfbd08f9ea8d7ca374e7b1f573d2a3e2d1f9ce27cc48a4f9e190123c7bd6714dba119bd6b04b0 |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=UNESCO}}</ref>
|-
| 3 December
| [[United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities|International Day of Persons with Disabilities]]
|-
| 10 December
| [[Human Rights Day]]
|-
| 18 December
| [[International Migrants Day]]
|-
| 18 December
| [[UN Arabic Language Day|World Arabic Language Day]]
|}

== Member states ==
{{Main|Member states of UNESCO}}
[[File:UNESCO member states.png|thumb|right|334px|{{legend|#008000|UNESCO member states}} {{legend|#0000FF|UNESCO member state dependent territory with separate NOC}} {{legend|#00FF00|UNESCO associates}} {{legend|#FFFF00|UNESCO observers}}]]
{{As of|July 2023}}, UNESCO has 194 member states and 12 associate members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/member-states/countries/ |title=List of UNESCO members and associates |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102233939/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/member-states/countries |archive-date=2 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some members are not [[independent state]]s and some members have additional National Organizing Committees from some of their [[dependent territory|dependent territories]].<ref name="Palestine">{{cite web |title=Summary update on Government progress to become a State Party to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport |url=http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/Item_8_6_Attachment_1_SummaryUpdateGovernments_UNESCO_Oct2008_ENG_FINAL.pdf |publisher=WADA |page=2 |access-date=28 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116165411/http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/Item_8_6_Attachment_1_SummaryUpdateGovernments_UNESCO_Oct2008_ENG_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 }}</ref> UNESCO state parties are the [[United Nations member states]] (except Israel<ref>{{Citation|last=UNESCO|title=Declaration by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the withdrawal of Israel from the Organization|date=29 December 2017|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/declaration-unesco-director-general-audrey-azoulay-withdrawal-israel-organization|type=Press release.|access-date=21 February 2019|author-link=UNESCO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224221/https://en.unesco.org/news/declaration-unesco-director-general-audrey-azoulay-withdrawal-israel-organization|archive-date=21 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Liechtenstein]]), as well as [[Cook Islands]], [[Niue]] and [[State of Palestine|Palestine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties |title=State Parties |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031142628/http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties |archive-date=31 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml |title=Member States of the United Nations |publisher=United Nations |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230101646/http://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml |archive-date=30 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The United States and Israel left UNESCO on 31 December 2018,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lazaroff|first=Tovah|title=Israel, U.S. slated to leave UNESCO today to protest anti-Israel bias|url=https://m.jpost.com/International/Israel-US-slated-to-leave-UNESCO-today-to-protest-anti-Israel-bias-575875 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=31 December 2018 |access-date=31 December 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209082910/https://www.jpost.com/international/israel-us-slated-to-leave-unesco-today-to-protest-anti-israel-bias-575875 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=UNESCO|title=Statement by Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the Withdrawal by the United States of America from UNESCO|date=12 October 2017|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/statement-irina-bokova-director-general-unesco-occasion-withdrawal-united-states-america-unesco|type=Press release.|access-date=21 February 2019|author-link=UNESCO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224138/https://en.unesco.org/news/statement-irina-bokova-director-general-unesco-occasion-withdrawal-united-states-america-unesco|archive-date=21 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> but the United States rejoined in 2023.<ref name="usa2023">{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/unesco-us-rejoin-palestine-china-5b7849bd2cae966e4e9837380c0c094f |first=Angela |last=Charlton |date=12 June 2023 |accessdate=12 June 2023 |language=en-US |work=[[Associated Press]] |title=US decides to rejoin UNESCO and pay back dues, to counter Chinese influence}}</ref><ref name="uspbs">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-formally-rejoins-unesco-5-years-after-withdraw |title=U.S. formally rejoins UNESCO 5 years after withdraw |last=Lee |first=Matthew |website=[[PBS]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=11 July 2023 |accessdate=11 July 2023}}</ref>

== Governing bodies ==

=== Director-General ===

{{As of|June 2023}}, there have been 11 Directors-General of UNESCO since its inception{{snd}}nine men and two women. The 11 Directors-General of UNESCO have come from six regions within the organization: West Europe (5), Central America (1), North America (2), West Africa (1), East Asia (1), and East Europe (1).

To date, there has been no elected Director-General from the remaining ten regions within UNESCO: Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central and North Asia, Middle East, North Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, South Africa, Australia-Oceania, and South America.

The list of the Directors-General of UNESCO since its establishment in 1946 is as follows:<ref>UNESCO official site: [http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/history/directors-general/ Directors-General] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234457/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/history/directors-general/ |date=18 July 2018 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Directors-General of UNESCO
|-
|scope="col"|Order
!scope="col"|Image
!scope="col"|Name
!scope="col"|Country
!scope="col"|Term
|-
| 1st
| [[File:Julian Huxley 1-2.jpg|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Julian Huxley]]
| {{flagcountry|UK}} || 1946–1948
|-
| 2nd
| [[File:JAIME TORRES BODET 1902, ESCRITOR, POETA Y POLITICO MEXICANO (13451293993).jpg|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Jaime Torres Bodet]]
| {{flagcountry|MEX|1934}} || 1948–1952
|-
| –
| [[File:Captura de Pantalla 2022-06-03 a las 23.24.45.png|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[John Wilkinson Taylor (educator)|John Wilkinson Taylor]]
| {{flagcountry|USA|1912}} || [[acting (law)|acting]] 1952–1953
|-
| 3rd
| [[File:Luther Harris Evans, Diretor-geral da United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).tif|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Luther Evans]]
| {{flagcountry|USA|1912}} || 1953–1958
|-
| 4th
| [[File:Contemporary history, Italy - UNESCO - PHOTO0000002707 0001.tiff|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Vittorino Veronese]]
| {{flagcountry|ITA}} || 1958–1961
|-
| 5th
| [[File:René Maheu (France), UNESCO Director General (1961-1974).JPG|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[René Maheu]]
| {{flagcountry|FRA}} || [[acting (law)|acting]] 1961; 1961–1974
|-
| 6th
| [[File:Unesco history, M'Bow - UNESCO - PHOTO0000002701 0001.tiff|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow]]
|| {{flagcountry|SEN}} || 1974–1987
|-
| 7th
| [[File:Federico Mayor Zaragoza 1988 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Federico Mayor Zaragoza]]
| {{flagcountry|ESP}} || 1987–1999
|-
| 8th
| [[File:Matsuura Koichiro 1-2.jpg|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Koïchiro Matsuura]]
| {{flagcountry|JPN}} || 1999–2009
|-
| 9th
| [[File:Irina Bokova crop.jpg|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Irina Bokova]]
|| {{flagcountry|BUL}} || 2009–2017
|-
| 10th
| [[File:Didier Plowy - Audrey Azoulay (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|scope="row"| [[Audrey Azoulay]]
|| {{flagcountry|FRA}} || 2017–''Incumbent''
|}

=== General Conference ===

This is the list of the sessions of the UNESCO General Conference held since 1946:<ref>UNESCO official site: [http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference/previous-sessions/ Previous Sessions of the General Conference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025045200/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference/previous-sessions/ |date=25 October 2011 }}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Session
! Location
! Year
! Chaired by
! from
|-
| 1st || Paris || 1946 || [[Léon Blum]] || {{flagcountry|FRA}}
|-
| 2nd || [[Mexico City]] || 1947 || [[Manuel Gual Vidal]] || {{flagcountry|MEX}}
|-
| 3rd || [[Beirut]] || 1948 || Hamid Bey Frangie || {{flagcountry|LBN}}
|-
| 1st extraordinary || Paris || 1948 || ||
|-
| 4th || Paris || 1949 || [[Edward Ronald Walker]] || {{flagcountry|AUS}}
|-
| 5th || [[Florence]] || 1950 || [[Stefano Jacini (1886-1952)|Stefano Jacini]] || {{flagcountry|ITA}}
|-
| 6th || Paris || 1951 || [[Howland H. Sargeant]] || {{flagcountry|USA}}
|-
| 7th || Paris || 1952 || [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] || {{flagcountry|IND}}
|-
| 2nd extraordinary || Paris || 1953 || ||
|-
| 8th || [[Montevideo]] || 1954 || Justino Zavala Muniz || {{flagcountry|URY}}
|-
| 9th || New Delhi || 1956 || [[Abul Kalam Azad]] || {{flagcountry|IND}}
|-
| 10th || Paris || 1958 || [[Jean Berthoin]] || {{flagcountry|FRA}}
|-
| 11th || Paris || 1960 || Akale-Work Abte-Wold || {{flagcountry|ETH}}
|-
| 12th || Paris || 1962 || Paulo de Berrêdo Carneiro || {{flagcountry|BRA}}
|-
| 13th || Paris || 1964 || [[Norair Sisakian]] || {{flagcountry|USSR|1955}}
|-
| 14th || Paris || 1966 || Bedrettin Tuncel || {{flagcountry|TUR}}
|-
| 15th || Paris || 1968 || [[William Eteki Mboumoua]] || {{flagcountry|CMR}}
|-
| 16th || Paris || 1970 || Atilio Dell'Oro Maini || {{flagcountry|ARG}}
|-
| 17th || Paris || 1972 || Toru Haguiwara || {{flagcountry|JPN}}
|-
| 3rd extraordinary || Paris || 1973 || ||
|-
| 18th || Paris || 1974 || Magda Jóború || {{flagcountry|HUN}}
|-
| 19th || [[Nairobi]] || 1976 || Taaita Toweett || {{flagcountry|KEN}}
|-
| 20th || Paris || 1978 || Napoléon LeBlanc || {{flagcountry|CAN}}
|-
| 21st || [[Belgrade]] || 1980 || Ivo Margan || {{flagcountry|YUG}}
|-
| 4th extraordinary || Paris || 1982 || ||
|-
| 22nd || Paris || 1983 || Saïd Tell || {{flagcountry|JOR}}
|-
| 23rd || [[Sofia]] || 1985 || [[Nikolai Todorov]] || {{flagcountry|BGR|1967}}
|-
| 24th || Paris || 1987 || Guillermo Putzeys Alvarez || {{flagcountry|GTM}}
|-
| 25th || Paris || 1989 || [[Anwar Ibrahim]] || {{flagcountry|MYS}}
|-
| 26th || Paris || 1991 || [[Bethwell Allan Ogot]] || {{flagcountry|KEN}}
|-
| 27th || Paris || 1993 || Ahmed Saleh Sayyad || {{flagcountry|YEM}}
|-
| 28th || Paris || 1995 || Torben Krogh || {{flagcountry|DNK}}
|-
| 29th || Paris || 1997 || [[Eduardo Portella]] || {{flagcountry|BRA}}
|-
| 30th || Paris || 1999 || [[Jaroslava Moserová]] || {{flagcountry|CZE}}
|-
| 31st || Paris || 2001 || [[Ahmad Jalali]] || {{flagcountry|IRN}}
|-
| 32nd || Paris || 2003 || [[Michael Omolewa]] || {{flagcountry|NGA}}
|-
| 33rd || Paris || 2005 || [[Musa Bin Jaafar Bin Hassan]] || {{flagcountry|OMN}}
|-
| 34th || Paris || 2007 || [[Georgios Anastassopoulos]]|| {{flagcountry|GRC}}
|-
| 35th || Paris || 2009 || Davidson Hepburn || {{flagcountry|BHS}}
|-
| 36th || Paris || 2011 || [[Katalin Bogyay]] || {{flagcountry|HUN}}
|-
| 37th<ref>{{cite web|title = General Conference 37th |url = http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference-37th/|website = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |access-date = 25 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151003103414/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference-37th/|archive-date = 3 October 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> || Paris || 2013 || [[Hao Ping]] || {{flagcountry|CHN}}
|-
| 38th || Paris || 2015 || Stanley Mutumba Simataa<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference-38th/president/ | title=President of the 38th session of the General Conference | publisher=UNESCO | access-date=11 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116135603/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/general-conference-38th/president | archive-date=16 November 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> || {{flagcountry|Namibia}}
|-
| 39th || Paris || 2017 || Zohour Alaoui<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/39/president | title=President of the 39th session of the General Conference | publisher=UNESCO | access-date=12 November 2017 | date=5 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113003114/https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/39/president | archive-date=13 November 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> || {{flagcountry|Morocco}}
|-
| 40th || Paris || 2019 ||
[[Ahmet Altay Cengizer]]<ref>{{cite web |title=UNESCO: President of the 40th session of the General Conference |date=14 October 201 |url=https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/40/presiden |access-date=20 August 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201018154954/https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/40/president |url-status=live }}</ref>
| {{flagcountry|Turkey}}
|-
| 41st<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/41|title=41st Session of the General Conference – 9–24 November 2021|date=1 June 2021|website=UNESCO|access-date=6 October 2021|archive-date=6 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006085222/https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/41|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Paris
|2021
|Santiago Irazabal Mourão
| {{flagcountry|Brazil}}
|-
| 42nd<ref>{{cite web |title=Address by Ms Simona Mirela Miculescu |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000387533?posInSet=16&queryId=ffd33a3a-41f1-4a8b-9543-7f10c0f2dd6a |date=13 November 2023}}</ref>
|Paris
|2023
|[[Simona Miculescu]]
| {{flagcountry|Romania}}
|}

=== Executive Board ===
Biennial elections are held, with 58 elected representatives holding office for four years.

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="border-top: 2px solid;"
! Term
! Group I <br />(9 seats)
! Group II <br />(7 seats)
! Group III <br />(10 seats)
! Group IV <br />(12 seats)
! Group V(a) <br />(13 seats)
! Group V(b) <br />(7 seats)
|- style="border-top: 2px solid;"
| 2017–<br />2021
|
{{flagcountry|Finland}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Portugal}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Turkey}}
|
{{flagcountry|Albania}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Belarus}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Bulgaria}}
|
{{flagcountry|Cuba}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Grenada}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Jamaica}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Saint Lucia}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
|
{{flagcountry|Bangladesh}} <br />
{{flagcountry|China}} <br />
{{flagcountry|India}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Indonesia}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Japan}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Philippines}}
|
{{flagcountry|Burundi}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Equatorial Guinea}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Ethiopia}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Madagascar}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Zambia}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Zimbabwe}}
|
{{flagcountry|Egypt}} <br />
{{flagcountry|Jordan}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Morocco}}
|-
| 2019–2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/40/elections|title=40th Session of the General Conference – 12–27 November 2019|date=16 October 2019|website=UNESCO|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102155643/https://en.unesco.org/generalconference/40/elections|archive-date=2 January 2020|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref>
|
{{flagcountry|France}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Germany}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Italy}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Spain}}<br />
{{Flag|Switzerland}}
|
{{Flag|Hungary}}<br />
{{Flag|Poland}}<br />
{{Flag|Russia}}<br />
{{Flag|Serbia}}
|
{{flagcountry|Argentina}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Brazil}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Dominican Republic}}<br />
{{Flag|Uruguay}}
|
{{Flag|Afghanistan|2013}}<br />
{{Flag|Kyrgyzstan}}<br />
{{Flag|Philippines}}<br />
{{Flag|Pakistan}}<br />
{{Flag|Republic of Korea}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Thailand}}
|
{{Flag|Benin}}<br />
{{Flag|Congo}}<br />
{{Flag|Guinea}}<br />
{{Flag|Ghana}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Kenya}}<br />
{{Flag|Namibia}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Senegal}}<br />
{{Flag|Togo}}
|
{{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}<br />
{{Flag|UAE}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Tunisia}}
|-style="background:#f7f7c7;border-top: 2px solid;"
| '''2021–2025'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Elections |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/general-conference/41/elections?TSPD_101_R0=080713870fab2000296c62ecf70783aa2deb49bab9972b32e78e12a141101e730f19afd71077a454085e4dbe2414300050c3569c0132c2e6ed5d6c59cee0616cbf7eb737bcd75d6d5fbcda198e9ca730a3a536e274d2f7e2f102624759a6d48c |date=17 November 2021}}</ref>
|
{{flagcountry|Austria}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Iceland}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Turkey}}
|
{{Flag|Armenia}}<br />
{{Flag|Azerbaijan}}<br />
{{Flag|Lithuania}}
|
{{flagcountry|Chile}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Grenada}}<br />
{{Flag|Haiti}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Mexico}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Paraguay}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Saint Lucia}}
|
{{Flag|China}}<br />
{{Flag|Cook Islands}}<br />
{{Flag|India}}<br />
{{Flag|Japan}}<br />
{{Flag|Philippines}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Viet Nam}}
|
{{Flag|Angola}}<br />
{{Flag|Botswana}}<br />
{{Flag|Congo}}<br />
{{Flag|Djibouti}}<br />
{{flagcountry|South Africa}}<br />
{{Flag|Tanzania}}
|
{{Flag|Egypt}}<br />
{{Flag|Jordan}}<br />
{{Flag|Kuwait}}
|- style="background:#efe;border-top: 2px solid;"
| '''2023–2027'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Elections |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/general-conference/42/elections |date=15 November 2023}}</ref>
|
{{flagcountry|France}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Germany}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Italy}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Spain}}<br />
{{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}<br />
{{Flag|United States}}
|
{{Flag|Albania}}<br />
{{Flag|Czech Republic}}<br />
{{Flag|Serbia}}<br />
{{Flag|Slovakia}}
|
{{flagcountry|Argentina}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Brazil}}<br />
{{Flag|Cuba}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Dominican Republic}}
|
{{Flag|Australia}}<br />
{{Flag|Bangladesh}}<br />
{{Flag|Indonesia}}<br />
{{Flag|Pakistan}}<br />
{{Flag|Republic of Korea}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}
|
{{Flag|Burkina Faso}}<br />
{{Flag|Côte d'Ivoire}}<br />
{{Flag|Gabon}}<br />
{{Flag|Liberia}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Mauritius}}<br />
{{Flag|Mozambique}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Nigeria}}
|
{{Flag|Iraq}}<br />
{{Flag|Oman}}<br />
{{Flag|Qatar}}<br />
{{flagcountry|Saudi Arabia}}
|}

== Offices and headquarters ==
{{main|World Heritage Centre}}
[[File:April 2010, UNESCO Headquarters in Paris - The Garden of Peace (or Japanese Garden) in Spring.jpg|thumb|The Garden of Peace at UNESCO headquarters]]

The UNESCO headquarters is located at [[Place de Fontenoy]] in Paris, France. Several architects collaborated on the construction of the headquarters, including [[Bernard Zehrfuss]], [[Marcel Breuer]] and Luigi Nervi.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO House – visit us {{!}} UNESCO |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/house |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=unesco.org |language=en}}</ref> It includes a ''Garden of Peace'' which was donated by the [[Government of Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO garden |url=https://architectuul.com/architecture/unesco-garden |access-date=31 May 2022 |website=Architectuul}}</ref> This garden was designed by American-Japanese sculptor artist [[Isamu Noguchi]] in 1958 and installed by Japanese gardener Toemon Sano. In 1994–1995, in memory of the 50th anniversary of UNESCO, a [[meditation]] room was built by [[Tadao Ando]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Furuyama|first=Masao|title=Ando (Basic Art Series)|url=https://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/architecture/all/49278/facts.ando.htm|access-date=30 January 2021|website=taschen.com|pages=71–72|language=en|archive-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324030457/https://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/architecture/all/49278/facts.ando.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

UNESCO's field offices across the globe are categorized into four primary office types based upon their function and geographic coverage: cluster offices, national offices, regional bureaus and liaison offices.

=== Field offices by region ===

The following list of all UNESCO Field Offices is organized geographically by UNESCO Region and identifies the members states and associate members of UNESCO which are served by each office.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://en.unesco.org/countries/field-offices/|title = List of All UNESCO Field Offices by Region with Descriptions of Member State Coverage|publisher = UNESCO|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190908164710/https://en.unesco.org/countries/field-offices|archive-date = 8 September 2019|url-status = live}}</ref>

==== Africa ====
* [[Abidjan]] – National Office to [[Côte-d'Ivoire|Côte d'Ivoire]]
* [[Abuja]] – National Office to [[Nigeria]]
* [[Accra]] – Cluster Office for [[Benin]], [[Ivory Coast|Côte d'Ivoire]], [[Ghana]], [[Liberia]], [[Nigeria]], [[Sierra Leone]] and [[Togo]]
* [[Addis Ababa]] – Liaison Office with the [[African Union]] and with the [[Economic Commission for Africa]]
* [[Bamako]] – Cluster Office for [[Burkina Faso]], [[Guinea]], [[Mali]] and [[Niger]]
* [[Brazzaville]] – National Office to the [[Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Bujumbura]] – National Office to [[Burundi]]
* [[Dakar]] – Regional Bureau for Education in Africa and Cluster Office for [[Cape Verde]], [[Gambia]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], and [[Senegal]]
* [[Dar es Salaam]] – Cluster Office for [[Comoros]], [[Madagascar]], [[Mauritius]], [[Seychelles]] and [[Tanzania]]
* [[Harare]] – Cluster Office for [[Botswana]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Zambia]] and [[Zimbabwe]]
* [[Juba]] – National Office to [[South Sudan]]
* [[Kinshasa]] – National Office to the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
* [[Libreville]] – Cluster Office for the [[Republic of the Congo]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Equatorial Guinea]], [[Gabon]] and [[São Tomé and Príncipe]]
* [[Maputo]] – National Office to [[Mozambique]]
* [[Nairobi]] – Regional Bureau for Sciences in Africa and Cluster Office for [[Burundi]], [[Djibouti]], [[Eritrea]], [[Kenya]], [[Rwanda]], [[Somalia]], [[South Sudan]] and [[Uganda]]
* [[Windhoek]] – National Office to [[Namibia]]
* [[Yaoundé]] – Cluster Office to [[Cameroon]], [[Central African Republic]] and [[Chad]]

==== Arab States ====
* [[Amman]] – National Office to [[Jordan]]
* [[Beirut]] – Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States and Cluster Office to [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Iraq]] and [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
* [[Cairo]] – Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States and Cluster Office for [[Egypt]] and [[Sudan]]
* [[Doha]] – Cluster Office to [[Bahrain]], [[Kuwait]], [[Oman]], [[Qatar]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Yemen]]
* [[Iraq]] – National Office for [[Iraq]] (currently located in [[Amman]], Jordan)
* [[Khartoum]] – National Office to [[Sudan]]
* [[Manama]] – [[Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage]]
* [[Rabat]] – Cluster Office to [[Algeria]], [[Libya]], [[Mauritania]], [[Morocco]] and [[Tunisia]]
* [[Ramallah]] – National Office to the Palestinian Territories

==== Asia and Pacific ====
{{see also|UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards}}
* [[Almaty]] – Cluster Office to [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Tajikistan]] and [[Uzbekistan]]
* [[Apia]] – Cluster Office to Australia, [[Cook Islands]], [[Fiji]], [[Kiribati]], [[Marshall Islands]], [[Federated States of Micronesia]], [[Nauru]], New Zealand, [[Niue]], [[Palau]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Samoa]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[Tonga]], [[Tuvalu]], [[Vanuatu]] and [[Tokelau]] (Associate Member)
* [[Bangkok]] – Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific and Cluster Office to [[Thailand]], [[Burma]], [[Laos]], Singapore and [[Vietnam]]
* Beijing – Cluster Office to [[North Korea]], Japan, [[Mongolia]], the [[China|People's Republic of China]] and [[South Korea]]
* [[Dhaka]] – National Office to [[Bangladesh]]
* [[Hanoi]] – National Office to [[Vietnam]]
* [[Islamabad]] – National Office to [[Pakistan]]
* [[Jakarta]] – Regional Bureau for Sciences in Asia and the Pacific and Cluster Office to the [[Philippines]], [[Brunei]], [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], and [[East Timor]]
* [[Manila]] – National Office to the [[Philippines]]
* [[Kabul]] – National Office to [[Afghanistan]]
* [[Kathmandu]] – National Office to [[Nepal]]
* New Delhi – Cluster Office to [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], India, [[Maldives]] and [[Sri Lanka]]
* [[Phnom Penh]] – National Office to [[Cambodia]]
* [[Tashkent]] – National Office to [[Uzbekistan]]
* [[Tehran]] – Cluster Office to [[Afghanistan]], [[Iran]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Turkmenistan]]

==== Europe and North America ====
* [[Brussels]] – Liaison Office to the [[European Union]] and its [[Brussels and the European Union|subsidiary bodies in Brussels]]
* [[Geneva]] – Liaison Office to the [[United Nations Office at Geneva|United Nations in Geneva]]
* New York City – Liaison Office to the [[United Nations Headquarters|United Nations in New York]]
* [[Venice]] – Regional Bureau for Sciences and Culture in Europe

==== Latin America and the Caribbean ====

[[File:Carondolete en el cambio de guardia.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|[[Carondelet Palace]], Presidential Palace – with changing of the guards. The [[Historic Center of Quito]], Ecuador, is one of the largest, least-altered and best-preserved historic centres in [[the Americas]].<ref name="unesco">{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/2 |title=City of Quito – UNESCO World Heritage |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=30 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507190507/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/2 |archive-date=7 May 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> This centre was, together with the historic centre of [[Kraków]] in Poland, the first to be declared [[World Heritage Site]] by UNESCO on 18 September 1978.]]
* [[Brasília]] – National Office to Brazil<ref>{{cite web|title = UNESCO Office in Brasilia {{!}} United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|url = http://www.unesco.org/new/en/brasilia/home|website = unesco.org|access-date = 24 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925163018/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/brasilia/home|archive-date = 25 September 2015|url-status = live}}</ref>
* [[Guatemala City]] – National Office to [[Guatemala]]
* [[Havana]] – Regional Bureau for Culture in Latin America and the [[Caribbean]] and Cluster Office to [[Cuba]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Haiti]] and [[Aruba]]
* [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] – Cluster Office to [[Antigua and Barbuda]], [[Bahamas]], [[Barbados]], [[Belize]], [[Dominica]], [[Grenada]], [[Guyana]], [[Jamaica]], [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], [[Saint Lucia]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]], [[Suriname]] and [[Trinidad and Tobago]] as well as the associate member states of [[British Virgin Islands]], [[Cayman Islands]], [[Curaçao]] and [[Sint Maarten]]
* [[Lima]] – National Office to [[Peru]]
* [[Mexico City]] – National Office to Mexico
* [[Montevideo]] – Regional Bureau for Sciences in Latin America and the [[Caribbean]] and Cluster Office to [[Argentina]], Brazil, Chile, [[Paraguay]] and [[Uruguay]]
* [[Port-au-Prince]] – National Office to [[Haiti]]
* [[Quito]] – Cluster Office to [[Bolivia]], [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]] and [[Venezuela]]<ref>{{cite web|title = Oficina de la UNESCO en Quito {{!}} Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura|url = http://www.unesco.org/new/es/quito|website = unesco.org|access-date = 24 September 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925145958/http://www.unesco.org/new/es/quito|archive-date = 25 September 2015|url-status = live}}</ref>
* [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]] – Cluster Office to [[Costa Rica]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], Mexico, [[Nicaragua]] and [[Panama]]
* [[Santiago de Chile]] – Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean and National Office to Chile

=== Partner organisations ===
* [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] (ICRC)
* [[Blue Shield International]] (BSI)
* [[International Council of Museums]] (ICOM)
* [[International Council on Monuments and Sites]] (ICOMOS)
* [[International Institute of Humanitarian Law]] (IIHL)

== Controversies ==

=== New World Information and Communication Order ===

UNESCO has been the centre of controversy in the past, particularly in its relationships with the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the former [[Soviet Union]]. During the 1970s and 1980s, UNESCO's support for a "[[New World Information and Communication Order]]" and its [[MacBride report]] calling for democratization of the media and more egalitarian access to information was condemned in these countries as attempts to curb [[freedom of the press]]. UNESCO was perceived as a platform for communists and Third World dictators to attack the West, in contrast to accusations made by the USSR in the late 1940s and early 1950s.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Grahm |first=S. E. |date= April 2006 |title= The (Real)politiks of Culture: U.S. Cultural Diplomacy in UNESCO, 1946–1954 |journal=Diplomatic History |volume= 30 |issue=2 |pages=231–51 |doi= 10.1111/j.1467-7709.2006.00548.x|hdl= 1885/20736 |hdl-access= free }}</ref> In 1984, the United States withheld its contributions and withdrew from the organization in protest, followed by the United Kingdom in 1985.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A4079804/AONE?u=tamp44898&sid=AONE&xid=ef6d5640 | title = UNESCO asks states considering withdrawal to 'reconsider their position' | journal = [[UN Chronicle (journal)|UN Chronicle]] | date = January 1986 | access-date = 2 April 2018 | archive-date = 9 February 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220209082856/https://login.microsoftonline.com/741bf7de-e2e5-46df-8d67-82607df9deaa/saml2 | url-status = live }}</ref> Singapore withdrew also at the end of 1985, citing rising membership fees.<ref>{{Citation | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19841228&id=Y5srAAAAIBAJ&pg=5684,5359479 | title = Singapore to withdraw from UNESCO | newspaper = [[The Telegraph (newspaper)|The Telegraph]] | date = 28 December 1984 | access-date = 20 June 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150907233414/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19841228&id=Y5srAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qPoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5684,5359479 | archive-date = 7 September 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref> Following a change of government in 1997, the UK rejoined. The United States rejoined in 2003, followed by Singapore on 8 October 2007.<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.britannica.com/topic/UNESCO | title = UNESCO | website = Encyclopædia Britannica | date = 14 February 2018 | access-date = 2 April 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180402163139/https://www.britannica.com/topic/UNESCO | archive-date = 2 April 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== China ===
UNESCO has been criticized as being used by the People's Republic of China to present a [[Chinese Communist Party]] version of history and to dilute the contributions of [[ethnic minorities in China]] such as [[Uyghurs]] and [[Tibetan people|Tibetans]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 September 2023 |title=How China uses UNESCO to rewrite history |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/china/2023/09/21/how-china-uses-unesco-to-rewrite-history |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2023 |issn=0013-0613 |quote=To bolster the idea of a Han-centric identity, the party seeks to dilute the contributions of minority groups in UNESCO claims. For example, documents filed with the organisation state that Tibet's Potala Palace, the winter home of Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959, exhibits the skills of many ethnic groups, not just Tibetans. The government uses "radical selectivity" in choosing which places, people and practices to emphasise, says Rachel Harris of the School of Oriental and African Studies, part of the University of London.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kashgarian |first=Asim |date=16 February 2023 |title=UNESCO Accused of Complicity in China's Treatment of Uyghur Heritage |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/unesco-accused-of-complicity-in-china-s-treatment-of-uyghur-heritage-/6966959.html |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=[[Voice of America]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kachmar |first=Oleh |date=24 September 2020 |title=Uyghur Heritage and the Charge of Cultural Genocide in Xinjiang |url=https://newlinesinstitute.org/rules-based-international-order/genocide/uyghur-heritage-and-the-charge-of-cultural-genocide-in-xinjiang/ |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=New Lines Institute |publisher=[[Fairfax University of America]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Israel ===
Israel was admitted to UNESCO in 1949, one year after its creation. Israel has maintained its membership since then. In 2010, Israel designated the [[Cave of the Patriarchs]] in [[Hebron]] and [[Rachel's Tomb]] in [[Bethlehem]] – both in the [[West Bank]] – as [[List of National Heritage Sites of Israel|National Heritage Sites]] and announced restoration work, prompting criticism from the Obama administration and protests from Palestinians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hebron clashes over Israel's West Bank heritage list|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8538948.stm|date=26 February 2010|publisher=BBC News|access-date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803141138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8538948.stm|archive-date=3 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2010, UNESCO's executive board voted to declare the sites as "al-Haram al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs" and "Bilal bin Rabah Mosque/Rachel's Tomb" and stated that they were "an integral part of the [[occupied Palestinian Territories]]" and any unilateral Israeli action was a violation of [[international law]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/executive_board_adopts_five_decisions_concerning_unescos_work_in_the_occupied_palestinian_and_arab_territories/|title=Executive Board adopts five decisions concerning UNESCO's work in the occupied Palestinian and Arab Territories|date=21 October 2010|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=3 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111083723/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/executive_board_adopts_five_decisions_concerning_unescos_work_in_the_occupied_palestinian_and_arab_territories/|archive-date=11 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>
UNESCO described the sites as significant to "people of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish traditions", and accused Israel of highlighting only the Jewish character of the sites.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Two Palestinian sites of Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Al-Khalil/Hebron and the Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque/Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001873/187356e.pdf|access-date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127175323/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001873/187356e.pdf|archive-date=27 January 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
Israel in turn accused UNESCO of "detach[ing] the Nation of Israel from its heritage", and accused it of being politically motivated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/140377 |title=UNESCO Erases Israeli Protests from Rachel's Tomb Protocol |date=1 November 2010 |publisher=Arutz Sheva |author=Hillel Fendel |access-date=3 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104205832/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/140377 |archive-date=4 November 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The [[Shmuel Rabinovitch|Rabbi of the Western Wall]] said that Rachel's tomb had not previously been declared a holy Muslim site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/140345|title=UN Org.: Rachel's Tomb is a Mosque|date=29 October 2010|publisher=Arutz Sheva|author=Maayana Miskin|access-date=3 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106041213/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/140345|archive-date=6 November 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Israel partially suspended ties with UNESCO. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister [[Danny Ayalon]] declared that the resolution was a "part of Palestinian escalation".
[[Zevulun Orlev]], chairman of the [[Knesset]] Education and Culture Committee, referred to the resolutions as an attempt to undermine the mission of UNESCO as a scientific and cultural organization that promotes cooperation throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=193893 |title=Ayalon: Israel will no longer cooperate with UNESCO |date=3 November 2010 |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=3 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103210507/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=193893 |archive-date=3 November 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Shalom |first=Rabbi |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=194090 |title=Cooperation with UNESCO only partially suspended |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=5 November 2010 |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105083755/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=194090 |archive-date=5 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 28 June 2011, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, at [[Jordan]]'s insistence, censured{{clarify|date=October 2016}} Israel's decision to demolish and rebuild the [[Mughrabi-Bridge|Mughrabi Gate]] Bridge in Jerusalem for safety reasons. Israel stated that Jordan had signed an agreement with Israel stipulating that the existing bridge must be dismantled for safety reasons; Jordan disputed the agreement, saying that it was only signed under U.S. pressure. Israel was also unable to address the UNESCO committee over objections from [[Egypt]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4088221,00.html |title=UNESCO censures Israel over Mughrabi Bridge – Israel News, Ynetnews |work=Ynetnews |date=20 June 1995 |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807130812/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4088221,00.html |archive-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=live |last1=Eichner |first1=Itamar }}</ref>

In January 2014, days before it was scheduled to open, UNESCO Director-General, [[Irina Bokova]], "indefinitely postponed" and effectively cancelled an exhibit created by the [[Simon Wiesenthal Centre]] entitled "The People, The Book, The Land: The 3,500-year relationship between the [[History of the Jews and Judaism in the Land of Israel|Jewish people and the Land of Israel]]". The event was scheduled to run from 21 January through 30 January in Paris. Bokova cancelled the event after representatives of Arab states at UNESCO argued that its display would "harm the [[Arab-Israeli peace process|peace process]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Berman|first=Lazar|title=UNESCO cancels event on Jewish ties to Land of Israel|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-cancels-event-on-jewish-ties-to-land-of-israel/|access-date=21 January 2014|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=17 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120120047/http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-cancels-event-on-jewish-ties-to-land-of-israel/|archive-date=20 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The author of the exhibition, professor [[Robert Wistrich]] of the [[Hebrew University]]'s [[Vidal Sassoon International Centre for the Study of Anti-Semitism]], called the cancellation an "appalling act", and characterized Bokova's decision as "an arbitrary act of total cynicism and, really, contempt for the Jewish people and its history". UNESCO amended the decision to cancel the exhibit within the year, and it quickly achieved popularity and was viewed as a great success.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ahren|first=Raphael|title=Author of UNESCO's nixed Israel exhibit decries 'appalling betrayal'|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/author-of-unescos-nixed-israel-exhibit-decries-appalling-betrayal|access-date=21 January 2014|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=21 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122053858/http://www.timesofisrael.com/author-of-unescos-nixed-israel-exhibit-decries-appalling-betrayal/|archive-date=22 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 January 2019, Israel formally left UNESCO in pursuance of the US withdrawal over perceived continuous anti-Israel bias.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ahren|first=Raphael|title=69 years after joining, Israel formally leaves UNESCO; so, too, does the US|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/69-years-after-joining-israel-formally-leaves-un-cultural-body/|newspaper=The Times of Israel|date=1 January 2019}}</ref>

==== Occupied Palestine Resolution ====
{{Main|Occupied Palestine Resolution}}

On 13 October 2016, UNESCO passed a resolution on East Jerusalem that condemned Israel for "aggressions" by Israeli police and soldiers and "illegal measures" against the freedom of worship and Muslims' access to their holy sites, while also recognizing Israel as the occupying power. Palestinian leaders welcomed the decision.<ref name="UNESCO adopts anti">{{cite news|title=UNESCO adopts anti-Israel resolution on al-Aqsa Mosque|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/unesco-adopts-anti-israel-resolution-al-aqsa-mosque-161018120610946.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021132706/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/unesco-adopts-anti-israel-resolution-al-aqsa-mosque-161018120610946.html|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> While the text acknowledged the "importance of the Old City of Jerusalem and its walls for the three monotheistic religions", it referred to the sacred hilltop compound in Jerusalem's Old City only by its Muslim name "Al-Haram al-Sharif", Arabic for Noble Sanctuary. In response, Israel denounced the UNESCO resolution for its omission of the words "Temple Mount" or "Har HaBayit", stating that it [[Temple denial|denies Jewish ties to the key holy site]].<ref name="UNESCO adopts anti" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002462/246215e.pdf|title=Commission report|website=UNESCO Digital Library|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016131113/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002462/246215e.pdf|archive-date=16 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> After receiving criticism from numerous Israeli politicians and diplomats, including [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and [[Ayelet Shaked]], Israel froze all ties with the organization.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4866113,00.html|title=UNESCO fails to acknowledge Jewish ties to Temple Mount|newspaper=Ynetnews|date=13 October 2016|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018225443/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4866113,00.html|archive-date=18 October 2016|url-status=live|last1=Eichner|first1=Itamar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-leads-angry-denunciations-of-absurd-unesco-decision/|title=Netanyahu leads angry denunciations of 'absurd' UNESCO decision|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018211628/http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-leads-angry-denunciations-of-absurd-unesco-decision/|archive-date=18 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The resolution was condemned by [[Ban Ki-moon]] and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, who said that Judaism, Islam and Christianity have clear historical connections to Jerusalem and "to deny, conceal or erase any of the Jewish, Christian or Muslim traditions undermines the integrity of the site.<ref>{{cite web|title = UNESCO chief 'received death threats' for opposing Jerusalem motion|url = http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-chief-received-death-threats-for-opposing-jerusalem-motion/|date = 17 October 2016|work = The Times of Israel|access-date = 27 October 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161021155546/http://www.timesofisrael.com/unesco-chief-received-death-threats-for-opposing-jerusalem-motion/|archive-date = 21 October 2016|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/statement_by_the_director_general_of_unesco_on_the_old_city-1/#.WAQnmeUrLb3|title=Statement by the Director-General of UNESCO on the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls on the occasion of the 40th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO in Istanbul – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019061820/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/statement_by_the_director_general_of_unesco_on_the_old_city-1/#.WAQnmeUrLb3|archive-date=19 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> "Al-Aqsa Mosque [or] Al-Haram al-Sharif" is also Temple Mount, whose Western Wall is the holiest place in Judaism."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.747466|title=UNESCO Director Criticizes Resolution: Temple Mount Sacred to Both Jews, Muslims|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=14 October 2016|date=14 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014113432/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.747466|archive-date=14 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also rejected by the Czech Parliament which said the resolution reflects a "hateful [[Calls for the destruction of Israel|anti-Israel]] sentiment",<ref name="timesofisrael.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/czech-mps-slam-hateful-unesco-jerusalem-resolution/|title=Czech MPs slam 'hateful' UNESCO Jerusalem resolution|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020050917/http://www.timesofisrael.com/czech-mps-slam-hateful-unesco-jerusalem-resolution/|archive-date=20 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and hundreds of Italian Jews demonstrated in Rome over Italy's abstention.<ref name="timesofisrael.com" /> On 26 October, UNESCO approved a reviewed version of the resolution, which also criticized Israel for its continuous "refusal to let the body's experts access Jerusalem's holy sites to determine their conservation status".<ref>{{cite news|title=UNESCO approves new Jerusalem resolution|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/unesco-approves-anti-israel-resolution-jerusalem-161026173149575.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027112839/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/unesco-approves-anti-israel-resolution-jerusalem-161026173149575.html|archive-date=27 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite containing some softening of language following Israeli protests over a previous version, Israel continued to denounce the text.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Beaumont|first1=Peter|title=Unesco adopts controversial resolution on Jerusalem holy sites|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/unesco-adopts-controversial-resolution-on-jerusalem-holy-sites-israel|work=The Guardian|date=26 October 2016|access-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027144549/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/unesco-adopts-controversial-resolution-on-jerusalem-holy-sites-israel|archive-date=27 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The resolution refers to the site Jews and Christians refer to as the Temple Mount, or Har HaBayit in Hebrew, only by its Arab name – a significant semantic decision also adopted by UNESCO's executive board, triggering condemnation from Israel and its allies. U.S. Ambassador Crystal Nix Hines stated: "This item should have been defeated. These politicized and one-sided resolutions are damaging the credibility of UNESCO."<ref>{{cite news|title=UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem holy sites draws criticism from U.S., Israel|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/unesco-resolution-holy-sites-un-1.3821919|work=CBC/Radio-Canada|date=26 October 2016|access-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104125858/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/unesco-resolution-holy-sites-un-1.3821919|archive-date=4 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2017, the United States and Israel announced they would withdraw from the organization, citing in-part anti-Israel bias.<ref name="stategov" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Harris|first1=Gardiner|last2=Erlangeroct|first2=Steven|title=U.S. Will Withdraw From Unesco, Citing Its 'Anti-Israel Bias'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/trump-unesco-withdrawal.html|access-date=8 April 2018|work=The New York Times|date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021190452/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/trump-unesco-withdrawal.html|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Palestine ===

==== Palestinian youth magazine controversy ====

In February 2011, an article was published in a Palestinian youth magazine in which a teenage girl described one of her four role models as [[Adolf Hitler]]. In December 2011, UNESCO, which partly funded the magazine, condemned the material and subsequently withdrew support.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/8975423/Unesco-cuts-funding-for-Palestinian-youth-magazine-over-Hitler-praise.html |title=Unesco cuts funding for Palestinian youth magazine over Hitler praise |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=23 December 2011 |access-date=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109173826/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/8975423/Unesco-cuts-funding-for-Palestinian-youth-magazine-over-Hitler-praise.html |archive-date=9 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Islamic University of Gaza controversy ====

In 2012, UNESCO decided to establish a chair at the [[Islamic University of Gaza]] in the field of [[astronomy]], [[astrophysics]], and [[space science]]s,<ref name="UNESCOIslamicUniversity">{{cite web | url=http://www.unesco.org/en/university-twinning-and-networking/access-by-region/arab-states/palestine/unesco-chair-in-astronomy-astrophysics-and-space-sciences-964/ | title=UNESCO Chair in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences (964), established in 2012 at The Islamic University of Gaza (Palestine). | publisher=UNESCO | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127035152/http://www.unesco.org/en/university-twinning-and-networking/access-by-region/arab-states/palestine/unesco-chair-in-astronomy-astrophysics-and-space-sciences-964/ | archive-date=27 November 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> fueling controversy and criticism. Israel bombed the school in 2008 stating that they develop and store weapons there, which Israel restated in criticizing UNESCO's move.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OsM94e1GHxAC&dq=destruction+caused+at+the+Islamic+University&pg=PA211 The Goldstone Report: The Legacy of the Landmark Investigation of the Gaza Conflict] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013070233/https://books.google.ca/books?id=OsM94e1GHxAC&pg=PA211&dq=destruction+caused+at+the+Islamic+University&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjX1IWTmuzWAhXn54MKHT7JAGQQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=destruction%20caused%20at%20the%20Islamic%20University&f=false |date=13 October 2017 }} By Adam Horowitz, Lizzy Ratner and Philip Weiss (2011). Google Books.</ref><ref name="MFAUNESCO">{{cite press release | url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2012/Israel_shocked_UNESCO_Chair_Gaza_Islamic_University_12-Jul-2012.htm | title=Israel shocked by UNESCO Chair at Gaza Islamic University | publisher=Israel ministry of foreign affairs | date=12 July 2012 | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715005102/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2012/Israel_shocked_UNESCO_Chair_Gaza_Islamic_University_12-Jul-2012.htm | archive-date=15 July 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The head, [[Kamalain Shaath]], defended UNESCO, stating that "the Islamic University is a purely academic university that is interested only in education and its development".<ref name="NationalPostUNESCO">{{cite news | url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/12/unesco-accused-of-endorsing-hamas-terrorists-breeding-ground/ | title=UNESCO establishes chair at Gaza university accused of housing Hamas bomb labs | author=Higgins, Michael | work=National Post | date=12 July 2012 | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130030307/http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/07/12/unesco-accused-of-endorsing-hamas-terrorists-breeding-ground/ | archive-date=30 January 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ShalitGazaIslamicUniversity">{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3361595,00.html | title=Fatah: Shalit was held at Gaza Islamic University | newspaper=Ynetnews | publisher=Yedioth Ahronot | date=6 February 2007 | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201090827/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3361595,00.html | archive-date=1 December 2012 | url-status=live | last1=Shaked | first1=Ronny }}</ref><ref name="BostonIUGProfile">{{cite news | url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/02/28/hamas_u/ | title=Hamas University | author=Cambanis, Thanassis | work=The Boston Globe | date=28 February 2010 | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226015007/http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/02/28/hamas_u/ | archive-date=26 February 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> Israeli ambassador to UNESCO [[Nimrod Barkan]] planned to submit a letter of protest with information about the university's ties to Hamas, especially angry that this was the first Palestinian university that UNESCO chose to cooperate with.<ref name="HaaretzUNESCOGaza">{{cite news | url=http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/israel-furious-at-unesco-decision-to-back-science-chair-at-islamic-university-of-gaza-1.450524 | title=Israel furious at UNESCO decision to back science chair at Islamic University of Gaza | author=Ravid, Barak | work=Haaretz | date=12 July 2012 | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715042511/http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/diplomania/israel-furious-at-unesco-decision-to-back-science-chair-at-islamic-university-of-gaza-1.450524 | archive-date=15 July 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Jewish organization [[B'nai B'rith]] criticized the move as well.<ref name="BnaiBrithUNESCO">{{cite news | url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/bnai-brith-slams-unesco-affiliation-with-gaza-university/ | title=B'nai Brith slams UNESCO affiliation with Gaza University | author=Yaakov, Yifa | work=The Times of Israel | date=14 July 2012 | access-date=15 July 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717095157/http://www.timesofisrael.com/bnai-brith-slams-unesco-affiliation-with-gaza-university/ | archive-date=17 July 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Listing Nanjing Massacre documents ===

In 2015, Japan threatened to halt funding of UNESCO because of the organization's decision to include documents related to the 1937 [[Nanjing massacre]] in the latest listing for its "Memory of the World" program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/japan-furious-at-unesco-listing-nanjing-massacre-documents/a-18790477|title=Japan furious at UNESCO listing Nanjing Massacre documents – Asia – DW.COM – 19.10.2015|first=Deutsche Welle|last=(www.dw.com)|website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|access-date=29 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222175825/http://www.dw.com/en/japan-furious-at-unesco-listing-nanjing-massacre-documents/a-18790477|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2016, Japanese Foreign Minister [[Fumio Kishida]] confirmed that Japan's 2016 annual funding of ¥4.4&nbsp;billion had been suspended, although he denied any direct link with the Nanjing document controversy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Japan halts Unesco funding following Nanjing massacre row|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/japan-halts-unesco-funding-nanjing-massacre-row|access-date=30 October 2016|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=The Guardian|date=14 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030144739/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/14/japan-halts-unesco-funding-nanjing-massacre-row|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== US withdrawals ===

The United States withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, citing the "highly politicized" nature of the organisation, its ostensible "hostility toward the basic institutions of a [[free society]], especially a [[free market]] and a [[Freedom of the press|free press]]", as well as its "unrestrained budgetary expansion", and poor management under then Director-General Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow of Senegal.<ref name="withdrawal">{{cite web|url=https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30985.html|title=UNESCO Membership: Issues for Congress|date=20 November 2003|publisher=[[Congressional Research Service reports]]|access-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328082545/https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL30985.html|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 19 September 1989, US Congressman [[Jim Leach]] stated before a congressional subcommittee:<ref name="cspan" />

{{Blockquote |The reasons for the withdrawal of the United States from UNESCO in 1984 are well-known; my view is that we overreacted to the calls of some who wanted to radicalize UNESCO, and the calls of others who wanted the United States to lead in emasculating the UN system. The fact is UNESCO is one of the least dangerous international institutions ever created. While some member countries within UNESCO attempted to push journalistic views antithetical to the values of the west, and engage in Israel bashing, UNESCO itself never adopted such radical postures. The United States opted for empty-chair diplomacy, after winning, not losing, the battles we engaged in... It was nuts to get out, and would be nuttier not to rejoin.}}

Leach concluded that the record showed Israel bashing, a call for a new world information order, money management, and arms control policy to be the impetuses behind the withdrawal; he asserted that before departing from UNESCO, a withdrawal from the [[IAEA]] had been pushed on him.<ref name="cspan">{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?9189-1/united-states-unesco-part-1|title=United States & UNESCO, Part 1|publisher=[[C-SPAN]]|work=Starting from 05:08|access-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328104007/https://www.c-span.org/video/?9189-1%2Funited-states-unesco-part-1|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 October 2003, the United States rejoined UNESCO.<ref name="withdrawal" />

On 12 October 2017, the United States notified UNESCO it would again withdraw from the organization, on 31 December 2018; Israel followed suit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-and-israel-officially-withdraw-from-unesco |publisher=[[PBS]] |title=U.S. and Israel officially withdraw from UNESCO |date=1 January 2019 |accessdate=28 August 2022}}</ref> The [[United States Department of State|Department of State]] cited "mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO".<ref name="stategov">{{Cite news |url= https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/10/274748.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408053146/https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/10/274748.htm |archive-date=8 April 2019 |url-status=dead |title=The United States Withdraws From UNESCO| publisher =[[U.S. Department of State]] |access-date= 12 October 2017}}</ref>

The United States has not paid over $600&nbsp;million in dues<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Eli |last2=Morello |first2=Carol |date=12 October 2017 |title=U.S. withdraws from UNESCO, the UN's cultural organization, citing anti-Israel bias |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/10/12/u-s-withdraws-from-unesco-the-u-n-s-cultural-organization-citing-anti-israel-bias/?noredirect=on |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=28 March 2019 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209082940/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/10/12/u-s-withdraws-from-unesco-the-u-n-s-cultural-organization-citing-anti-israel-bias/?noredirect=on |url-status=live }}</ref> since it stopped paying its $80&nbsp;million annual UNESCO dues when Palestine became a full member in 2011. Israel and the United States were among the 14 votes against the membership out of 194 member countries.<ref name="bias">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-unesco-election-usa/u-s-israel-quit-u-n-heritage-agency-citing-bias-idUSKBN1CH1YO|title=U.S., Israel quit UNESCO over alleged bias|last=Irish|first=John|work=Reuters|date=13 October 2017|access-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328082539/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-unesco-election-usa/u-s-israel-quit-u-n-heritage-agency-citing-bias-idUSKBN1CH1YO|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> When the United States announced it was rejoining the body in 2023, it also pledged to pay all past-due payments.<ref name="usa2023" />

=== Kurdish–Turkish conflict ===

On 25 May 2016, Turkish poet and human rights activist [[O. Z. Livaneli|Zülfü Livaneli]] resigned as [[Turkey]]'s only UNESCO goodwill ambassador. He highlighted the [[Human rights in Turkey|human rights situation in Turkey]] and the destruction of the historical [[Sur, Diyarbakır|Sur]] district of [[Diyarbakır|Diyarbakir]], the largest city in Kurdish-majority southeast Turkey, during [[Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present)|fighting]] between the Turkish army and Kurdish militants as the main reasons for his resignation. Livaneli said: "To pontificate on peace while remaining silent against such violations is a contradiction of the fundamental ideals of UNESCO."<ref>"[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-rights-un/turkish-writer-quits-unesco-to-protest-damage-to-heritage-rights-abuse-idUSKCN0YH1KA Turkish writer quits UNESCO to protest damage to heritage, rights abuse] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509012658/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-rights-un/turkish-writer-quits-unesco-to-protest-damage-to-heritage-rights-abuse-idUSKCN0YH1KA |date=9 May 2018 }}". Reuters. 26 May 2016.</ref>

=== Campaigns against illicit art trading ===
In 2020 UNESCO stated that the size of the illicit trade in cultural property amounted to 10&nbsp;billion dollars a year. A report that same year by the [[Rand Organisation]] suggested the actual market is "not likely to be larger than a few hundred million dollars each year". An expert cited by UNESCO as attributing the 10&nbsp;billion figure denied it, saying he had "no idea" where the figure came from. Art dealers were particularly critical of the UNESCO figure because it amounted to 15% of the total world art market.<ref>Vincent Noice, "Unesco, stop citing 'bogus' $10bn figure, art trade pleads", The Art Newspaper, 12 November 2020 [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/unesco-bogus-figure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115080112/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/unesco-bogus-figure|date=15 November 2020}}.</ref>

In November 2020, part of a UNESCO advertising campaign intended to highlight international trafficking in looted artefacts had to be withdrawn after it falsely presented a series of museum-held artworks with known provenances as recently looted objects held in private collections. The adverts claimed that a head of Buddha in the Metropolitan Museum's collection since 1930 had been looted from a Kabul Museum in 2001 and then smuggled into the US art market, that a funerary monument from Palmyra that the Met had acquired in 1901 had been recently looted from the Palmyra Museum by Islamic State militants and then smuggled into the European antiquities market, and that an Ivory Coast mask with a provenance that indicates it was in the United States by 1954 was looted during armed clashes in 2010–2011. After complaints by the Met, the adverts were withdrawn.<ref>Nancy Kenney, "Unesco under fire for using Met objects in anti-trafficking campaign", The Art Newspaper, 13 November 2020 [https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/facing-complaint-unesco-pulls-misleading-images-from-advertisements-about-illicit-art-trafficking] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117145243/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/facing-complaint-unesco-pulls-misleading-images-from-advertisements-about-illicit-art-trafficking|date=17 November 2020}}</ref>

== Products and services ==
* UNESDOC Database<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/resources/publications/unesdoc-database/|title=UNESDOC Database – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|website=unesco.org|access-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214091237/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/resources/publications/unesdoc-database/|archive-date=14 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> – Contains more than 146,000 UNESCO documents in full text published since 1945 as well as metadata from the collections of the UNESCO Library and documentation centres in field offices and institutes.

=== Information processing tools ===

UNESCO develops, maintains, and disseminates, free of charge, two interrelated software packages for database management (CDS/ISIS [not to be confused with UK police software package ISIS]) and data mining/statistical analysis (IDAMS).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=1542&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150108023105/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php%2DURL_ID%3D1542%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= 8 January 2015 |title= Information Processing Tools |publisher= Unesco }}</ref>
* CDS/ISIS – a generalized information storage and retrieval system. The Windows version may run on a single computer or in a local area network. The JavaISIS client/server components allow remote database management over the Internet and are available for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. Furthermore, GenISIS allows users to produce HTML Web forms for CDS/ISIS database searching. The ISIS_DLL provides an API for developing CDS/ISIS based applications.
* OpenIDAMS – a software package for processing and analysing numerical data developed, maintained and disseminated by UNESCO. The original package was proprietary, but UNESCO has initiated a project to provide it as open source.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15653&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150113175706/http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php%2DURL_ID%3D15653%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |url-status=dead |archive-date= 13 January 2015 |title= OpenIDAMS |publisher= Unesco }}</ref>
* IDIS – a tool for direct data exchange between CDS/ISIS and IDAMS

== See also ==
{{portal|Schools|Science|Society|Politics|World}}
* [[Academic mobility network]]
* [[League of Nations archives]]
* [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]]
* ''[[UNESCO Reclining Figure 1957–58]]'', sculpture by [[Henry Moore]]
* [[UniRef]]
* [[National Commissions for UNESCO]]
* [[International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport]]
{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Finnemore, Martha. 1993. "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/2706939?seq=1 International Organizations as Teachers of Norms: The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cutural{{sic|nolink=y}} Organization and Science Policy.]" ''International Organization'' Vol. 47, No. 4 (Autumn, 1993), pp.&nbsp;565–597

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Meta|WikiProject UNESCO}}
* {{Official website|http://www.unesco.org/}}

{{United Nations}}
{{ECOSOC}}
{{UN Charter}}
{{Supranationalism/World government topics |state = autocollapse}}
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