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UNESCO ('''United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization''') is an organisation within the [[United Nations]] whose purposes is declared by its constitution to be: ''"to contribute to [[peace]] and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through [[education]], [[science]] and [[culture]] in order to further universal respect for [[justice]], for the rule of [[law]] and for the [[human rights]] and [[fundamental freedoms]] which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of [[race]], [[sex]], [[language]] or [[religion]], by the [[Charter of the United Nations]]."''<ref>http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15244&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html UNESCO constitution on the official UNESCO website</ref>
'''UNESCO''' stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, an organization within the [[United Nations]].  It was formed in 1945 because of World War II, with the idea that the world needed moral, educational and spiritual replenishment after the conflict had ended.  It's initial focus was on instilling peace and tolerance, especially in Europe, but it quickly expanded because the destruction of cultural heritage continues to occur all over the world in various wars.


Founded in [[1945]] and headquartered in [[Paris]] (albeit with several offices throughout the world), UNESCO is governed by three entities: a '''General Conference''' (a gathering of 192 member states and 6 "associated members", in which each state holds one vote, meeting every other year), an '''Executive Board''' (58 members elected by the General Conference for staggered four-year terms), and a '''Secretariat''' (consisting of the Director General - currently the [[Japan|Japanese]] [[Koichiro Matsuura]] - and his staff).
Headquartered in [[Paris]] (with branch offices throughout the world), UNESCO is governed by three entities:
* a ''General Conference'' (a gathering of 192 member states and 6 "associated members", in which each state holds one vote, meeting every other year)
* an ''Executive Board'' (58 members elected by the General Conference for staggered four-year terms, meeting twice a year)
* a ''Secretariat'' (consisting of the Director General - currently the [[Japan|Japanese]] [[Koichiro Matsuura]] - and his staff)


==External links==
World heritage sites are meant to have outstanding universal value and are, after countries put forward sites for inclusion, evaluated by UNESCO personnel, but as of 2024, nominations are rarely turned down because UNESCO evaluators have only advisory power and the nominations are driven by [[United Nations]] politics.   For example, in 2021 a Saudi Arabia nominated site was determined by evaluators not to meet the threshold, yet it ultimately got listed anyway. This is a result of the U.S. having withdrawn from its funding for UNESCO in 2011, reducing UNESCO's budget by 22%, after which other nations such as Saudi Arabia replaced the U.S. funding, giving them more clout on which sites will be selected. As of 2024, the U.S. has returned and is slowly paying back its arrears, but much of its former influence has been lost.<ref name=OMNIA>[https://issuu.com/sasupenn_alumni/docs/omnia23_fw?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ OMNIA Fall/Winter 2023], a magazine from the[[ University of Pennsylvania]]'s School of Arts and Sciences, p.13</ref>
* http://www.unesco.org/ - Official website of the UNESCO
 
* http://whc.unesco.org/ - Official website of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre website
Despite its funding and staffing shortfalls, many nations of the world still desire UNESCO recognition.  As of 2024, Saudi Arabia (just for example) is investing in heritage branding to increase tourism.
* http://www.uis.unesco.org - Official website of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics
* http://www.ibe.unesco.org - Official website of the UNESCO International Bureau of Education


==Notes==
==Notes==
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Latest revision as of 06:01, 1 November 2024

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UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, an organization within the United Nations. It was formed in 1945 because of World War II, with the idea that the world needed moral, educational and spiritual replenishment after the conflict had ended. It's initial focus was on instilling peace and tolerance, especially in Europe, but it quickly expanded because the destruction of cultural heritage continues to occur all over the world in various wars.

Headquartered in Paris (with branch offices throughout the world), UNESCO is governed by three entities:

  • a General Conference (a gathering of 192 member states and 6 "associated members", in which each state holds one vote, meeting every other year)
  • an Executive Board (58 members elected by the General Conference for staggered four-year terms, meeting twice a year)
  • a Secretariat (consisting of the Director General - currently the Japanese Koichiro Matsuura - and his staff)

World heritage sites are meant to have outstanding universal value and are, after countries put forward sites for inclusion, evaluated by UNESCO personnel, but as of 2024, nominations are rarely turned down because UNESCO evaluators have only advisory power and the nominations are driven by United Nations politics. For example, in 2021 a Saudi Arabia nominated site was determined by evaluators not to meet the threshold, yet it ultimately got listed anyway. This is a result of the U.S. having withdrawn from its funding for UNESCO in 2011, reducing UNESCO's budget by 22%, after which other nations such as Saudi Arabia replaced the U.S. funding, giving them more clout on which sites will be selected. As of 2024, the U.S. has returned and is slowly paying back its arrears, but much of its former influence has been lost.[1]

Despite its funding and staffing shortfalls, many nations of the world still desire UNESCO recognition. As of 2024, Saudi Arabia (just for example) is investing in heritage branding to increase tourism.

Notes

  1. OMNIA Fall/Winter 2023, a magazine from theUniversity of Pennsylvania's School of Arts and Sciences, p.13