UNESCO Full Form

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which was established in 1945. It is headquartered in Paris, France. It aims to foster global peace through cooperation in education, sciences, and culture. With 194 Members and 12 Associate Members, UNESCO is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board. It focuses on objectives such as achieving quality education, addressing global challenges, promoting sustainable development, safeguarding cultural heritage, and advocating for peace and human rights. Key initiatives include the Man and the Biosphere Programme, World Heritage Convention, and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Despite funding challenges, UNESCO plays a crucial role globally, with India actively participating in its programs, contributing to World Heritage sites, and engaging in various educational and cultural initiatives. The collaboration between UNESCO and India aligns with shared goals of building a peaceful and sustainable world.

In 2023, the United States declared its intention to rejoin UNESCO, marking the end of the dispute triggered by the inclusion of Palestine as a member. The Trump administration had chosen to withdraw from the organization in 2017. The U.S.'s return, coupled with the settlement of over $600 million in overdue payments, represents a substantial financial injection into UNESCO's initiatives. Also in 2023, during its 18th session, UNESCO officially included Gujarat's renowned Garba dance in its prestigious Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. This makes Garba the 15th cultural element from India to be honored on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with Kolkata's Durga Puja being added in 2021.

UNESCO is a specialized agency within the United Nations (UN) and it is dedicated to fostering global peace through collaborative efforts in Education, Sciences, and Culture. It was established on November 16, 1945 and it comprises 194 Members and 12 Associate Members. It operates under the governance of the General Conference and the Executive Board. The decisions made by these bodies are executed by the Secretariat which is led by the Director-General. Its main office is located at the World Heritage Centre in Paris, France. UNESCO reports to the United Nations Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC).UNESCO is committed to several key objectives, including achieving comprehensive education and lifelong learning, prioritizing global areas such as "Africa" and "Gender Equality," mobilizing scientific knowledge for sustainable development, fostering cultural diversity, promoting intercultural dialogue, and cultivating a culture of peace. Additionally, UNESCO addresses emerging social and ethical challenges.

Key functions of UNESCO are:

• Science: It strives to progress scientific knowledge, tackle global challenges, and advocate for science education.
• Education: UNESCO formulates educational policies, backs teacher training, and champions education as a fundamental human right.
• Sustainable Development: The organization promotes dialogue and collaboration among nations to confront global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, and social inclusion.
• Culture: UNESCO safeguards cultural heritage, advocates for cultural diversity, fosters intercultural dialogue, designates and safeguards World Heritage Sites, and preserves intangible cultural heritage.
• Peace and Human Rights: It actively promotes intercultural understanding, counters discrimination, and supports initiatives for peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
• Communication and Information: UNESCO advocates for media literacy, press freedom, and the utilization of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for knowledge sharing.

• Man and the Biosphere Programme (1971): This is a scientific intergovernmental effort working towards establishing a scientific foundation for enhancing the interaction between individuals and their environments.
• World Heritage Convention (1972): It aims to foster collaboration among nations to safeguard heritage worldwide that possesses exceptional universal value crucial for both current and future generations.
• Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003): It is geared towards protecting, promoting, and transmitting the diverse expressions of human culture.
• UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)(2004): Its aim is to promote collaboration among cities that prioritize creativity as a strategic element for sustainable urban development.
• Futures of Education: This global initiative has the objective of reimagining the role of knowledge and learning in shaping the future of humanity and the planet.
• UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet): This initiative connects educational institutions globally, fostering peace in the minds of children.
• UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors: These are celebrity advocates spreading the ideals and mission of UNESCO.
• International Geoscience and Global Geoparks Programme (IGGP)
• World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

• Global Education Monitoring Report
• The United Nations World Water Development Report
• UNESCO science report: towards 2030
• Global Ocean Science Report
• UNESCO State of the Education Report for India: Children With Disabilities
• McBride Report of 1980

In 1980, UNESCO released a document titled "Many Voices One World," commonly referred to as the McBride Commission, named after its chair, Seán MacBride. This report delved into communication challenges in modern societies, specifically those related to mass media and news. It considered the impact of emerging technologies and put forth a proposal for a new global order in information and communication, known as the New World Information and Communication Order. The aim was to tackle these challenges and promote both world peace and human progress.

UNESCO faces financial challenges as its budget relies on assessed contributions from member states and voluntary donations. Recent years have witnessed a reduction in these contributions, attributed to factors like a global crisis, the withdrawal of the U.S., inflation, and perceived shortcomings in transparency and accountability. Prior to its withdrawal, the US contributed 22 percent of UNESCO's total funding. Concerns about fiscal management and accountability prompted the U.S. decision to leave. Consequently, UNESCO implemented cost-saving measures, including staff reductions and spending cuts, to navigate its budgetary constraints. These measures have seriously restricted UNESCO’s ability to run its programmes efficiently. US has raised the issue of politicization of UNESCO and accused it of having “anti-Israel” bias. Israel too has complained about the resolutions on the West Bank and Jerusalem. Both countries criticised UNESCO for their recognition of Palestine as a member state. The above reasons caused the US to withdraw from UNESCO in 2017. However it’s return in 2023 is said to be due to the concerns regarding China’s growing influence in UNESCO’s policy-making and standard-settings for AI and Tech.

• India joined UNESCO on its inception in 1946, with INCCU (Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO) being the principal body of India working with UNESCO.
• There are 42 World Heritage sites in India currently out of which 34 are cultural, 7 are natural and 1 is a mixed site. Latest additions are Shanti Niketan(41st) & Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas(42nd) in UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Since 1946, India has been consistently re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board, also securing the position in the executive board of the UN’s cultural and education organisation for the 2021-25 term.
• In India, there are 18 Biosphere reserves out of which 12 have been recognized internationally under Man and Biosphere (MAB) program
• At UNESCO's 2023 Prix Versailles, Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport's has secured “World special prize for an interior” Award.
• India is elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for the 2022-2026 term.
• India has nominated 12 forts(11 in Maharashtra & 1 in Tamilnadu) of the 17-19th century of Maratha Military Landscapes of India for UNESCO’s consideration.
• A comic book titled "Let's Move Forward" is jointly developed by NCERT and UNESCO as an educational tool to complement the implementation of the School Health and Wellness Programme under Ayushman Bharat.
• Unesco has added Gwalior(Music) and Kozhikode(Literature) to its Creative Cities Network in 2023. Other cities already added are Hyderabad, Mumbai, Cheenai, Varanasi, Srinagar and Jaipur.

UNESCO serves as a symbol of worldwide cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. The collaboration between UNESCO and India is based on the shared aspiration to construct a more sustainable world through education, science, culture, heritage, peace, and information technology. The Indian government's emphasis on youth and skill development aligns closely with UNESCO's vision for the nation and the broader educational agenda. With its mandate to foster peace, sustainable development, and intercultural comprehension, UNESCO plays a crucial role in safeguarding and promoting the diverse cultural heritage globally, advancing scientific understanding, nurturing inclusive education, and championing freedom of expression.