We explain what Unesco is, the history and different functions of this organization. Also, what are your goals and CEOs.
What is Unesco?
It is known as Unesco to theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, for its acronym in English (United Nations Educational Scientific and CulturalOrganization). As its name implies, it is a institution attached to the UN and specialized in the promotion, dissemination and defense of scientific and cultural knowledge of the humanity.
The UNESCO is perhaps one of the organizations well-known international cooperation agencies in the field of culture, the education and scientific development, since it has headquarters and operations throughout the planet, where it is associated with its vocation clearly pacifist and of I respect to the cultural heritage of the human race, as well as its efforts to reduce social inequality in its various facets.
Although it was founded with just 20 countries as support, Unesco currently has 195 member countries and 8 associated states, which provide funds to the institution to continue with its wide range of plans.
This does not mean that the institution has not received strong criticism over time, some due to its obstruction of certain economic or cultural policies of hegemonic world powers, and others, paradoxically, for supporting legal decisions contrary to commercial and commercial freedom. expression of the peoples.
In fact, the United States has twice withdrew from UNESCO, in protest at its decisions: once in 1985 due to administrative differences, along with the United Kingdom and Singapore (the three countries rejoined later, but caused serious financial damage to the organization). institution) and another recently in 2017, as a protest for the accession as a member country of Palestine, an event interpreted as an "anti-Israeli" bias by the US and Israeli presidencies.
Unesco history
Unesco was founded in 1945, under the terms of the WWII, along with other institutions of cooperation and an international organization to ensure that war and humanitarian disasters of the magnitude of said conflict do not occur again.
Its constitution was ratified by more than 20 countries and in 1958 it acquired its headquarters in Paris VII. By then, the repositioning of international relations broken by the war allowed more and more countries to join the organization.
The first time that a country leaves Unesco will be in 1957, when Apartheid South Africa reproaches it for its "interference with its racial affairs", since the whole world protested the brutal segregation of the population black in this nation. Subsequently, under the presidency of Nelson Mandela, South Africa would rejoin UNESCO.
One of UNESCO's first major international events took place in 1960, when the organization undertook the defense of the Egyptian temples of Abu Simbel and 21 other irreplaceable archaeological monuments, which were threatened by the construction of the dam from Aswan on the lower Nile.
Unesco functions
Unesco fulfills the functions of cultural ambassador and defender of the heritage of humanity in various aspects, operating as a world forum for discussion and dissemination, a sort of counterweight to the state or to help scientific, cultural and social initiatives that are considered of value not only locally, but for the whole of humanity.
In this sense, it is famous for its wealth management, which grants sites of interest archaeological, historical, ecological or cultural have an internationally renowned status, so that they are preserved and protected for future generations. The same happens with traditions, celebrations and other forms of heritage.
At the same time, Unesco promotes peace and social equality, with literacy campaigns, celebration of the diversity and the difference, recognition of women and community training at various levels.
Unesco objectives
Unesco's objectives can be summarized as:
- Promote the dialogue from peace and the exchange between cultures, preserving the legacy of our species for future generations.
- Promote social equality and opportunities through literacy, education and the growth of human potential, especially in vulnerable or marginal regions.
- Preserve the heritage of humanity in its various aspects: ecological, historical, cultural, architectural, etc.
- Promote dialogue and cultural exchange in the face of the challenges of the new millennium, in favor of the conscious and proper use of new technologies and guaranteeing the human rights in social, scientific and cultural matters.
Unesco Directors General
The list of directors of this international institution includes the names of:
- Julian Huxley (United Kingdom), from 1946 to 1947.
- Jaime Torres Bodet (Mexico), from 1948 to 1952.
- Luther T. Evans (United States), from 1953 to 1958.
- Vittorino Veronese (Italy), from 1958 to 1961.
- RenéMaheu (France), from 1961 to 1974.
- Amadou-Mahtar M’Bow (Senegal), from 1974 to 1987.
- Federico Mayor Zaragoza (Spain), from 1987 to 1999.
- Koichirö Matsuura (Japan), from 1999 to 2009.
- IrinaBokova (Bulgaria), from 2009 to 2017.
- AudreyAzoulay (France), 2017 (ongoing).