About UNESCO:
- It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
- UNESCO was started in 1945 after World War II. It took over from an older group called the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
- Its main goal is to help build world peace and safety.
- It does this by encouraging countries to work together in education, arts, sciences, and culture.
- Headquarters: Paris,
- Parent Organisation: United Nations Economic and Social Council.
- UNESCO has 194 member countries and 12 associate members.
- UNESCO focuses on five main areas:
- Education
- Natural sciences
- Social and human sciences
- Culture
- Communication and information
- It supports member states’ efforts to eliminate illiteracy, encouraging the extension of free education, and acts as a clearinghouse for the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
- It also works with many other groups, including non-governmental organizations and private companies.
- UNESCO designates and maintains a list of World Heritage Sites, which are places of outstanding universal value that deserve protection for future generations.
- UNESCO is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group.
Key Reports Published by UNESCO:
- Global Education Monitoring Report
- The United Nations World Water Development Report
- World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development.
