What is UNESCO?

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace
and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and
information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual
understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives.

In 1945, nations were ruins. WW2 was over, and the world wanted peace.

World War II was far from over, yet those countries were looking for ways and means to rebuild their
education systems once peace was restored. Scarcely had the war ended when the conference opened.
It gathered together representatives of forty-four countries who decided to create an organization that
would embody a genuine culture of peace. In their eyes, the new organization was to establish the
“intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind” and thereby prevent the outbreak of another world war.

United Nations was established on Oct. 24, 1945 to answer those concerns. UN is an intergovernmental
organization to promote international cooperation among nations.

UNESCO - UN agency for education, science and cultural organization, founded on Nov. 16, 1945.

UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty,
sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture,
communication and information.

*The Organization has 193 Members and 11 Associate Members. (It includes Philippines)

UNESCO Heritage Sites in the Philippines:

The Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.

The Banaue Rice Terraces.

Historic City of Vigan.

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary.

UNESCO FOCUS

- Building peace in the minds of men and women. (UNESCO is known as the “intellectual” agency
of the UN).

5 MAJOR PROGRAMS

- Education
- Natural science
- Culture
- Human science
- Communication information

HOW UNESCO WORKS?

UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based
upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global
visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the
alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’s mission and activities.

- Mobilizing for education

- Building cultural understanding
- Scientific cooperation
- Protecting freedom of expression