History and Core Bodies of UNESCO

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), established on November 16, 1945 through the signing of its Constitution by 37 countries, is a specialized agency of the United Nations in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. Its central mission, as stated in Article 1 of the Constitution, is to “build peace through international cooperation in education, the sciences and culture, in order to promote respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law.”

With 194 member states, UNESCO develops global standards and conventions such as the World Heritage Convention (1972) and the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021).

UNESCO’s Governance Structure consists of three main bodies:

• General Conference: The highest decision-making body, composed of representatives from all member states, which approves programs and budgets every two years.
• Executive Board: Made up of 58 elected members who oversee the implementation of decisions and prepare the agenda for the General Conference.
• Secretariat: Headed by the Director-General (Audrey Azoulay, since 2017), responsible for the operational execution of programs, supported by a team of 2,000 staff from 170 countries.