In 2015 UNESCO celebrates the 70th anniversary of its creation, as the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation of the United Nations. The celebrations will mainly take place in Paris, at the headquarters of the Organisation. Many significant figures, such as the Secretary General of UNESCO Ms. Irina Bokova, the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon and other heads of International Organisations attended the special event organised on the 28th of April to celebrate the anniversary.
The beginning of the celebrations took place on the 31st of October 2014, where UNESCO honoured the legacy and the spirit of Nelson Mandela, who according to the Secretary General “embodied UNESCO’s ideals, our faith in human dignity, our belief in the ability of every women and man to change society through tolerance and peace.”
From the past…
With its creation in 1945, UNESCO started its action in the development of an “intellectual and moral society”, aiming at building a lasting peace, while it introduced the innovative idea of communication and mutual understanding of the peoples of the world.
UNESCO’s action started with the building of schools, libraries and museums that were destroyed during the Second World War, constructing a forum of communication and exchange of ideas and scientific expertise between the different cultures of the world. In the years that followed, UNESCO continued the launch of specific programmes in the areas of Education, Natural Sciences, Culture, Social Sciences, Communication and Information.
The historical Nubian Temples campaign, for the protection of the Egyptian monuments in Nubia from the rising waters of the Aswan High Dam, mobilized the international community for the protection of the World Heritage.
…to the future
With the continuous social, climate and other changes of our planet, UNESCO invests in timeless values: education, scientific research and cultural diversity, thus laying the foundations for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development.
Despite the coordinated efforts of the Member States of UNESCO, millions of young girls and boys are still deprived of basic rights, such as access to education, basic quality of life and dignified work, preventing them from participating fully in their society. For this reason, UNESCO continues to mobilize governments in order to ensure the provision of quality education for all.
The climate changes and our growing needs in natural resources require the engagement of more scientists in order to contribute in the observation of our planet and thus the understanding of natural phenomena and the dissemination of scientific knowledge to the public.
Finally, culture, as a means of communication, social cohesion, economic growth and creativity remains a priority for UNESCO, since it continues to bridge the peoples of the world.
More information: