GROUP 1: UNESCO
1. Background to UNESCO’s birth
1.1. Aftermath of the Second World War
In early 1942, while World War II was raging, the governments of the European
countries in the anti-fascist coalition held a conference in the United Kingdom to
discuss and prepare for post-war issues. World War II had just ended, and while the
nations were struggling with the difficult postwar situation, the allies immediately
considered building a peacetime education system. An urgent project has reached a
global consensus. New countries including members of the United Nations decided
to participate in this project.
1.2. Aspirations of nations
UNESCO has its origins in a series of efforts, made since the beginning of the 20th
century, especially after the First World War, to establish international cooperation
in order to ensure peace.
World War I: After the end of the 1914-1918 war, multilateral intellectual
cooperation was considered one of the aspects of international organization. Thus,
the first session of the League of Nations in November 1920 discussed the need to
establish intellectual cooperation along with the political activity of governments.
At the Congress organized by the Federation in November to December 1920, a
proposal for international coordination in intellectual work was submitted by
Belgium, Romania and Italy. After the debate, the Council adopted a resolution
calling for continued efforts in the international organization of technical work and
presenting a report on the desire to establish a technical organization for
intellectual work.
From January 1923 onwards, many countries established National Committees
whose main purpose was to organize internal cooperation and maintain relations
between countries with the International Commission for Intellectual Cooperation.
In the same year, on December 18, 1925, the Bureau of International Education
began its activities, initially as a private entity and then, from 1929, as an
intergovernmental organization, promoting international cooperation through
education and science.
World War II: However, it was not until the early years of World War II that these
proposals were gradually implemented in the context of the fierce Second World
War. Countries around the world have partly realized the importance of an
organization that can be built to serve peacetime, so very quickly this idea made
the United Nations quickly want to establish a cultural and educational
organization.
1.3. Efforts of the international leaders
Subjective causes: CAME (Conference of Allied Ministers of Education): At the
call of CAME, a conference was convened within the framework of the United
Nations to discuss the establishment of an organization for culture and education
(ECO/CONF) which took place in London from 1 to 16 November 1945. The
conference took place shortly after the war had just ended.
Allied Education Ministers' Conference (CAME) As indicated earlier, from 1940
onwards, the Institute for Intellectual Cooperation could not continue to function
because of the Second World War, but the spirit of cooperation on which they were
based remained latent while the tragic armed conflict was unfolding.
By the end of 1943, with international interest in COME's activities continuing to
grow, the delegates decided that it was time to expand the Conference by granting
full delegate status to those countries until then there were representative
observers. The idea of creating an international organization is now widely
accepted.
1.4. Establishment process
UNESCO Foundation Conference: A conference was attended by representatives
of 44 countries. Based on the proposal of France and Britain, which were
considered to have suffered heavy losses in the last war, the delegates reached a
consensus on the establishment of a representative international organization,
worthy of a culture for peace. The conference took place in London, at the Institute
of Civil Engineers, from 1 to 16 November 1945, with its aim being to 'establish
the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organization'.
Official date of establishment: 16-11-1945 is considered the date of establishment
of UNESCO, the first country to ratify the UNESCO Convention is considered the
first founding members of UNESCO, namely: Egypt, United Kingdom, India,
Austraylia,...
Conclusion of the Conference: 37 out of 44 countries decided on the establishment
of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
2. Organizational structure
UNESCO is organized with a General Assembly, an Executive Council and a
Secretariat. The General Assembly consists of representatives of UNESCO
member countries (each member country is elected to appoint 5 delegates). The
Executive Council is composed of members elected by the General Assembly from
among the delegates nominated by member countries; Each member of the
Executive Council represents they Government.
Secretariat:
The Secretariat is the implementing agency, ensuring regular operations of
UNESCO, implementing resolutions of the General Assembly and the Executive
Council, especially implementing programs approved by the General Assembly.
In principle, the Secretariat is selected on a broad geographical basis and consists
of people with high capacity and performance. Member countries have the right to
nominate people to be selected as officials in the Secretariat in a certain number
determined according to the annual contribution rate of each country. The
Secretariat is led, organized and recruited by the General Director.
The Director General is UNESCO's highest official elected by the General
Assembly for a term of 6 years (can be re-elected). The Director General is
responsible for ensuring regular activities of UNESCO, drafting programs and
budgets, implementing programs, managing budgets, and being responsible for all
initiatives and decisions within they authority.
- The General Assembly:
The General Assembly is the highest authority, composed of representatives of
member countries, and meets every two years. The General Assembly decides on
guidelines and policies, admits new members, elects the Executive Council and
General Director, approves the program and votes on the budget. Working
languages at the General Assembly include Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian and Spanish.
- The Executive Council: is the body that represents the General Assembly during
the period between two sessions of the General Assembly, supervising program
implementation and budget management; maintain consultation relations with the
United Nations, the International Court of Justice and other international
organizations under the United Nations; agenda setting and preparation for the
General Assembly; Analysis the draft program and budget submitted by the
General Director and bring this draft to the General Assembly with necessary
comments.
The Executive Council consists of 58 members with a 4-year term. To ensure the
continuity of the Executive Council, the General Assembly re-elects half of the
Executive Council members at each regular session of the General Assembly.
Executive Council members play an important role in strategizing and developing
UNESCO's action program. The Executive Council meets twice a year.
3. Objectives and principle of operation
Objectives and principles of operation of UNESCO:
UNESCO's objectives include:
Promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue
Protecting cultural and natural heritage
Promoting quality education for all
Supporting science for sustainable development
Promoting freedom of expression and information
Principles of operation:
International cooperation: UNESCO promotes international cooperation in
its areas of competence through programs, projects, and joint activities
between Member States.
Cultural diversity: UNESCO respects and protects cultural diversity, and
encourages intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding.
Sustainable development: UNESCO is committed to promoting sustainable
development through its education, science, and culture programs.
Human rights: UNESCO respects and promotes human rights, including
freedom of expression, the right to education, and the right to access
information.
Transparency and accountability: UNESCO is committed to operating in a
transparent and accountable manner to its Member States and the international
community.
4. Practical Activities
* Education:
- In 1947, small experiment in Marbial Valley, Haiti
- In 1948, member nationality made primary education compulsory and universal
- In 1990, organized World Education Conference
- In 2000, World Education Forum in Senegal
=> Governments commit to achieve basic education all by 2015
* Cultural: ( preserve cultural heritages)
- Launched the International Rescue Campaign in 1960 ( first and biggest
campaign)
- The World Heritage Committee was established in 1976 => first sites were
inscribed on the WH list in 1978
5. Relations with Vietnam
UNESCO has been active in Vietnam since 1976. UNESCO's priority programs in
Vietnam include Education for All (EFA) and Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD). ). In addition, UNESCO also supports Vietnam in developing
a network of community education centers, providing teaching materials in areas
such as environmental protection, gender, equal rights for women, and health.
community, HIV/AIDS, the role of information technology in education... In
addition, UNESCO also supports and calls for help from the international
community to protect world cultural heritages and maintain diversity. nature and
culture... UNESCO also helps Vietnam in training staff, providing equipment and
facilities for the fields of culture, education, science and information.
Vietnam established a representative agency at UNESCO in 1982 and was elected
to: policy and financial planning agency (1978 - 1983), Executive Council (2001 -
2005, 2009 - 2013, 2015 - 2019, 2021-2025), Vice President of UNESCO (2001 -
2003), member of the World Heritage Committee (2013 - 2017, 2023-2027)... In
2017 in Paris, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau, Assistant Minister Diplomacy, along
with eight other candidates running for the position of Director General of
UNESCO, is an important opportunity to introduce the views and guidelines of the
Party and State of Vietnam in general and on culture in particular to with the world
Vietnam's role and position at multilateral forums is increasingly enhanced.
Vietnam has also always received support and assistance from UNESCO in terms
of ideas, awareness and experience as well as financial contributions. Effective
areas of cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO stand out in the fields of
education, natural sciences, social sciences, information, communication and
culture. In recent times, Vietnam has clearly shown how to make good use of titles
honored by UNESCO such as World Heritage Sites, Geoparks, World Biosphere
Reserves... to promote its image and promote development. development of the
country.
Vietnam has ratified many important conventions of UNESCO such as:
Convention on the Conservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage - 2003
Convention; Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of
Cultural Expressions - 2005 Convention…
UNESCO launched the "International Decade for Cultural Development" (1988 -
1997), Vietnam participated in this program, helping to gain new awareness about
the importance of building a comprehensive, unified culture. diversity, deeply
imbued with the spirit of humanity, democracy, and progress, thereby revitalizing
national culture and enhancing exchanges with other countries. That is the essential
spirit that was later summarized and included in the Resolution of the 5th Central
Committee, Session VIII on "Building an advanced Vietnamese culture, rich in
national identity" and the Resolution of the 9th Central Conference. Session XI on
building and developing culture and people of Vietnam to meet the requirements of
sustainable development of the country has determined: "Building an advanced
Vietnamese culture, rich in national identity, unified in diversity of the Vietnamese
ethnic community, with national, humanistic, democratic and scientific
characteristics..."
In 1987, UNESCO passed a resolution recognizing President Ho Chi Minh as a
World Cultural Celebrity and Hero of National Liberation. Accordingly, in 1990
UNESCO presided over the celebration of the 100th birthday of President Ho Chi
Minh, and many commemorative activities on this occasion were held in many
countries around the world. UNESCO helps Vietnam restore and preserve
traditional cultural heritage and natural landscapes. Vietnam has 9 relics
recognized as world heritage sites by the World Heritage Committee under
UNESCO, including: 3 natural heritage sites (Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha - Ke Bang
National Park, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archepelago); 5 cultural heritages (Hue
ancient capital relic complex, Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary, Thang
Long Imperial Citadel central relic area, Ho Dynasty citadel); 1 mixed heritage
(Trang An scenic complex). There are 13 intangible cultural heritages registered by
UNESCO in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritages that represent humanity and
need urgent protection: Then singing, Bai Choi art in the Central region,
Worshiping beliefs. Vietnamese Mother Goddesses, Tug of War Rituals, Nghe Tinh
Vi and Giam Folk Songs, Southern Tai Tu Music, Hung Kings Worship, Xoan
Singing (Phu Tho), Giong Festival at Soc Temple and Phu Dong Temple (Hanoi) ),
Ca tru, Quan ho folk songs, Central Highlands gong cultural space, Hue royal court
music. In addition, Vietnam also has 11 world biosphere reserves, 3 world
documentary heritages, 4 Asia-Pacific documentary heritages recognized by
UNESCO...
