“With this return, theUNESCO will be even stronger to carry out its mandate. It’s a big day for theUNESCO and for multilateralism. Strengthened by its renewed momentum in recent years, our Organization is once again tending towards universality with the return of the United States”, declared Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture (UNESCO), headquartered in Paris.
On June 8, 2023, the United States sent a letter to the Head of UNESCO, proposing to rejoin the Organization as of July on the basis of a concrete financial proposal, including a commitment to repay their arrears. estimated at $619 million.
The 193 Member States of UNESCO met from Thursday in an extraordinary session of the General Conference to examine this proposal. On Friday afternoon, they adopted the American proposal by a very large majority (132 votes for, 10 votes against).
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, during a visit to Ukraine.
A strengthened budget to implement its mandate
The United States will fund the equivalent of 22% of UNESCO’s regular budget. To this will be added the gradual payment of their arrears and, from 2023, voluntary contributions to finance programs dedicated in particular to access to education in Africa, the memory of the Shoah and the protection of journalists.
UNESCO will thus benefit from an increased budget to implement its programs for education, culture, science and information. It will be able to step up its action for Africa and gender equality, its two strategic priorities.
Elected to head the Organization in November 2017, Audrey Azoulay conducted mediations to ease political tensions and find consensus on the most sensitive issues, such as the Middle East. She also reformed the Organization to make it more efficient, UNESCO said in a press release.
“UNESCO’s mandate – education, science, culture, freedom of information – is absolutely central to the challenges of the 21st century. It is this centrality, the easing of political tensions within it, as well as the initiatives launched in recent years that have led the United States to mobilize for this return,” said Ms. Azoulay.
UNESCO has launched new initiatives such as the ethics of artificial intelligence and the protection of the oceans. It has also returned to emblematic field campaigns – such as the reconstruction of the old city of Mosul in Iraq – in accordance with its historical ambitions.
In the letter addressed to the Director-General of UNESCO at the beginning of June, the United States refers to these reforms and these initiatives among the reasons for their return.
2023-06-30 18:25:33
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