Understanding UNESCO: A Closer Look at its Role in Global Economy and Politics

UNESCO: Preserving and Promoting Cultural Heritage

The UNESCO is an international organization born with the aim of preserving and promoting artistic and cultural heritage on a global scale, both material and immaterial, by providing economic funds and promoting tourism.

What is UNESCO and What Does It Do?

The acronym UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Established on November 4, 1946, in Paris, UNESCO is based on the general awareness that political and economic agreements alone are not sufficient to build lasting peace.
Peace must be founded on education, science, culture, and collaboration among nations to ensure the universal respect for justice, law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms recognized by the United Nations.

Following World War II, UNESCO operates as an international organization dedicated to maintaining peace and intercultural dialogue, alongside the UN.
Supported by over 200 countries, including Italy, UNESCO’s National Italian Commission was established in 1950 to promote and implement UNESCO programs in Italy.

Structure and Functioning of UNESCO

UNESCO’s organization comprises a General Assembly, an Executive Board, and a Secretariat.
The General Assembly, composed of all member states, meets every two years to define guidelines, financial resources, and political programs.
It elects representatives to the 21-member World Heritage Committee responsible for selecting new sites for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Executive Board, consisting of 58 representatives, organizes the general conference and oversees the implementation of decisions.
The Secretariat, led by a Director-General elected every four years by the General Assembly, manages UNESCO’s activities.

UNESCO’s objectives include promoting education as a fundamental human right, fostering intercultural understanding, enhancing scientific cooperation for environmental monitoring and disaster prevention, protecting freedom of expression, and advocating for democracy and human dignity.

UNESCO’s Activities

To achieve its goals, UNESCO develops holistic policies addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
It promotes intercultural dialogue, communication, access to new technologies, and scientific knowledge dissemination to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
UNESCO implements various projects, including scientific and literacy programs, cultural promotion, and international cooperation.

UNESCO collaborates internationally to protect and promote cultural heritage in emergencies, encouraging states to sign the World Heritage Convention.
Member states must identify sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List and raise awareness among local populations while providing professional training and technical assistance.

UNESCO’s Most Important Sites Worldwide and in Italy

The UNESCO World Heritage List features sites of exceptional cultural or natural value deemed common heritage of humanity.
Notable sites include the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, among others.

Italy leads globally with 60 UNESCO recognitions.
Recent additions like the Appian Way mark Italy’s cultural richness.
Lombardy boasts 10 UNESCO sites, followed by Veneto with 9 and Tuscany with 8.
Internationally, China and Germany rank high on the list, each with a significant number of UNESCO sites.