The US decision to leave UNESCO again puts a spotlight on what the agency does and why it matters
PARIS (AP) – With the support of international partners and a mobilization of 115 million dollars, the UN Cultural Agency UNESCO recently helped the reconstruction of Mosul after the Islamic State Group was devastated by the Islamic State Group.
The restoration of the historical city iconic Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret was just one of the many programs carried out by the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which The United States is leaving once again.
The decision of financing and participating us from UNESCO will blow a blow to its work that protects cultural heritage around the world. President Donald Trump came out of the agency in the first period, Accusing of encouraging anti -Israeli speech. The Biden administration re -joined UNESCO in 2023 after China’s concerns that the United States had filling the gap left in UNESCO policy.
Beyond diplomatic disputes, take a look at UNESCO’s work:
World Heritage Sites
UNESCO names World Heritage Sites, including ground signs such as China’s large wall, Egyptian Pyramids, Taj Mahal and Freedom Statue, and provides them with special protection under it World Heritage Sites Program.
The World Heritage Committee determines the sites that are accepted as “extraordinary value to humanity every year and intervenes when the sites are in danger of destruction or damage. The program offers technical assistance and vocational training to protect sites.
Now it also contains inheritance of folk songs and traditional dances, handicrafts and lists of cooking. A world heritage site appointment is greedy and is seen as support for tourism.
Holocaust Training
As the rest of the UN, UNESCO is also II. It was created in response to the horror of World War II and especially Nazi crimes. UNESCO has worked in Holocaust awareness projects in recent years because of the concerns of the agency’s Arab members to pass UNESCO anti -Israeli decisions. This includes training materials and visits to old Nazi concentration camps.
Strengthen girls
Although UNESCO is programs such as Malala Girls’ Right to Education Fund, it is working to develop literacy by focusing on a special focus on girls in the war or very little educated or no education. In Tanzania, for example, more than 2,500 girls have benefited from the creation of safe areas in 40 secondary schools, offers agency teacher training and materials, and encourages programs for girls to career in science.
Climate change
One of the agency’s objectives is to coordinate climate knowledge and to develop international education on how global warming affects and affects people in the world. More than 30 UNESCO programs are designed to help members adapt to climate change and support sustainable development.
Artificial intelligence ethics
UNESCO, 2021 “The first and only global standard determination instrument, artificial intelligence. “The proposal, which applies to the entire 194 member state, emphasizes the protection of human rights and dignity based on principles such as transparency, justice and human supervision of AI systems.
It operates without the USA
UNESCO General Manager Audrey Azoulay said that the US decision to leave is expected and the agency is preparing for it. Although the US has previously given a significant share of the agency’s budget, UNESCO has diversified fund resources.
“Thanks to the efforts of the organization since 2018, the diminishing tendency in the US financial contribution has been balanced, so that it now represents 8% of the total budget of the organization for some United Nations organizations,” he said.
The authority added that the general budget of the agency has increased and has a stable support that “many member states and special contributions”.
