UNESCO (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – IR)

Context: Pakistan recently secured victory over India in a UNESCO executive board election for the vice-chair position, with Islamabad's candidate obtaining 38 votes compared to India's 18.

India and UNESCO

• India is presently a participant in 19 UNESCO Conventions, encompassing areas such as natural and cultural heritage, education, and intellectual property rights.
• Notable among these recent affiliations is the ratification of the Convention of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003.

Initiatives in Collaboration with UNESCO in India

• KeepGirlsInSchool movement
• Special Area Heritage Plan (SAHP)
• Joint project on Media Action Against Rape (MAAR)

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Formation: 1945, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.
• Objective: It works to achieve peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms.
• Members: 195 member states and 10 associate members. India is a founding member of the Organization.
• Headquarter: Paris, France.
• Governance in UNESCO: The General Conference of UNESCO, consisting of member states and associate members, convenes biannually to establish the agency's programs and budget. 

oAdditionally, it selects the members of the Executive Board responsible for managing UNESCO's operations and appoints a Director-General every four years, serving as the principal administrator of the organization.