An Introduction to UNESCO

The abbreviation 'UNESCO' stands for the 'United Nations Organisation for Education, Science, Culture and Communications'. The 'C' not only stands for Culture and Communications, it also stands for UNESCO's work in 'Information and Informatics'. Plus, UNESCO does wide-ranging work in the fields of Human Rights, Peace Studies and Sustainable Development as well.

The Constitution of UNESCO was signed in London on 16 November 1945 by 37 countries and came into force on 4 November 1946 following ratification by 20 of its signatories. The governments solemnly declared: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed (...) A peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind". The governments signing the Constitution believed "in full and equal opportunities for education for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth and in the free exchange of ideas and knowledge".

The purpose of the Organization was defined as: "to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations".