On Sunday,the Heads of State and Government chose to place culture at the heart of their response to the strategic challenges of our century. This decision recognizes the essential role this sector plays in the cohesion and transformation of our societies. It is the result of an ambitious multilateral dialogue led by UNESCO, which must now compel us to make culture a fully-fledged sustainable development objective by 2030'.
Audrey AzoulayDirector-General of the Organization, who was present at the United Nations General Assembly.
Since being elected to lead UNESCO in 2017, Audrey Azoulay has actively campaigned for greater recognition of the importance of culture in establishing peace, in innovation and development, in the fight against climate change, and to peoples' well-being.
An important step in this direction was taken at MONDIACULT 2022, the largest world conference on culture in forty years, organized by UNESCO and hosted by Mexico. There, culture was recognized by States as a 'global public good' for the first time.
The 'Pact for the Future', adopted this Sunday in New York, calls on States to integrate culture into their economic, social and environmental policies, to promote intercultural dialogue, and to help facilitate international cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural property.
About UNESCO
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed" - UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
