With this return, UNESCO will be in an even stronger position to carry out its mandateAudrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General
On June 8, 2023, the United States sent a letter to the Director-General of UNESCO, proposing to rejoin the Organization as early as July on the basis of a concrete financial plan, which includes a commitment to repay its estimated arrears of $619 million.
It's a great day for UNESCO and for multilateralism. Building upon the momentum achieved in recent years, our Organization is once again moving towards universalism with this return of the United StatesAudrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General
UNESCO's 193 member states met on Thursday for an extraordinary session of the General Conference to examine this proposal. On Friday afternoon, they adopted the American proposal by a very large majority. All the conditions are now met for a full return of the United States to UNESCO in July. (132 votes in favor, 10 votes against)
A reinforced budget to implement its mandate
The United States will fund the equivalent of 22% of the Organization's regular budget. To this will be added the progressive payment of their arrears and, as of 2023, voluntary contributions to fund programs including those supporting access to education in Africa, the memory of the Holocaust and the protection of journalists.
UNESCO will thus benefit from a reinforced budget to implement its programs for education, culture, science and information. It will also be able to step up its actions for Africa and gender equality, two of its strategic priorities.
A return that underscores UNESCO's central role
Elected to head the Organization in November 2017, Audrey Azoulay has led mediations to ease political tensions and find consensus on the most sensitive topics, such as the Middle East. She has also reformed the Organization to make it more efficient.
UNESCO's mandate - education, science, culture, freedom of information - is absolutely central to meeting the challenges of the 21st century. It is this centrality, as well as the easing of political tensions within the Organization and the initiatives launched in recent years, that have led the United States to initiate this returnAudrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General
UNESCO has thus been able to launch new initiatives enabling it to fully grasp the challenges of today - such as the ethics of artificial intelligence and the protection of oceans. It has also returned to emblematic field campaigns - such as the reconstruction of the old city of Mosul in Iraq - in line with its historic ambitions.
In a letter sent to UNESCO's Director-General at the beginning of June, the United States refers to these reforms and initiatives among the reasons for its return.
