Since the 4th November 1946, the main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication.

It currently has 188 Member States (as of 19 October 1999).

IFMSA status within UNESCO:

IFMSA is on UNESCO's list of NGO's keeping operational relations. Operational relations - flexible and dynamic in nature, established according to need, in order to contribute to the implementation of UNESCO's programmes. NGOs maintaining operational relations with UNESCO are valued partners, owing to their active presence and concrete action in the field, the expertise they represent, and their ability to channel the concerns of the people. Requests for admission to operational relations can be made to the Section of International Non Governmental Organizations and Foundations UNESCO at any time and will be processed as quickly as possible.

A list of NGOs and foundations in official relations with UNESCO is available on the Internet.

A Dynamic Partnership

Relations between UNESCO and NGOs are essentially intellectual and moral. The take different forms:

• Exchange of information and documentation on questions of common interest. Consultations on draft programmes
• Participation in sessions of the General Conference, in the Youth Forum, in certain UNESCO meetings and in periodic conferences of non-governmental organisations
• Different forms of moral support, on the basis of express request and authorization
• Consultancies and detachment of programme specialists, experts or lecturers for events of interest to UNESCO

However, cooperation with UNESCO can also have financial and material aspects:

• Contracts
• Financial contributions
• Availability of administrative office space
• Use of conference rooms and equipment
• Miscellaneous services

Apart from individual relations, UNESCO also promotes collective cooperation with NGOs through different mechanisms:

• The NGO International Conference, which takes place every two years and compromises all NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO
• Regional consultations. held at regular intervals in the different regions with a view to examining the state of cooperation with UNESCO, discussing the programmes of the Organisation and regional priorities and promoting the development of regional cooperative networks
• Theme-specific collective consultations, organized regularly in accordance with UNESCO programme implementation needs, sometimes in parallel with International Conferences held under its auspices.

What can you do on the national level?

On the national level, non-governmental organisations wishing to collaborate with UNESCO have two main partners to which they can refer:

National Commissions are national cooperative bodies set up by each Member State to act as a liaison body for all matters of concern to UNESCO. Their task is to involve in the work of the Organization all the different ministerial departments, services, institutions, organizations and citizens in their country working for the advancement of education, science, culture and communication. Contact address on UNESCO web site: National Commissions: Our partners.

UNESCO field units, which are responsible for developing cooperation between the Organization and the countries which they cover and to which they act as the Organisation's representatives. Contact address on UNESCO website: Field Officers: UNESCO in brief.

National Commissions and field units are well placed to maintain close relations with organizations that are active on the ground, understand their structure, gauge their dynamism and vitality, vouch for their democratic functioning, inform them of available local possibilities for cooperation and bring their objectives and priorities more in line with those of UNESCO. In short, they are the guarantors of the quality of such cooperation, which seeks to be concrete and close to the concerns of the communities involved.

There are also a number of networks and NGO coalitions which allow these organisations to participate in international cooperation within a broader framework. These collective mechanisms can be structured around a particular theme or cover a given geographical region. A national NGO wishing to establish cooperative links with UNESCO can also seek affiliates to an international NGO which already maintains official relations with UNESCO. It can thus enjoy official links with the Organisation by affiliation, which helps it in its contacts on the national level.

IFMSA Liaison Officer with UNESCO: Laura Hirvensalo

Key contact persons

Ms. Hendriques-Muller

Director, UCJ - Youth Coordination Unit

Ms. Louise Haxthausen

Programme Specialist - Department of Peace, Human Rights, Democracy and Tolerance

UNESCO Publications

• The Courier.
• UNESCO Sources, free monthly magazine.

Contacts

An NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee, elected by the NGO International Conference, is responsible for permanent coordination and continuity of this collective cooperation.

NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee:

UNESCO house

1 Rue Miollis

75732 Paris Cedex 15

Tel: +33-1 45 68 32 68

Fax: +33-1-4566 03 37

E-mail: comite.liaison.ongunescoorg

In the Bureau for External Relations, the Section for International NGOs and foundations has the main task of developing and intensifying relations between UNESCO and NGOs, foundations and similar institutions.

Bureau for External Relations:

Section of international NGOs and foundations

UNESCO House

7, Place de Fontenoy

F 75352 Paris 07 SP

Tel: +33-1 45 68 17 80

Fax: +33 1 45 68 56 43

E-mail: rio-ngounescoorg

IFMSA Liaison Officer with UNESCO