German Commission for UNESCO
Encyclopedia
The German Commission for UNESCO
is one of 195 National Commissions for UNESCO worldwide, a unique structure in the UN system, foreseen by UNESCO's constitution of 1946. The German Commission was founded on May 12, 1950, one year before West Germany was officially admitted to UNESCO. It has a liaison function for German Multilateral Foreign Cultural Policy; thus, its regular budget is financed by the Foreign Office. It is a chartered non-profit voluntary association with up to 114 members: Its members represent the German federal government and the governments of the Laender
, representatives of important German institutions working within UNESCO's fields of competence as well as individual experts.
The German Commission for UNESCO advises the government, parliament and all other public bodies on UNESCO issues, as well as on other issues of multilateral policy in education, culture and science. It coordinates the contribution of German government, academia, expert institutions and civil society to UNESCO’s programme activities: Education, Natural and Social Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information. Notable activities are the international volunteer service "kulturweit", the German implementation of the UN decade on "Education for Sustainable Development", the German implementation of the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity and a cooperation framework with Africa.
The Secretariat with about 45 staff members is located in Bonn and Berlin. Since 2002, the President is Walter Hirche and since 2004, the Secretary-General is Dr. Roland Bernecker. The Bureau and the executive committee of the German Commission for UNESCO are elected for two years, by a general assembly meeting once annually.
was founded in 1946 as the United Nations
Specialized Organization for Education
, Science
and Culture
. Within its fields of competence, UNESCO will "contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture". It is the only UN Organization having National Commissions. All 193 member states of UNESCO dispose of a National Commission, with varying structures and architecture. All of them have similar tasks though: they involve the educational, scientific, and cultural communities as well as communication media of their countries into the planning, implementation, communication and evaluation of the multi-faceted programmes of UNESCO.
also became a Member State, actually for the first time in a UN Organization. Since German unification on October 3, 1990, Germany
is used as official name; the German Commission for UNESCO integrated the functions of the dissolved GDR National Commission.
After the United States of America and Japan, Germany makes the third largest financial contribution to UNESCO. Like most other Member States, Germany has a Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris. It ensures constant working contact with UNESCO and is in charge of Germany's political relations with UNESCO.
Germany is participating very actively in UNESCO's programmes. There are more than 30 World Heritage Sites in Germany, 15 UNESCO biosphere reserves
, some 200 UNESCO Associated Schools
, 10 UNESCO chairs
, 10 UNESCO clubs and national committees for the IHP
, MAB, the IOC
, the IGCP
, the MoW Programme
, and the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development
.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
is one of 195 National Commissions for UNESCO worldwide, a unique structure in the UN system, foreseen by UNESCO's constitution of 1946. The German Commission was founded on May 12, 1950, one year before West Germany was officially admitted to UNESCO. It has a liaison function for German Multilateral Foreign Cultural Policy; thus, its regular budget is financed by the Foreign Office. It is a chartered non-profit voluntary association with up to 114 members: Its members represent the German federal government and the governments of the Laender
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
, representatives of important German institutions working within UNESCO's fields of competence as well as individual experts.
The German Commission for UNESCO advises the government, parliament and all other public bodies on UNESCO issues, as well as on other issues of multilateral policy in education, culture and science. It coordinates the contribution of German government, academia, expert institutions and civil society to UNESCO’s programme activities: Education, Natural and Social Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information. Notable activities are the international volunteer service "kulturweit", the German implementation of the UN decade on "Education for Sustainable Development", the German implementation of the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity and a cooperation framework with Africa.
The Secretariat with about 45 staff members is located in Bonn and Berlin. Since 2002, the President is Walter Hirche and since 2004, the Secretary-General is Dr. Roland Bernecker. The Bureau and the executive committee of the German Commission for UNESCO are elected for two years, by a general assembly meeting once annually.
UNESCO National Commissions
UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
was founded in 1946 as the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Specialized Organization for Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and Culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
. Within its fields of competence, UNESCO will "contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture". It is the only UN Organization having National Commissions. All 193 member states of UNESCO dispose of a National Commission, with varying structures and architecture. All of them have similar tasks though: they involve the educational, scientific, and cultural communities as well as communication media of their countries into the planning, implementation, communication and evaluation of the multi-faceted programmes of UNESCO.
Germany's membership in UNESCO
In 1951, UNESCO was among the first of the United Nations Specialized Agencies in which the Federal Republic of Germany became a Member State, thus ending Germany's intellectual isolation provoked by the Nazi Regime 1933 to 1945. By joining UNESCO in 1972, the GDRGerman Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
also became a Member State, actually for the first time in a UN Organization. Since German unification on October 3, 1990, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
is used as official name; the German Commission for UNESCO integrated the functions of the dissolved GDR National Commission.
After the United States of America and Japan, Germany makes the third largest financial contribution to UNESCO. Like most other Member States, Germany has a Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris. It ensures constant working contact with UNESCO and is in charge of Germany's political relations with UNESCO.
Germany is participating very actively in UNESCO's programmes. There are more than 30 World Heritage Sites in Germany, 15 UNESCO biosphere reserves
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between man and nature The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected...
, some 200 UNESCO Associated Schools
UNESCO ASPNet
The UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network, or ASPNet for short, is a programme established in 1953 to encourage schools worldwide to educate students on issues related to UNESCO's "overarching goal of promoting peace and international understanding". , it includes nearly eight thousand...
, 10 UNESCO chairs
UNESCO Chairs
The UNESCO Chairs program was established in 1992 following the relevant decision of the General Conference of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization taken at its 26th session....
, 10 UNESCO clubs and national committees for the IHP
International Hydrological Programme
The International Hydrological Programme is a scientific programme of UNESCO that focuses on the use and availability of water.- On-line resources :*...
, MAB, the IOC
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission was established by resolution 2.31 adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO. It first met in Paris at Unesco Headquarters from 19 to 27 October 1961. Initially, 40 States became members of the Commission.The IOC is composed of its Member States ,...
, the IGCP
International Geoscience Programme
The International Geoscience Programme is a cooperative enterprise of UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences ....
, the MoW Programme
Memory of the World Programme
UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme is an international initiative launched to safeguard the documentary heritage of humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, the ravages of time and climatic conditions, and willful and deliberate destruction...
, and the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development
Education for Sustainable Development
Sustainability education , Education for Sustainability , and Education for Sustainable Development are interchangeable terms describing the practice of teaching for sustainability. ESD is the term most used internationally level and by the United Nations...
.
External links
- http://www.unesco.de - Website of the German Commission for UNESCO
- http://www.ups-schulen.de - Website of the German UNESCO associated schools
- http://www.bne-portal.de - German website for the United Nations Decade Education for Sustainable DevelopmentEducation for Sustainable DevelopmentSustainability education , Education for Sustainability , and Education for Sustainable Development are interchangeable terms describing the practice of teaching for sustainability. ESD is the term most used internationally level and by the United Nations...
- http://www.unesco.org - Website of UNESCO