Unesco – how to save the world

Suomenlinna 11 October 2013

Tapio Markkanen

What Unesco is about?

Founded in London 1945 by 44 governments.Finland is a member since 1956.Presently 195 Member Countries.Five programme areas: • Education, • Natural Sciences• Social and Human Sciences, • Culture, • Communication and Information.

Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.

Preamble of Unesco Constitution, 1945

Draft strategy 2014 – 2021

Mission statementAs a specialized agency of the United nations, UNESCO … contributes to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, and sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

Global priorities

Africa and Gender Equality

Overarching objectives

•Peace – Contributing to lasting peace

•Sustainable development – Contributing to Sustainable development and the eradication of poverty

Strategic objectives (Major programmes I – V)

I Education for peace and sustainable development

II Sciences for peace and sustainable development

III Fostering social inclusion and intercultural dialogue through the social and human sciences

IV Building peace and sustainable development through hertage and creativity

V Sustaining peace and development through freedom of expression and access to knowledge

Instruments: programmes, normative instruments: conventions, recommendations, hand books,…Clearing house: good practises, capacity building: curriculum advice, expert training, etc…

Unesco activities & programmes – a few examples

• Education for All, EFA 2005 - 2015• International Declaration on Human Genetic Data

2003 → Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights 2005

• Convention on Cultural Diversity, 2007• Free Access to Knowledge, World Summit on

Information Society, Open access,…, etc.

Resources: Budget 2014 – 2017: 650 million USDExpenditure plan 2014 – 2017: 507 million USD

Access to fresh and clean water

Only 46 % of people in Africa have clean water.

Water is not just science, technology and management, it is also culture, education and communication..

Unesco Water programme IHP• The problem: Consumption

and availability of clean water is in proportion to GNP per capita, i.e. the rich have, the poor don’t.

Lake Aral

Vesikoulutusinstituutti, Delft, Alankomaat

Access to clean water in developing countries in 1970 – 2000.

Energy: The Old World at night

Urbanisation

Since 2012 the majority of people lives in cities.

Undernutrition of the World

Some good news: Extreme poverty in 1981 – 2009

In 1981, 52 % of people lived on 1,25 USD/day; in 2008, 22 %.

In 1990, 90 % of the poor lived in the poorest countries.

In 2012, 75 % of the poor live in middle income countries.

The nations of the Sub-Saharan countries still live in extreme poverty.

Illiteracy is diminishing but 800 million people are still illiterate. Two thirds of them are girls or women. In our modern world 75 million children do not get primary education. In one of three countries only, there are as many girls at schools as boys.In 2015, 18 million primary school teachers are needed.

EFA Global Monitoring Report 2010

Today ¾ of world’s illiterates are in 10 countries.

2/3 of the illiterate are women.

The goals are not just utopies!

Wolrd literacy in 2012: 84 %

Young Lao girls enjoy reading

Illiteracy in 1970-2015

Sustainable Development – Aspects and Challenges

BiodiversityClimate ChangeCultural DiversityIndigenous KnowledgeNatural Disaster Risk ReductionPoverty Eradication Gender EqualityHealth promotionSustainable LifestylesPeace and Human SecurityWaterSustainable Urbanisation

Close connection to other actors and programmes

Human Rights EducationGender and EducationEducation for All; note Global Monitoring Report 2010Millenium Development Goals & Rio post 2015Right to EducationICT Education

Three Pillars of Sustainability:• ecological sustainability• economical sustainability• social sustainability

Oikumene – EcumeneThe Civilized World

Social sustainability

Isidor of Sevillec. 560-636, EtymologiaeA 12th centurymanuscript

Envi-ronment

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