India has been selected for the first time to chair and host the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Vishal V Verma, India's permanent representative to UNESCO, has given this information.
- The 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be held in New Delhi between 21 and 31 July 2024.
World Heritage Committee:
- The World Heritage Committee selects sites that can be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- The World Heritage Committee currently consists of 21 countries.
- Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Qatar, South Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam, Zambia
About UNESCO:
- The full name of UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- The Constitution of UNESCO came into force on 4 November 1946.
- The first General Conference session of UNESCO was held in Paris, the capital of France, between 19 November and 10 December 1946, in which 30 countries participated.
- It was established on 16 November 1945.
- Its headquarters is located in Paris, the capital of France.
- UNESCO has 21 national offices and 27 cluster offices.
- It currently includes about 195 member countries and 8 associate member countries.
- Current – Director-General Audrey Azoulay
- Objective: To promote global peace and well-being through education, scientific cooperation, cultural understanding and exchange.
Major functions of UNESCO:
- Protection of world heritage sites, education, science and climate change, protection of cultural human rights, development of science, computing, communication and cultural aspects etc.
- UNESCO cooperates with member countries and supports various programmes, initiatives, campaigns and organisations to advance the welfare of the world's people.
Special facts related to UNESCO:
- India became a member country of UNESCO in 1946. UNESCO has two offices in India.
- UNESCO has protected 42 World Heritage Sites in India.
- The first World Heritage Site included in UNESCO was Ecuador's Galapagos Islands.
- The first President of UNESCO was Julian Huxley (from Great Britain).
- UNESCO's General Assembly is held every two years.