India Will Host UNESCO's World Heritage Committee For The First Time

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.