Canada and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Overview of UNESCO

Canada is a founding member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The Delegation

The Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO represents Canada at UNESCO.

Contact Canada's office to UNESCO

Contact Canada’s delegation to UNESCO in Paris.

Overview of UNESCO

"Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace must be constructed” (UNESCO Constitution)… this vision guides all of UNESCO's activities since its creation in 1946. As a founding member, Canada was one of the first 20 countries to join UNESCO, an organization that now has 194 member states. According to its constitution, the purpose of UNESCO is “to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations."

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, addressing global issues through the negotiation of conventions, recommendations, declarations, publications, information campaigns, and through technical cooperation and capacity building in its fields of competence. It is in Canada's interest that this organization, whose mandate is more relevant than ever, promotes Canadian values in a world confronted by armed conflict, various forms of extremism and climate change.

UNESCO is governed by a general conference of member states, that meets every two years, and by an executive board of 58 elected member states that provides overall oversight of the organization. Member states ensure the financial viability of the organization through mandatory assessed contributions as well as voluntary contributions.

UNESCO is the only UN agency that engages a network of national commissions to support it in its mandate. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO) serves as a bridge between Canadians and UNESCO. The CCUNESCO actively promotes UNESCO's values and provides a strong civil-society perspective. The CCUNESCO also supports various projects aimed at creating more inclusive communities, encouraging innovation, and protecting Canada's heritage and biosphere.

Canada is also the host country of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), an authoritative and reliable source of internationally comparable data on education, science, culture and communication. Based in Montréal, the UIS enjoys functional autonomy. Statistics Canada serves as a member of the UIS governing board.

The Delegation

Under the leadership of Global Affairs Canada, the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO works closely with several other government departments, as well as with provinces and territories and the CCUNESCO to ensure Canada’s strategic priorities are represented in UNESCO’s work.

In accordance with the 2006 Canada-Quebec Agreement on UNESCO, the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO includes a representative of the Government of Quebec on its team. Thus, Quebec can, in its fields of competence, complete the Canadian position. In concrete terms, the governments of Canada and Quebec work in concert on all votes, resolutions, negotiations and proposed normative instruments at UNESCO. The Quebec representative participates actively in daily decisions and meetings, and works alongside the rest of the delegation, as well as with officials from other provinces and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada.

The delegation:

• Exercises influence in areas where foreign policy priorities affect UNESCO's activities
• Seeks to improve the organization’s effectiveness
• Advises and accompanies Canadian partners with an interest in the work of UNESCO

Canada is an elected member of several intergovernmental committees at UNESCO, including:

• the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (term 2023-2027)
• the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005 Committee) (term 2023-2027)

Contact Canada's office to UNESCO

Miollis Office Building of UNESCO at:

Address

1, rue Miollis
75015 Paris, France

Telephone: (011 33 1) 44 43 25 71

Fax: (011 33 1) 44 43 25 79

Email: PESCOG@international.gc.ca