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U.S., Israel quit UNESCO
Why is it in news?
- The U.S. announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), accusing it of “continuing anti-Israel bias.”
- Israel has also decided to pull out of UNESCO.
- UNESCO is the first UN agency to have admitted Palestine as a full member in 2011.
- As required by law, the U.S. has stopped funding UNESCO since then.
- The U.S. withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2018. Until then, it will remain a full member.
UNESCO
What is UNESCO?
- UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
- UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.
Vision:
- UNESCO's founding vision was born in response to a world war that was marked by racist and anti-Semitic violence.
- Developing educational tools to help people live as global citizens free of hate and intolerance.
- Access to quality education to each child and citizen.
- Promoting cultural heritage and the equal dignity of all cultures.
- Fostering scientific programmes and policies as platforms for development and cooperation.
- UNESCO stands up for freedom of expression, as a fundamental right and a key condition for democracy and development.
- Serving as a laboratory of ideas to help countries to adopt international standards and manages programmes that foster the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing.
- Member States : The Organization has 195 Members and 11 Associate Members.
Headquarters : Paris
Source
The Hindu