UNESCO's first 45 years

UNESCO Courier, Nov, 1991 by Michel Conil Lacoste

* The USSR becomes UNESCO's 70th Member State, followed by the Ukrainian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR.

* A first step is taken towards programme concentration. A distinction is made between general programmes (UNESCO's permanent and universal functions) and special activities (designed to meet specific needs of Member States).

* The UNESCO Courier changes its format. The number of language editions later rises to 35 (1991) plus 4 Braille editions. The first non-headquarters edition is the Russian (Moscow, 1957). A German edition follows in 1960. Editions in Swedish and Basque are launched in 1985.

The magazine's current format dates from 1989, when the contents were also modified to concentrate on major themes designed to interest a wide public and treated from an increasingly cross-cultural viewpoint.

* The European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN), created with the participation of UNESCO, comes into operation.

Culture

* The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is adopted at The Hague. In 1991 76 States are Parties to this Convention.

* The International Association of Plastic Arts (now the International Association of Art) is created under UNESCO auspices. Its members are painters, sculptors, engravers and other practitioners of the visual arts working in over 80 countries. Its activities include: contributing to the development of art and of access to the arts in all world regions; communication between artists from different countries; documentation; defence of the material interests and moral rights of creators. Among its advisers (past and present) are Sonia Delaunay, Miro, Calder, Moore, Louise Nevelson, Matta, Schoffer, Vasarely.

Communication

* The Director-General is authorized by the General Conference to help Member States, at their request, to develop their communication and information media.

1955

General policy

* A new programme, later known as the "participation programme", is launched. Financed from the UNESCO budget, it enables the Organization to contribute to certain activities carried out by Member States at the national or international level, connected with UNESCO's objectives.

Social sciences

* Launch of the "associated youth enterprises system" designed to associate UNESCO with experimental initiatives serving the cause of international understanding and seeking to develop a sense of social responsibility among young people.

1956

General policy

* At New Delhi, the General Conference approves UNESCO's first 3 Mayor Projects: on the extension of primary education in Latin America (teacher training), for 1957-1966; on scientific research on arid lands, for 1957-1962; on mutual appreciation of Eastern and Western cultural values, for 1957-1966.

* South Africa withdraws from UNESCO.

* UNESCO inaugurates a world anthology of treaties and laws on copyright, since then annually updated.

Education

* A meeting of experts, then a working party of the General Conference, proposes a new definition of "fundamental education". The latter "aims to help people who have not obtained such help from established educational institutions to understand the problems of their environment and their rights and duties as citizens and individuals, to acquire a body of knowledge and skill for the progressive improvement of their living conditions and to participate more effectively in the economic and social development of their community".