UNESCO may be best known for its program to protect the cultures of the world via its Heritage sites, which include the Statue of Liberty and Malis Timbuktu. But its core mission, as conceived by the U.S., a co-founder of the agency in 1946, was to be an anti-extremist organization. In todays world, it tackles foreign policy issues such as access to clean water, teaches girls to read, works to eradicate poverty, promotes freedom of expression and gives people creative thinking skills to resist violent extremism. Among UNESCO programs already slashed over funding shortages is one in Iraq that was intended to help restore water facilities. In danger was a Holocaust and genocide awareness program in Africa to teach about non-violence, non-discrimination and ethnic tolerance, using the example of the mass killing of Jews during World War II. This loss is a particular blow to the U.S., since Holocaust awareness was one of the areas the country aggressively promoted in the agencys agenda when it rejoined in 2002 after an 18-year hiatus, during which the U.S. had withdrawn from the organization over differences in vision.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 10:19:32 +0000
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