Farewell to UNESCO
One of June’s most important responsibilities in Paris has been as Philippine Ambassador to UNESCO, a key body of the United Nations system.
As I write, it was eighty years ago today on June 26, 1945, the Philippines joined 50 other nations in signing the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, marking the birth of the United Nations. While many like to criticise the UN, it is a place where virtually all the world’s countries (today 193 members) come together to work for peace, prosperity and poverty reduction, amongst other goals. The UN may not be perfect, but it is better than complete anarchy.
Within the UN system, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is a specialized agency with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It has 194 member states and 12 associate members, as well as partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sector.
One important function of UNESCO is the administration of World Heritage Sites, which are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain “cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity”.
For its part, the Philippines is proud of its six World Heritage Sites, namely Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Historic City of Vigan, Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Baroque Churches of the Philippines, and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. And the Philippines working hard to have more sites listed.
Beyond that, the Philippines is an active participant in a wide range of UNESCO’s activities like AI, ocean governance, education, culture and science, to name just a few.
For June, leaving Paris means leaving her responsibilities as Philippine Ambassador to UNESCO, a job that she enjoyed so much. She would always say to me that UNESCO is the think tank of the UN system.
An important contribution of the Philippines to the work of UNESCO is through the Filipino nationals who work at the UNESCO Secretariat.
So it was gratifying that a group of Filipino staff members invited her to a farewell lunch.