“The roles and responsibilities of National Commissions have significantly evolved over the years. Initially entrusted with the tasks of consultation and liaison by the Constitution of UNESCO in 1945, National Commissions were later called upon to take up the functions of information and execution by the General Conference at its 14th session in 1966. The Charter of National Commissions for UNESCO, adopted in 1978, called upon Member States to broaden their tasks by adding the functions of the preparation and evaluation of UNESCO’s programmes.

The adoption of the Charter of National Commissions for UNESCO by the General Conference at its 20th session in 1978 was an important milestone in the evolution of National Commissions. …

The Charter specifies that it is for each Member States to define the range of responsibilities of its National Commission. It spells out the purpose and functions of National Commissions, explains their roles in relation to their governments and UNESCO, and outlines the responsibilities of both Member States and UNESCO towards National Commissions. Most importantly, the Charter stipulates that the strengthening of a National Commission’s operational capacity should be a joint responsibility shared between the Member State concerned and the Secretariat.

Since the adoption of the Charter more than two decades ago, a further sixty-one National Commissions have been established, thus adding to the repository of intellectual wealth at the disposal of the Secretariat. Inevitably, the tasks of the National Commissions have also evolved considerably throughout these years. Today we witness a renewal of their essential role in facilitating UNESCO’s outreach to civil society, non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians, the private sector and other important social actors in the community.”

Ahmed Sayyad
Assistant Director-General
for External Relations and Cooperation
(Legal Texts on National Commissions
For UNESCO: Article VII of UNESCO’s
Constitution, The Charter of National
Commissions For UNESCO and The Relevant
Resolutions of the General Conference
Adopted Since 1978)