ASIATODAY.ID, PARIS – Indonesia was successfully elected as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2023-2027 period in the election which took place at the 42nd UNESCO General Conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, 15 November 2023.
In fierce competition in Regional Group IV, Indonesia competed with eight other countries in the Asia Pacific region in competing for six allocated seats on the UNESCO Executive Board, along with Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Korea and Sri Lanka.
In the end, Indonesia succeeded in winning votes from 154 countries, occupying the second highest position in Group IV.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to France, Andorra, Monaco, Mohamad Oemar, who is Indonesia’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, expressed his deepest gratitude for the unwavering support from UNESCO member countries.
“Indonesia is committed to being actively involved and collaborating with other member countries to ensure progress and sustainability in various fields that are UNESCO’s focus.”
UNESCO’s mission, which is very important in promoting global peace and human prosperity, is recognized as a valuable milestone by Indonesia.
“We highly value the principles of pluralism, multilateralism and international cooperation; “which is the key to success in responding to world challenges, including achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Agenda in all competency areas that are UNESCO’s mandate,” said Ambassador Oemar.
Apart from Indonesia, other countries in the Asia Pacific region that were also elected as members of the Executive Council for the same period were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Australia.
In this election, there were 188 UNESCO member countries present and only 181 countries were eligible to vote.
The election of Indonesia as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 8th time since Indonesia joined as a member of UNESCO in 1950 reflects international confidence in Indonesia’s significant contribution in advancing issues of culture, education, science, as well as communication and information at the global level.
As a member of the Executive Council, Indonesia’s role will be very important, considering that one of its duties is to actively participate in formulating policies and making strategic decisions related to UNESCO programs and policies.
The Executive Board also plays a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of UNESCO programs and ensuring that the use of the organization’s budget is efficient and effective in accordance with established policies.
In addition, the Executive Board is also responsible for implementing policies that have been mutually agreed upon by all UNESCO member countries.
With its very diverse role, the Executive Board is a driving force in ensuring that UNESCO achieves its goals and vision to build peace through international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication and information. Indonesia’s continued role as a member of the Executive Council shows Indonesia’s commitment to leading global initiatives for positive change.
As the third largest democracy in the world and one of the most diverse countries, Indonesia’s commitment to advancing peace and sustainable development throughout the world reflects a proactive attitude centered on unity, mutual respect and harmony. The continuation of this commitment is an important point in Indonesia’s contribution to achieving common goals within the UNESCO framework.
The Executive Council is one of UNESCO’s two most important governing bodies after the General Conference. The Executive Council consists of 58 member states from 6 Regional Groups acting under the authority of the UNESCO General Conference.
For the 2023-2027 period, the composition of the Executive Board members elected from each regional group is as follows:
- Group I: Italy, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Germany, America
- Group II: Serbia, Albania, Slovakia, Czech
- Group III: Brazil, Cuba, Dominica, Argentina
- Group IV: Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Republic of Korea, Australia
- Group V(a): Mauritius, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Liberia
- Group V (b): Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq. (AT Network)
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