Strategic Objectives

The General Conference of UNESCO has identified several themes, thrusts and objectives for the Organization to attain by 2007.

UNESCO's Unifying Theme:

"Contributing to peace and human development in an era of globalization through education, the sciences, culture and communication" (Medium-Term Strategy, 2002-2007).

Two Cross-Cutting Themes:

• Eradication of poverty, especially extreme poverty.
  
• The contribution of information anc communication technologies to the development of education, science anc culture and the construction of a knowledge society.

Three Main Strategic Thrusts:

• Developing and promoting universal principles and norms, based on shared values, in order to meet emerging challenges in education, schiece, culture and comminication and to protect and strengthen the "common public good".
• Promoting pluralism, through recognition and safeguarding of diversity together with the observance of human rights.
• Promoting empowerment and participation in the emerging knowledge society through equitable access, capacity-building and sharing of knowledge.

Twelve Strategic Objectives. Three for each of the action areas of UNESCO:

Education	Sciences	Culture	Communication & Information
Promoting education as a fundamental right in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;	Promoting principles and ethical norms to guide scientific and technological development and social transformation;	Promoting the drafting and implementation of standard-setting instruments in the cultural field;	Promoting the free flow of ideas and universal access to information;
Improving the quality of education through the diversification of contents and methods and the promotion of universally shared values;	Improving human security by better management of the environment and social change;	Protecting cultural diversity and encouraging pluralism and dialogue between cultures and civilizations;	Promoting the expression of pluralism and cultural diversity in the media and world information networks;
Promoting experimentation, innovation and the diffusion and sharing of information and best practices as well as policy dialogue in education.	Enhancing scientific, technical and human capacities to participate in the emerging knowledge societies.	Enhancing the linkages between culture and development, through capacity-building and sharing of knowledge.	Access for all to information and communication technologies, especially in the public domain.

Produced by BSP, 2002