80 PROMOTING AND PROTECTING MINORITY RIGHTS CHAPTER X THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION Summary: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) undertakes a wide range of studies, projects, technical assistance activities and other initiatives that may be relevant to minorities in protecting their culture, religion and education and preventing discrimination. Of particular significance is the work of UNESCO in promoting education, protecting tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and combating racism and all forms of discrimination and intolerance. Members of minorities are able to submit complaints under a confidential UNESCO procedure, alleging that rights falling within the mandate of UNESCO on education, science, culture and communication have been violated. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, founded in 1945. It now has 195 member States and eight associate members; the General Conference of member States is its supreme governing body. Much of its work is accomplished in cooperation with various national institutions which assist in implementing its programme. Member States create national commissions composed of representatives of national educational, scientific and cultural communities; over 9,000 “associated schools” help young people form attitudes of tolerance and international understanding; and close to 4,000 UNESCO clubs, associations and centres promote the organization’s ideals and activities at the grass-roots level. Hundreds of NGOs maintain official relations with UNESCO and over 1,000 cooperate with it on an occasional basis. The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication. UNESCO and minorities The major programmes of UNESCO focus on minorities and respect for their rights as set forth in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities and other relevant international instruments. There are also provisions regarding the rights of minorities in other major UNESCO standardsetting instruments, some of which are discussed below.85 In addition, UNESCO has undertaken activities which address minority issues in its education, social science, culture, communication and information programmes. The fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance has been central to the mandate of UNESCO since its creation. Article 1 of the Constitution of UNESCO stipulates its purpose as being “to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion by the Charter of the United Nations”. See http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=23772&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html (accessed 3 December 2012). 85