Secretary General
Mr Augustine Omare Okurut permanent delegation to unesco H. E. Mrs Rhoda Kaisho Sinani Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uganda to France, Permanent Delegate (6/17/2004)

Contact
Postel Building, Yusuf Lule Road, Kampala, Uganda
Tel: (256 41) 25 97 13, Fax: (256 41) 25 84 05
E-mail: ugunesco@africaonline.co.ug;
admin@unesco-uganda.org
Web site: http://www.unesco-uganda.orgs

Participation in subsidiary organs

Subsidiary organs of the General Conference
• Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Country of Origin or its Restitution in Case of Illicit Appropriation
Member (Term expires: 34th General Conference)

• Conciliation and Good Offices Commission Responsible for Seeking the Settlement of any Disputes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education Member: Ms Florence M. D’Ujanga (Term expires: 34th General Conference)

• Intergovernmental Bioethics
Committee
Member (Term expires: 34th General Conference)

Functions

National Commissions are entrusted with the following functions:

Consultation by ensuring the active participation of Member States and the cooperation of the national intellectual and scientific communities, in the elaboration and evaluation of UNESCO’s programme and budget;

Liaison between UNESCO and national ministerial departments, institutions and experts in the fields of UNESCO’s competence;

Information by making known UNESCO’s aims and objectives, and by contributing to the visibility of its action at country level, as well as by fostering national support to the activities of the Organization; they also act as relays for the dissemination of the Organization’s publications, documents and information materials. In this regard, they may act as distribution outlets and ensure the translation of materials into national languages;

Preparation, execution and evaluation of UNESCO’s programmes; this role, which has been confirmed as part of the decentralization policy, takes various forms, according to whether National Commissions are entrusted with directly implementing certain activities, with facilitating their execution, or with assuring their visibility in Member States.

The Evolving Roles and Functions of National Commissions for UNESCO


Traditionally charged with contacting and mobilizing partners in civil society with the aim of reinforcing the visibility of UNESCO and its programme priorities in all regions, National Commissions are encouraged to establish closer relations with decision-makers at country level via:

> co-operation with institutional and traditional partners within the intellectual community and civil society as a whole;

> increased dialogue with new partners such as parliamentarians, regional and local authorities, professional associations and the private sector.

Moreover, National Commissions are likely to play an increasing role in the decentralization process which is an essential part of the ongoing review and reform of UNESCO’s structures and modalities for programme delivery. In promoting the intellectual and universal mission of UNESCO; they strive to optimize its translation into concrete effective action at the national and regional levels, in cooperation with UNESCO’s Field Offices.

The 190 National Commissions constitute a network based on solidarity at diverse levels to further UNESCO’s aims. Acting in their dual capacity as national bodies and as channels for UNESCO’s mission in their respective countries, they ensure that UNESCO becomes a living reality in each Member State and Associate Member.