United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which contributes to the building of peace, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, science, culture, communication and information.

UNESCO was founded at the United Nations Conference for the establishment of an Educational and Cultural Organization held in London in November 1945. On November, 16 the UNESCO Constitution was signed by 37 countries. 

The current number of UNESCO members is 194 states.

 Since November 2017, the representative of France, Audrey Azoulay, has been the Director-General of UNESCO.

Belarus joined UNESCO in 1954. Since that time Belarus has been taken an active part in UNESCO activities.

Cooperation with UNESCO contributes to the growth of the prestige and recognition of Belarus in the international arena, the popularization of its domestic policy in the humanitarian sphere, and the development of bilateral ties. It also makes it possible to solve specific tasks for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, to use advanced international experience in science and education.

Cooperation with UNESCO contributes to enhancing the image and recognition of Belarus in the international arena, to promoting its domestic policy in the humanitarian sphere, and to the development of bilateral ties. It also allows us to solve specific tasks to preserve natural and cultural heritage, to use the best international practices in science and education.

According to the UNESCO Constitution since 1956 the National Commission for UNESCO has been created in Belarus.

Since July 2024, the Chair of the National Commission has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov.

Working body of the National Commission for UNESCO is the Secretariat, which implements its activity under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. 

Contact information:

vul. Lienina, 19, 220030 Minsk
Tel.: +375 17 215 86 55
E-mail: su@mfa.gov.by

In Belarus there are four sites inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List :

Bialowieza Forest with Poland (inscribed in 1979);

Mir Castle Complex (inscribed in 2000);

Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (inscribed in 2005);

Struve Geodetic Arc, jointly with Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Moldova, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden and Ukraine (inscribed in 2005).

Five Belarusian elements are inscribed on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists (UNESCO):

Rite of the Kalyady Tsars/Christmas Tsars (List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, since 2009);

Celebration in honor of the Budslaŭ icon of Our Lady/Budslaŭ fect (Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, since 2018);

Spring rite of Juraŭski Karahod (List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, since 2019);

Tree beekeeping culture with Poland (Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, since 2020);

Straw weaving in Belarus, art, craft and skills (Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, since 2022);

Тhere are two inscriptions on the Memory of the World Register:

Radzwills’ Archives and Niasvizh (Nieśwież) Library Collection jointly with Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Russian Federation and Ukraine (inscribed in 2009);

The Act of the Union of Lublin document jointly with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine (inscribed in 2017). 

In Belarus there are three Biosphere Reserves, which have been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves:

Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve (included in 1978);

Belavezhskaya Pushcha (included in 1993);

West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve with Poland and Ukraine (included in 2003).

In Belarus 6 UNESCO Chairs, 18 UNESCO Associated Schools, 52  UNESCO clubs work successfully.

In 2018, Vitebsk joined the Global Network of Learning Cities, an international association created to share knowledge, skills and best practices in education.

The 100th Anniversary of the birth of writer Vasily Vladimirovich Bykov is included in the List of Anniversaries with which is UNESCO is associated in 2024.