U.S. Civil Society Views of UNESCO

Summary: At the request of the US Department of State, the National Academies convened a meeting of experts from US civil society organizations in November 2002 to discuss the United States’ re-entry into UNESCO. The Department of State was looking for input from civil society regarding the value of UNESCO programs to the US scientific, educational, and cultural communities, based on those communities’ experience with and impressions of UNESCO programs. The participants thought that in working with the professional communities on this input, the best approach would: (1) have a long-term strategy in providing US input to UNESCO; (2) be decentralized in its outreach; (3) encourage input from groups familiar with UNESCO; (4) provide background materials and information on UNESCO to the various communities; and (5) encourage civil society groups to begin organizing themselves for long-term input on UNESCO programs and strategies.