Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO: UNESCO Is an Important Platform for Developing International Engagement Based on Global Standards
At the invitation of the Civil Service Management Training Center, the Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO delivered a speech at the specialized academic session entitled “Introduction to the Mechanisms of International Organizations, with an Emphasis on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),” held online on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. During the session, which took place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via the ITMS platform, Dr. Hassan Fartousi discussed the history, structure, and functions of the United Nations and UNESCO. He also presented a report on the activities of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO during the Third Imposed War. |
During the session, the Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO outlined the process through which international organizations emerged after the Second World War and introduced the structure of the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He emphasized the importance of leveraging international engagement opportunities within the framework of global criteria and standards.
Referring to the establishment of international organizations in the post-Second World War era, Dr. Fartousi noted that the contemporary world, recognizing the need for institutions to coordinate and facilitate interactions among countries, moved towards establishing international organizations. In practice, however, the United Nations evolved into an intergovernmental body comprising countries that have not necessarily always been allies and have often had conflicting interests.
He also explained the structure of the United Nations and the way its specialized agencies operate, highlighting the distinction between its affiliated and related bodies. In this context, UNESCO was introduced as one of the United Nations’ specialized agencies, and its structure, mandate, and functions were outlined.
Dr. Fartousi introduced UNESCO’s various divisions, including its Secretariat, departments, and specialized sectors, before explaining the role and responsibilities of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO.
In the final part of the session, he presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Commission’s activities during the war, outlining its responsibilities and the measures undertaken during this period. He urged the participating managers to make use of the opportunities offered by international engagement and to draw on the capacities of UNESCO and other international organizations.
The Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO also emphasized the importance of establishing effective relations based on international standards and criteria. The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment and a discussion of various related topics.
