Indonesia Elected as UNESCO`s Executive Board Member

Paris, France, MINA – Indonesia has been elected as member of UNESCO Executive Board (EB) for the period of 2017-2021, the Indoneian Ministry of Foreign Affars said in a statement on Thursday.

The election took place at the 39th UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France, on November 8th, 2017.

Indonesia along with India, Japan, China, the Philippines, and Bangladesh are elected to represent the Asia-Pacific Group as members of the UNESCO EB for the period of 2017-2021. Indonesia received 160 votes -the third highest in the Asia-Pacific Group- in the election which was held behind closed doors.

Japan received 166 votes with India came second with 162 votes. The Philippines managed to secured 157 votes whilst China gained 155 votes. Bangladesh concluded the list from the Asia-Pacific Group with 144 votes. Meanwhile, Cook Islands, missed out with 91 votes.

“As a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for 2017-2021, Indonesia can strategically contribute to the UNESCO’s standard-setting process,” Indonesian Ambassador to UNESCO, H.E. Dr. Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan underlined.

The membership in the UNESCO EB is a strategic platform for Indonesia’s aspiration to voice its agenda considering its wide-ranging interests in UNESCO’s scope of work, in particular related to education and culture. Members of the UNESCO EB have the unique opportunity to contribute to the organization’s decision-making process.

Indonesia’s success has benefited from its achievements and diplomacy throughout its membership in UNESCO and thanks to the full support of the government of Indonesia. To date, Indonesia has donated notable numbers Works of Art to UNESCO and has been an active member of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) for 2015-2019 with the mandate of preserving the world’s heritage. Earlier this year, Indonesia hosted the World Press Freedom Day.

Indonesia has received UNESCO’s acknowledgement as a major contributor to the promotion and preservation of world’s heritage. UNESCO has formally recognized wayang, keris, batik, angklung, noken, Borobudur and Prambanan Temple as world’s heritages. Furthermore, the Saman and Bali Dance are recognized as intangible world’s heritages.

UNESCO Executive Board, and UNESCO General Conference, are decision-making bodies of the UNESCO responsible in standard setting in the field of education, culture, science, and communication information. UNESCO EB governs the management aspect of the organization, especially in the aspect of its finance and administrative matters. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)