UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was founded on November 16, 1945. The aim was to create an international organization that would prevent another world war. The founding Constitution was signed by 37 states.
The Preamble to the UNESCO Constitution declares that:
Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defense of peace must be built.
In order to secure a unanimous, lasting, and genuine peace, the Preamble declares that the members of the Constitution believe: in full and equal educational opportunities for all, in the unrestricted pursuit of objective truth, and in the free exchange of ideas and knowledge.
The Constitution defines the purpose of UNESCO as: to contribute to peace and security by promoting cooperation among nations through education, science and culture, in order to encourage universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for human rights and for fundamental freedoms which are due to all peoples of the world, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
