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Summary
The chapter discusses three major agencies of the United Nations: UNICEF, WHO, and UNESCO, focusing on their functions and objectives.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, was established in 1946 to address the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe. It later expanded its scope to help children in developing countries. The agency focuses on children’s welfare, providing services like healthcare, nutrition, education, and sanitation. UNICEF is financed through voluntary contributions, donations, and fundraising activities such as the sale of greeting cards. Its work includes immunisation campaigns, training of health workers, and supplying technical equipment to improve children’s living conditions. UNICEF also works in collaboration with governments and other organisations to enhance community-based services and respond to emergencies affecting children and mothers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948 with the goal of achieving the highest possible level of health for all people. WHO defines health as complete well-being, not just the absence of disease. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. WHO helps countries improve their healthcare systems, provides essential medicines, promotes research, and fights against major diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and polio. The organisation also works on improving access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. WHO publishes health-related journals and organises training for healthcare professionals worldwide.
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, was established in 1946 with its headquarters in Paris. UNESCO aims to promote peace and security by encouraging collaboration among nations in education, science, culture, and communication. The organisation works to eliminate illiteracy, especially among women and girls, supports scientific research, and preserves cultural heritage. UNESCO also promotes international understanding through education and communication, and assists in the development of media and press freedom.
Each of these agencies plays a crucial role in improving global living conditions and fostering international cooperation.
Video tutorial
Textbook (Total History) solutions
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. UNICEF is governed by an Executive Board consisting of _____ members?
A. 34
B. 36
C. 32
D. 38
Answer: B. 36
2. Where is the Headquarters of UNICEF located?
A. New York, USA
B. Washington, USA
C. Florida, USA
D. New Jersey, USA
Answer: A. New York, USA
3. To finance its projects, UNICEF depends on:
A. Voluntary contributions by governments
B. Donations by private agencies
C. Sale of Greeting cards
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
4. The main focus of UNICEF is:
A. Healthcare
B. Education
C. Children’s welfare
D. Communication
Answer: C. Children’s welfare
5. When is World Health Day celebrated?
A. April 14
B. April 17
C. April 8
D. April 7
Answer: D. April 7
6. Where is the headquarters of WHO located?
A. Paris, France
B. Geneva, Switzerland
C. New York, USA
D. Bern, Switzerland
Answer: B. Geneva, Switzerland
7. Which of the following diseases was not a part of the programme to immunise children by WHO?
A. Polio
B. Tetanus
C. Whooping cough
D. Malaria
Answer: D. Malaria
8. Where was the conference held for the establishment of an educational, scientific and cultural organisation?
A. Bern
B. Geneva
C. London
D. New York
Answer: C. London
9. Where is the Headquarters of UNESCO located?
A. Bern
B. Hague
C. Paris
D. New York
Answer: C. Paris
10. The largest sector of UNESCO’s activity is in the field of:
A. Education
B. Science
C. Culture
D. Health
Answer: A. Education
11. Which of the following is NOT a function of UNESCO?
A. Scientific Activities
B. Communication
C. Preservation of Cultural Heritage
D. Research of Mythology
Answer: D. Research of Mythology
12. In a remote village in Rwanda, the infant mortality rate is one in every ten live births. Which agency of the UN could help this village?
A. UNICEF
B. WHO
C. UNESCO
D. None of the above
Answer: A. UNICEF
13. Which of the following is NOT a World Heritage Site?
A. The Taj Mahal
B. Ajanta Caves
C. Delhi Public Library
D. Agra Fort
Answer: C. Delhi Public Library
14. Your school is organising a handicrafts fair. You have gone to a village to seek craftsmen to participate in the fair. You realise that the village is facing a total lack of potable drinking water. Besides the local government, who else could help you?
A. WHO
B. UNESCO
C. UNICEF
D. Your school
Answer: C. UNICEF
Select the correct relationship
1. (A) The United Nations Children’s Fund’s main objective is to look after children’s welfare especially in developing countries.
(B) UNICEF is a partner of the Indian government in the rural water supply programme.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: Statement (A) refers to the broad objective of UNICEF, which focuses on children’s welfare, particularly in developing countries. Statement (B) mentions a specific partnership between UNICEF and the Indian government on a rural water supply programme. While both statements involve UNICEF’s activities, they address different aspects of its work—(A) is about the general mission, and (B) is about a particular project. Therefore, these statements are independent of each other.
2. (A) WHO’s objective is to attain the highest possible level of health by all people.
(B) WHO developed a vaccine to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic and shipped it to over 100 countries.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: Statement (A) outlines the general goal of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is to achieve the highest possible level of health worldwide. Statement (B) details a specific action taken by WHO in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While both statements are true and related to WHO’s activities, they do not depend on each other; the general objective of WHO in (A) is not directly caused by the development of a COVID-19 vaccine as stated in (B).
3. (A) The largest sector of UNESCO’s activity is in the field of education.
(B) The main function of UNESCO is to identify the monuments in different parts of the world and declare them as World Heritage sites.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: Statement (A) highlights that education is the largest sector of UNESCO’s activities. Statement (B) describes UNESCO’s role in identifying and declaring World Heritage sites, which falls under its cultural preservation efforts. Both statements describe important aspects of UNESCO’s work, but they pertain to different areas of its operations, making them independent of each other.
4. (A) Delhi Public Library was established in 1951 with financial assistance from UNESCO.
(B) UNESCO provides grants to the organisation of library systems and the promotion of international understanding through education.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other
Answer: (b) (B) is the reason for (A).
Explanation: Statement (A) mentions the establishment of Delhi Public Library with UNESCO’s financial help. Statement (B) explains that UNESCO provides grants for organizing library systems, which directly supports and promotes educational initiatives. The financial assistance mentioned in (A) is a specific instance of the general activity described in (B), making (B) the reason for (A).
5. (A) UNESCO lays emphasis on education of women and children.
(B) UNESCO upholds the freedom of the Press and independence of the media.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: Statement (A) emphasizes UNESCO’s focus on promoting education for women and children, while statement (B) refers to UNESCO’s role in supporting freedom of the press and media independence. Both are part of UNESCO’s broader mission to foster peace and security through education, science, culture, and communication, but they address distinct areas within UNESCO’s mandate, making them independent of each other.
Short Answer Questions
1. Give the full form of these agencies of the UN: WHO and UNICEF. In which type of countries do the above agencies of UN work?
Answer: WHO stands for World Health Organization. UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. The above agencies of the UN work in developing countries.
2. Which agency of the UN looks after the interest of the children in the world? What was the original purpose of setting up this agency?
Answer: The agency of the UN that looks after the interest of children in the world is UNICEF. The original purpose of setting up this agency was to help the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe.
3. How does UNICEF raise its funds?
Answer: UNICEF raises its funds through voluntary contributions made by different governments, donations made by private agencies, the sale of greeting cards, and through various fund-raising campaigns.
4. Where are the headquarters of UNICEF? Name two preventable diseases against which UNICEF organises its programmes.
Answer: The headquarters of UNICEF are in New York. Two preventable diseases against which UNICEF organises its programmes are tuberculosis and malaria.
5. Mention some of the UNICEF programmes followed in India.
Answer:
(i) The government of India has launched in collaboration with UNICEF the National Mission on Immunisation, the National Mission for Drinking Water and the National Literacy Mission. UNICEF is committed to ensuring all children in India have access to inclusive and equitable quality education. It is working closely with the Government of India, State Governments in 17 States, civil society, academic institutions and private sector. It is working with the Government to ensure that every child in India has access to clean water and basic toilets as well as practices good hygiene behaviours.
(ii) Community Development Programme has been started in the rural areas of India with UNICEF’s assistance, aimed at maternal and child health.
(iii) The government’s efforts to reduce infant and child mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases supported by UNICEF for the production of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT). Since 1986, ORT has become a full-fledged national programme.
(iv) UNICEF is a partner of the Indian government in the accelerated rural water supply programme.
(v) Since the 1990s, the government of India, UNICEF and other UN agencies have been working together for the promotion of iodised salt as the best way of preventing iodine deficiency disorders.
(vi) UNICEF seeks to advance the fulfillment of the rights of all women and children in India to survival, development, participation and protection by reducing social inequalities based on gender, caste, ethnicity or region.
6. What is the role of UNICEF in modern times?
Answer: UNICEF works for the protection of children in respect of their survival, health, and well-being. This is done in cooperation with individuals, civic groups, governments and the private sector. It provides funds for training personnel, including health and sanitation workers, teachers and nutritionists. It provides technical supplies, equipment and other aids, ranging from paper for textbooks, to equipment and medicines to health clinics, to pipes and pumps for bringing clean water to villages. It assists governments to plan, develop and extend community-based services in the fields of maternal and child health, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. It provides help to children and mothers in emergencies arising from natural calamities, civil strifes and epidemics. It makes effort to prevent diseases like tuberculosis (T.B.), malaria, eye diseases, skin diseases, etc. As the sole agency for children, it speaks on behalf of children and upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child and works for its implementation.
7. Why was UNESCO established? Where are its headquarters?
Answer: UNESCO was established to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture, and communication. Its headquarters are in Paris.
Structured Questions
1. The United Nations apart from its main organs also work through its allied agencies. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) Write the expanded form of UNESCO. Mention two of its functions in the field of education.
Answer: The expanded form of UNESCO is United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The two functions of UNESCO in the field of education are:
- Removal of illiteracy by encouragement to adult education, distance-education and the open school system.
- Emphasis on education of women and girls.
(b) Explain three vital roles that the WHO plays in combating diseases.
Answer: The three vital roles that the WHO plays in combating diseases are:
- It helps countries to improve their health system by building up infrastructure especially manpower, institutions and services for the individual and community.
- It promotes research to cure and prevent diseases. For example, it arranged for the investigation of cancer and heart diseases in laboratories in many countries to identify disease-causing organisms, to improve vaccines and to train research workers.
- It aims at fighting diseases and preventing them from spreading. Malaria eradication programme continues to be the world’s biggest health programme.
(c) Mention any two functions of the UNICEF.
Answer: The two functions of the UNICEF are:
- UNICEF works for the protection of children in respect of their survival, health, and well-being. This is done in cooperation with individuals, civic groups, governments and the private sector.
- It provides help to children and mothers in emergencies arising from natural calamities, civil strifes and epidemics.
2. With reference to UNESCO, answer the following questions:
(a) What were the objectives of the formation of UNESCO?
Answer: The objectives of the formation of UNESCO are to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication.
(b) How is the development of education, science and culture related to peace?
Answer: The development of education, science and culture is related to peace as these elements promote mutual understanding, respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights among nations, which are essential for maintaining peace and security in the world.
(c) What efforts have been made by UNESCO to preserve cultural heritage?
Answer: The efforts made by UNESCO to preserve cultural heritage include:
- UNESCO provides technical advice and assistance, equipment and funds for the preservation of monuments and other works of art. It has prepared a World Heritage List to identify the monuments and sites which are to be protected.
- It aims to protect the world inheritance of books, works of art and rare manuscripts.
Picture Study
1. Study the picture and answer the following questions:
(a) Identify the organisation associated with the given emblem. Where are its headquarters located? Name two sources from where this organisation gets its funds.
Answer: The organisation associated with the emblem is WHO (World Health Organization). Its headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland. Two sources from where this organisation gets its funds are assessed contributions from member states and voluntary donations from member states and other partners.
(b) What is the main objective of this organisation? State any two functions of this organisation.
Answer: The main objective of this organisation is the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people. Two functions of this organisation are: (i) It helps countries to improve their health system by building up infrastructure, especially manpower, institutions and services for the individual and community. (ii) It promotes research to cure and prevent diseases.
(c) Mention any two achievements of this organisation.
Answer: Two achievements of this organisation are: (i) Smallpox has been eradicated. (ii) A decline of 40 percent in the number of deaths from Tuberculosis.
2. Study the emblem and answer the following question:
(a) Name the organisation associated with the emblem.
Answer: The organisation associated with the emblem is UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund).
(b) Mention any three functions of the organisation named by you.
Answer:
- UNICEF works for the protection of children in respect of their survival, health, and well-being.
- It provides funds for training personnel, including health and sanitation workers, teachers and nutritionists.
- It assists governments to plan, develop, and extend community-based services in the fields of maternal and child health, nutrition, clean water, and sanitation.
(c) Mention any two programmes of this organisation in India.
Answer:
- The government’s efforts to reduce infant and child mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases are supported by UNICEF for the production of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT).
- UNICEF is a partner of the Indian government in the accelerated rural water supply programme.
Thinking Skills
1. Do you think that the major agencies of the United Nations have lived up to the agenda for which they were created? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: Yes, the major agencies of the United Nations have lived up to the agenda for which they were created. These agencies have made significant contributions towards improving global health, education, and the well-being of children, among other areas. For instance, the WHO has played a crucial role in eradicating smallpox and nearly eliminating polio. UNICEF has provided essential services to children in developing countries, such as immunization and nutrition programs. UNESCO has promoted education, science, and culture worldwide, contributing to peace and security. These achievements demonstrate that the agencies have effectively worked towards their respective goals.
2. If you were given a choice to work for any one of the major agencies of the UN, which one you will choose and why?
Answer: If I were given a choice to work for any one of the major agencies of the UN, I would choose to work for UNICEF. This is because UNICEF focuses on the welfare of children, which I believe is a critical area for ensuring the future of our world. Working for UNICEF would allow me to contribute to improving the lives of children in developing countries by providing them with essential services such as education, healthcare, and nutrition. Additionally, UNICEF’s efforts to protect children’s rights and promote their development align with my personal values and passion for making a positive impact on society.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. When was UNICEF created by the UN General Assembly?
A. 1945
B. 1946
C. 1950
D. 1965
Answer: B. 1946
22. What is the name of UNESCO’s official monthly magazine?
A. Health Panorama
B. Public Health Panorama
C. The Bulletin
D. Courier
Answer: D. Courier
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. In which year was UNICEF created?
Answer: 1946.
Q. Where are the headquarters of UNICEF located?
Answer: New York.
Q. What is one of the main sources of income for UNICEF?
Answer: Sale of greeting cards.
Q. What is the main objective of UNICEF?
Answer: To look after children’s welfare, especially in developing countries.
Q. What does UNICEF provide during natural calamities and civil strifes?
Answer: Help to children and mothers.
Q. What is the Universal Child Immunisation goal related to?
Answer: Immunisation against preventable diseases.
Q. Which prize did UNICEF win in 1965?
Answer: The Nobel Prize for Peace.
Q. What national mission in India is associated with clean water?
Answer: The National Mission for Drinking Water.
Q. What is the World Health Organization (WHO)?
Answer: The WHO is the United Nations specialised agency for health.
Q. When was WHO established?
Answer: WHO was established on April 7, 1948.
Q. How many United Nations members ratified the WHO Constitution?
Answer: 26 members ratified the WHO Constitution.
Q. Where are the headquarters of WHO located?
Answer: The headquarters of WHO are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Q. What is celebrated on April 7 each year?
Answer: April 7 is celebrated as World Health Day.
Q. How does WHO define health in its Constitution?
Answer: Health is defined as a state of complete well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Q. What disease has WHO nearly eradicated?
Answer: WHO has nearly eradicated the guinea worm.
Q. When was UNESCO established?
Answer: UNESCO was established on November 4, 1946.
Q. Where are the headquarters of UNESCO located?
Answer: The headquarters of UNESCO are in Paris, France.
Q. What is the main objective of UNESCO?
Answer: The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world through education, science, culture, and communication.
Q. What is the name of UNESCO’s official monthly magazine?
Answer: The official monthly magazine of UNESCO is called ‘Courier’.
Q. What are the main functions of UNICEF in developing countries?
Answer: UNICEF’s main functions in developing countries include providing services in primary healthcare, nutrition, basic education, sanitation, and women’s development. It works for the protection of children in terms of their survival, health, and well-being. It also provides technical supplies, equipment, and funds to support these areas, and assists governments in planning and developing community-based services in maternal and child health, nutrition, clean water, and sanitation.
Q. How does UNICEF generate funds for its operations?
Answer: UNICEF generates funds primarily through voluntary contributions made by governments, donations from private agencies, the sale of greeting cards, and various fundraising campaigns. The sale of UNICEF cards is a significant source of income, generating over $100 million worldwide. These funds are used to support programmes benefiting children, particularly in the poorest developing countries, with a focus on children up to the age of five.
Q. What role does UNICEF play in India’s development programs?
Answer: In India, UNICEF plays a crucial role in supporting government initiatives aimed at providing low-cost community-based services in maternal and child health, nutrition, clean drinking water, sanitation, and immunisation. UNICEF collaborates with the government on major programmes like the National Mission on Immunisation, the National Mission for Drinking Water, and the National Literacy Mission. It also supports efforts to reduce infant and child mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases through the promotion of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) and the use of iodised salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.
Q. What are the main functions of WHO?
Answer: The main functions of WHO include helping countries improve their health systems, providing important drugs for medical care, promoting research to cure and prevent diseases, providing safe drinking water, and combating diseases to prevent their spread. WHO also defines standards for the strength and purity of medicines and makes efforts to combat diarrhoeal diseases.
Q. How does UNESCO contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage?
Answer: UNESCO contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage by providing technical advice, assistance, equipment, and funds for the preservation of monuments and works of art. It has prepared a World Heritage List to identify and protect significant monuments and sites. UNESCO also protects the world’s inheritance of books, works of art, and rare manuscripts, encourages artistic creations, and promotes cultural development through the medium of films.
Q. What is the origin and purpose of UNICEF?
Answer: The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was created by the UN General Assembly during its first session in 1946 to address the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe. Initially focused on providing aid to children affected by World War II, UNICEF’s programme was extended in 1950 to offer long-range benefits to children in all developing countries. Later on, its name was changed to the United Nations Children’s Fund, but the acronym UNICEF continued to be used.
Q. How is UNICEF governed and what does its Executive Board do?
Answer: UNICEF is governed by a 36-member Executive Board. This board plays a critical role in the governance of the organization by reviewing UNICEF’s activities and approving its policies, country programmes, and budgets. The Executive Board ensures that the organization’s efforts align with its mission to support the welfare of children worldwide.
Q. Where is UNICEF headquartered and how extensive is its presence globally?
Answer: UNICEF is headquartered in New York and has an extensive global presence with more than 200 offices in developing countries. These offices are instrumental in implementing UNICEF’s programmes and initiatives to support children and communities in need around the world.
Q. How is UNICEF financed and what are its primary sources of income?
Answer: UNICEF is primarily financed through voluntary contributions made by different governments, donations from private agencies, the sale of greeting cards, and various fund-raising campaigns. A significant source of income for UNICEF is the worldwide sale of its greeting cards, which generates funds exceeding $100 million. All of these funds are allocated to programmes aimed at benefiting children, particularly in the poorest developing countries.
Q. What is the main objective of UNICEF?
Answer: The main objective of UNICEF is to look after children’s welfare, especially in developing countries. It does this by providing low-cost community-based services in maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, and other related areas. The focus is on improving the health and well-being of children and mothers through various support and intervention programmes.
Q. What are the primary functions of UNICEF?
Answer: The primary functions of UNICEF include:
(i) Working for the protection of children concerning their survival, health, and well-being, in cooperation with individuals, civic groups, governments, and the private sector.
(ii) Providing funds for training personnel, including health and sanitation workers, teachers, and nutritionists. Universal Child Immunisation against preventable diseases was one of the leading goals of UNICEF.
(iii) Supplying technical resources, equipment, and other aids, such as paper for textbooks, medical supplies for health clinics, and infrastructure for clean water.
(iv) Assisting governments in planning, developing, and extending community-based services in maternal and child health, nutrition, clean water, and sanitation.
(v) Offering assistance to children and mothers in emergencies caused by natural calamities, civil strife, and epidemics.
(vi) Striving to prevent diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, eye diseases, and skin diseases.
(vii) Serving as the sole agency for children, speaking on their behalf, upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and working for its implementation.
Q. What recognition has UNICEF received for its work?
Answer: UNICEF has been recognized globally for its efforts in supporting children and promoting peace. It was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 and the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace in 1989. These awards highlight UNICEF’s significant contributions to improving the lives of children and fostering global peace.
Q. What is the goal of UNICEF’s programmes in India?
Answer: UNICEF’s goal in India is to enable every child born in the country to have the best start in life, thrive, and develop to his or her full potential. UNICEF has been instrumental in almost all government programmes aimed at providing low-cost community-based services in maternal and child health, nutrition, clean drinking water, sanitation, and immunisation. It is committed to ensuring all children in India have access to inclusive and equitable quality education, clean water, and basic toilets, as well as promoting good hygiene practices.
Q. What major programmes have been launched in India with UNICEF’s assistance?
Answer: Major programmes launched in India with UNICEF’s assistance include:
(i) The National Mission on Immunisation, the National Mission for Drinking Water, and the National Literacy Mission, in collaboration with the Indian government. UNICEF is working closely with both central and state governments to ensure children’s access to education, clean water, and sanitation.
(ii) The Community Development Programme aimed at maternal and child health in rural areas.
(iii) Efforts to reduce infant and child mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases, supported by UNICEF through the production of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), which became a national programme in 1986.
(iv) Partnership in the accelerated rural water supply programme.
(v) Promotion of iodised salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders since the 1990s, in collaboration with other UN agencies.
(vi) Working towards advancing the rights of women and children in India by reducing social inequalities based on gender, caste, ethnicity, or region.
Q. What is the primary objective of the World Health Organization (WHO)?
Answer: WHO’s objective is the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people. Health is defined in WHO’s Constitution as a state of complete well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Q. Where are the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) located?
Answer: The headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Q. What are some of the key functions performed by the World Health Organization (WHO)?
Answer: The WHO performs several key functions:
- It helps countries improve their health systems by building up infrastructure, especially manpower, institutions, and services for individuals and communities.
- It provides important drugs needed for medical care and has launched a programme to immunise children against six major diseases: Measles, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Polio, and Whooping Cough.
- It promotes research to cure and prevent diseases, such as investigating cancer and heart diseases in laboratories worldwide to identify disease-causing organisms, improve vaccines, and train research workers.
- It works towards providing safe drinking water and adequate waste disposal, declaring 1981-1990 as the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade.
- It organises conferences, seminars, and training for health care personnel from different countries.
- It fights diseases and prevents them from spreading, with the Malaria eradication programme being the world’s biggest health programme.
- It defines standards for the strength and purity of medicines, including biological products.
- It makes special efforts to combat diarrhoeal diseases, which are known as killers of infants and young children.
- It publishes health journals like the “Bulletin of the World Health Organization” and “Public Health Panorama” to create health consciousness among people.
Q. What led to the establishment of UNESCO, and when was it established?
Answer: A conference was held in London in November 1945 to establish an educational, scientific, and cultural organisation, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 4th November 1946.
Q. What is the main objective of UNESCO, and where are its headquarters located?
Answer: The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture, and communication. This is done to further respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights for all human beings. The headquarters of UNESCO are located in Paris.
Q. What are some of the main functions of UNESCO in the field of education?
Answer: The main functions of UNESCO in the field of education include:
- Removal of illiteracy by encouraging adult education, distance-education, and the open school system.
- Emphasising the education of women and girls.
- Providing financial assistance for the education of disabled children.
- Provision of grants and fellowships to teachers and scholars, organising library systems, and promoting international understanding through education.
- Organising book fairs and festivals at international and national levels. For example, the development of the library system is an important component of continuing education. The Delhi Public Library, established in 1951 with financial assistance from UNESCO, has developed into a big metropolitan public library system.
- Encouragement of science education by providing regional training centres.
- Promoting education as an instrument for international understanding.
Q. What are some of the scientific activities undertaken by UNESCO?
Answer: The scientific activities undertaken by UNESCO include:
- Organising seminars and conferences of scientists from various countries and circulating information through journals, press, and exhibitions. “Courier” is the official monthly magazine of UNESCO, and its Hindi and Tamil editions are available in India.
- Promoting basic research in fields like geology, mathematics, physics, and oceanography, and financing engineering and technology schemes in several developing countries.
- Helping to correct the imbalance in scientific and technological manpower, as 90 per cent of trained manpower is concentrated in industrialised countries.
- Encouraging the study of social sciences to focus on combating all forms of discrimination, improving the status of women, and helping the youth in solving their problems.
Q. How does UNESCO contribute to communication development?
Answer: UNESCO develops communication for the dissemination of information through:
- Setting up regional networks, training technicians, and dealing with both hardware and software aspects of informatics.
- Improving the quality of the press, films, and video services.
- Assisting developing countries in developing communication.
- Upholding the freedom of the press and the independence of the media.
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41. What does UNESCO do to preserve cultural heritage?
Answer: UNESCO encourages modernisation without losing cultural identity and diversity by:
- Providing technical advice and assistance, equipment, and funds for the preservation of monuments and other works of art. It has prepared a World Heritage List to identify monuments and sites that need protection.
- Protecting the world inheritance of books, works of art, and rare manuscripts.
- Encouraging artistic creations in literature and fine arts.
- Focusing on cultural development through the medium of films.
- Sending cultural missions to different countries to promote peace and prosperity through cultural exchanges. In the past, it has provided travel grants to writers and artists under a project named Mutual Appreciation of Eastern and Western Cultural Values. India’s talented exponents of classical music and dance have travelled to Europe and America under this scheme.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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