New Edition of the NatCom Newsletter

Comments from the Executive Director:

The first part of 2007 has been particularly productive for the United States and its involvement with UNESCO. As you will see, the articles in this issue clearly demonstrate the high level of participation in two of our priorities - literacy and water. In addition, we are pleased to see the progress of the development of the U.S. World Heritage Candidate List, the success of the L'Oreal Women in Science Awards Program, and the honoring of the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave route. Finally, enjoy the article about "A Celebration of Jazz", a well-attended event that took place immediately prior to the Executive Board, and hosted by our Mission. Here in Washington, the attention of the Commission Secretariat is now focused on preparations for our upcoming 3rd Annual Meeting, to be held May 21-22, in Washington DC. The theme of the meeting is "UNESCO as Capacity Builder: Pursuing its Mandate through Education, the Sciences, Culture, and Communications".

Click here to read the newsletter online.
Volume 3, Issue 1, January/February/March/April 2007

Contents

• Overview from the Executive Director
• First Lady Laura Bush Hosts Roundtable on Literacy and Teacher Training at UNESCO
• UNESCO Middle East Regional Literacy Conference in Qatar a Success
• International Webchat Celebrates Education For All Week
• 200^th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Route Exhibit Opens at UN
• U.S. Mission to UNESCO Hosts Jazz Music Cultural Event at UNESCO
• U.S. National Parks Service Receives Submissions for UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• U.S. National Committee for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission conducts first meeting
• L'Oreal For Women in Science Awarded to American; 2007 International Fellowship opens
• UNESCO Job Vacancies

New Edition of the NatCom Newsletter

Comments from the Executive Director:

The first part of 2007 has been particularly productive for the United States and its involvement with UNESCO. As you will see, the articles in this issue clearly demonstrate the high level of participation in two of our priorities - literacy and water. In addition, we are pleased to see the progress of the development of the U.S. World Heritage Candidate List, the success of the L'Oreal Women in Science Awards Program, and the honoring of the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic slave route. Finally, enjoy the article about "A Celebration of Jazz", a well-attended event that took place immediately prior to the Executive Board, and hosted by our Mission. Here in Washington, the attention of the Commission Secretariat is now focused on preparations for our upcoming 3rd Annual Meeting, to be held May 21-22, in Washington DC. The theme of the meeting is "UNESCO as Capacity Builder: Pursuing its Mandate through Education, the Sciences, Culture, and Communications".

Click here to read the newsletter online.
Volume 3, Issue 1, January/February/March/April 2007

Contents

• Overview from the Executive Director
• First Lady Laura Bush Hosts Roundtable on Literacy and Teacher Training at UNESCO
• UNESCO Middle East Regional Literacy Conference in Qatar a Success
• International Webchat Celebrates Education For All Week
• 200^th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Route Exhibit Opens at UN
• U.S. Mission to UNESCO Hosts Jazz Music Cultural Event at UNESCO
• U.S. National Parks Service Receives Submissions for UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• U.S. National Committee for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission conducts first meeting
• L'Oreal For Women in Science Awarded to American; 2007 International Fellowship opens
• UNESCO Job Vacancies

"U.S. Fights Off Bid to Punish UNESCO Official"

Read the full article subtitled "Former Congressman Accused of Giving 'Preferential Treatment' on Contract to Chicago Firm" by Colum Lynch in The Washington Post of May 6, 2007.

The United States and its key allies last week fended off a campaign by developing countries to discipline UNESCO's highest-ranking U.S. official, Peter Smith, a former Republican congressman from Vermont. Smith resigned in March after an audit found he granted "preferential treatment" to a Chicago-based consulting firm that received $2.15 million in contracts -- often without competitive bidding.

The move placed the United States -- which has long called for greater transparency and accountability at the United Nations -- in the awkward position of opposing an initiative to improve accountability and fiscal integrity in the global body. Louise Oliver, the U.S. representative to UNESCO, recently told foreign delegates it is time to put the matter to rest and implement reforms Smith put in place before he left the Paris-based U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Read the statement by Americans for UNESCO on the Smith Affair.

"U.S. Fights Off Bid to Punish UNESCO Official"

Read the full article subtitled "Former Congressman Accused of Giving 'Preferential Treatment' on Contract to Chicago Firm" by Colum Lynch in The Washington Post of May 6, 2007.

The United States and its key allies last week fended off a campaign by developing countries to discipline UNESCO's highest-ranking U.S. official, Peter Smith, a former Republican congressman from Vermont. Smith resigned in March after an audit found he granted "preferential treatment" to a Chicago-based consulting firm that received $2.15 million in contracts -- often without competitive bidding.

The move placed the United States -- which has long called for greater transparency and accountability at the United Nations -- in the awkward position of opposing an initiative to improve accountability and fiscal integrity in the global body. Louise Oliver, the U.S. representative to UNESCO, recently told foreign delegates it is time to put the matter to rest and implement reforms Smith put in place before he left the Paris-based U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Read the statement by Americans for UNESCO on the Smith Affair.