November 4 marks UNESCO World Day. This holiday is designed to unite people around the world around the ideals of peace, culture, and education, which are key priorities for UNESCO.
UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with education, science, culture, and communication. The organization aims to promote global peace and security through the development of these important fields. The UNESCO Constitution was signed on November 16, 1945, and the document came into force on November 4, 1946, after its ratification by 20 countries. This day in history marked the starting point for the creation of an institution that today has a significant impact on cultural and educational policy around the world.
UNESCO brings together 194 member states and 12 associate members. In particular, the United States officially returned to UNESCO in July 2023 after a five-year hiatus.
Ukraine, as a founding member of the United Nations, became a member of UNESCO on May 12, 1954. And in 1962, a permanent mission was opened for Ukraine.
UNESCO researches what forms of education, science, culture, and communication will be needed in the future and facilitates the exchange of research between countries; prepares and adopts recommendations; and provides expert services to member states to help them determine their development policies and design projects, etc. The organization records the consequences of armed conflicts, keeps track of damaged sites, assesses damage to cultural heritage, and takes measures to protect it.
As of 2023, there are eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ukraine: seven cultural sites and one natural site (representing 0.69% of the total number of World Heritage sites in the world). Of these, St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra are jointly recognized as masterpieces of human creative genius.
According to UNESCO and its partners, the damage caused to Ukraine during the war is estimated at billions of dollars, and the total number of damaged cultural sites exceeds 1,500.
Recently, UNESCO added two Ukrainian events to its Calendar of Commemorative Dates for 2026–2027. These are the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Reserve and the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Mykola Leontovych. This undoubtedly highlights Ukraine's contribution to world culture and promotes our centuries-old heritage.