UNESCO: 80 Years of Commitment to Peace, Memory, and Development Worldwide

November 16, 1945 – November 16, 2025, the world today celebrates UNESCO's 80th anniversary. The giant in promoting education, culture, science, and communication, on its 80th anniversary, provides an opportunity to reflect on its central role in the world.

UNESCO was created on November 16, 1945, in a world scarred by the Second World War. From its inception, the institution was entrusted with an essential mission: to establish peace in the minds of men and women through education, science, and culture. Eight decades later, this ambition remains intact, while new forms of violence, hatred, and social fragmentation underscore the need to strengthen this work globally.

As part of the commemorations, particular attention has been paid to the duty of remembrance, notably through events dedicated to transmitting the history of genocides.

With the gradual disappearance of survivors, institutions like UNESCO are organizing to keep the knowledge and awareness of 20th-century tragedies alive. The mobilization of historians, artists, and researchers is part of this effort to ensure the continuity of human testimony that can no longer rely solely on survivors.

This responsibility has been realized through the active participation of younger generations in exchanges, screenings, and meetings organized in several countries. The objective is clear: to make schools and educational spaces the first lines of defense against ignorance and hate speech. Many teachers now benefit from training tools produced or supported by UNESCO, enabling them to address topics related to totalitarianism, genocides, and racism with historical rigor and human sensitivity.

The fight against denialism, antisemitism, and all forms of discrimination is now a pillar of the institution's work. In a context where disinformation is the norm and false information circulates at high speed, UNESCO is strengthening its action through the production of educational resources, the training of educators, and the implementation of initiatives aimed at promoting critical thinking. The objective is to prevent past tragedies from fading or being distorted, as memory remains an indispensable foundation for peace.

In Africa, and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the commemorations recalled the many projects in which UNESCO intervenes to support social transformations.

Discussions around governance, peace, and human rights highlighted the challenges faced by African societies, but also the willingness of youth, women, and local communities to actively participate in building a more just and inclusive future.

The institution supports these dynamics through programs that address education, culture, science, and social dialogue.