A specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris. Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.

It is the successor of the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.

• It is a global development agency with missions that include promoting sex education, literacy, clean water and equality for women.
• It is known for its World Heritage Mission which encourages world countries to protect Natural and Cultural Heritage sites.
• It also leads the Man and Biosphere Programme for protecting Biosphere reserves across the world.

Reports published by UNESCO

1. Global Education Monitoring report
2. Gender Parity Index.