UNESCO World Heritage

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, is a special body of the United Nations, founded in 1945. From its inception, it has generated ideas and developed projects with one ambitious and important goal in mind: to build peace in the minds of humankind. UNESCO works at creating conditions for true dialogue, based on respect for common heritage and the dignity of every civilization and culture. In short: it promotes international cooperation among the 190*Member states* (*in 2003) and 6 Associate Members in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. The organization has made giant steps for humanity, its conventions having changed the world; and as its programs continue, these changes will continue to take effect.
An example for all is the huge tasks carried out on education projects, including the latest "Education for All by 2015" decided on during the World Education forum of 2002.
The organization has concentrated its attention on ethics and civil rights and is pushing for human rights and the fight against discrimination and intolerance, crucial components of research and policy study. 1948 saw the attainment of an important goal: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
UNESCO is also the international guarantor for the protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage; since 1972, a list of elected heritage for the World Heritage sites was established, and today there are over 700. We are proud to have two of these in Ticino.