The UK National Commission for UNESCO

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Membership of the UK National Commission reflects the devolved structure of government in the UK. In our work, whilst responsible for coordinating activities across the UK, we ensure that full account of where policy and accountability of that policy lies in the Countries of the UK and that differences are reflected where appropriate.

In Wales, initiatives had been taken by the Welsh Assembly Government, in conjunction with the UK National Commission and the UK Permanent Delegation since early 2005 to transfer representation on the National Steering Committee from the Welsh Assembly Government to civil society.

The Wales Committee

Back Row from the left: Gary Brace, Richard Neale, Rob Norris, Greg Morgan, Alan Evans, Kevin Davies, Craig Kensler, Eleri Jones, Ian Hosein
Front row from the left: Claire Sain-ley- Berry (observer), Gwyn Edwards, Mike Scott (Chair), Rebecca Williams, Andy Parnell, Rhiannon Hughes and Elizabeth Hughes (Vice Chair)

The Wales Committee was fomally launched by the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning Jane Davidson on 4 August 2005.

The Committee will be chaired by Professor Michael Scott, the Principal of North East Wales Institute, and have as its Vice Chair Dr Elizabeth Hughes, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Protected Landscapes.

Representative of the Welsh Assembly Government now sits on the National Steering Committee as observer.

The Committee will initially comprise 19 members drawn from a wide range of Welsh civil society. Its role in supporting and contributing to the work of the UK National Commission will be to bring a Welsh perspective and input to UNESCO programmes; to bring to the attention of Government, Welsh priorities relating to UNESCO's work; to participate proactively, as far as possible, in UNESCO's work programme, especially in their development; and to reach out through civil society in Wales to enable as many people and organisations as possible to understand more about UNESCO and to ensure that Wales fully benefits from the opportunities that its programmes offer.

The Scotland Committee was formed in October 2006. Its Chair, Ms Joanne Orr (Scottish Museum Council) was elected in February 2007.

The Committee is in the process of constituting its membership and forumulating its priorities and strategy.

It is anticipated that a Committee in Northern Ireland will be formed in due course.