37th General Conference: Photos of Official Visits and Events

Dr. Hao Ping, New President of the 37th General Conference, 5 November 2013

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova with the new President of the General Conference (5 November 2013)

37th General Conference: Opening Ceremony, 5 November 2013

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova during the opening session of the 37th General Conference: Opening Ceremony (5 November 2013)

Budapest Water Summit, Budapest, October 2013

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, took part in the opening session of the Budapest Water Summit, dedicated to "The Role of Water and Sanitation in the Global Sustainable Developement Agenda" and held fromo 8 to 11 October 2013.

68th session of the UN General Assembly, New York, September 2013

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, took part in the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, from 19 to 25 September 2013. 

The Director-General in Haiti, three years on

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, visited Haiti from 16 to 18 September 2013, in order to measure the progress made in cooperation between Haiti and UNESCO, three and a half years after her visit in March 2010, following the earthquake of 12 January. The Director-General was accompanied by the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti. More

Director-General’s Official Visit to Nigeria

From 10 to 12 September, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, went on an official visit to Nigeria where she is met with the Vice President of Nigeria, and several ministers working in the fields of competences of UNESCO.

Director-General Showcases the Vital Role of Education and Culture for Sustainable Development in New York

Less than two years before the Millennium Development Goals deadline, Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, highlighted the importance of putting education and culture at the top of the Post-2015 agenda, during her visit to New York from 11 to 13 June 2013. More

Director-General on Official Visit to Costa Rica

UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, was on an official visit to Costa Rica from 2 to 6 May on the occasion of the 20th World Press Freedom Day celebrations held in San José, and the award of the UNESCO-Guillermo World Press Freedom Prize. During her official visit, the Director-General met with the President of the Republic and several Ministers in relation with UNESCO, including the Minister of Culture and Youth, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Science, Technology and Telecommunications. More

Irina Bokova on Official Visit to Slovenia

From 7 to 9 April 2013, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, is on her first official visit to Slovenia, on the occasion of the annual Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Culture of South-Eastern Europe (CoMoCoSEE), held in Brdo. More 

Photos: © UNESCO/Matthieu Guevel

Director-General on Official Visit to Mexico

From 13 to 17 March, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, is on her first official visit to Mexico. During this visit, she met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr José Antonio Meade Kuribreña and the Minister of Public Education, Mr Emilio Chuayffet Chemor. More 

Photos: © UNESCO/ Antonio Nava

Director-General on Official Visit to Egypt

During her official visit to Egypt on 11 March 2013, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, met with the Prime Minister of Egypt Dr Hisham Qandeel, the Minister of Education, Mr Ibrahim Ghoneim, the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Mostafa Mosaad and the Minister of Culture, Mr Mohamed Saber Arab. More 

Photos: © UNESCO, © UNESCO/Naima Sedrati

Director-General on Official Visit to Burkina Faso

During her official visit to Burkina Faso, from 21 to 23 February 2013, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, met with the President of the Republic, H.E. Blaise Compaore and the First Lady, Mrs Chantal Compaore, as well as several government officials, including the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation and the Ministers of Education, Culture and Communication. More 

Photos: © UNESCO, © www.presidence.bf

Director-General’s official visit to Senegal

On her official visit to Senegal, from 13 to 15 February 2013, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, met with the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr Macky Sall, and a number of cabinet Ministers in charge of education, youth, gender, communication and culture. Accompanied by the Senegalese Minister of Education, the Director-General visited the suburban city of Pikine located near Dakar, a city where UNESCO has worked since 2011 with the support of Procter & Gamble to promote education for young girls and young women.  More 

Photos: © UNESCO/Ismael Tine, © All Rights Reserved

The Director-General on an official visit to Tanzania

From 3 to 5 February, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, paid an official visit to the United Republic of Tanzania. The Director-General met with a number of government officials including the Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, the Minister of Education and Vocational Training and the Minister for Information, Culture, Sports and Youth.

The Director-General also visited Zanzibar where she met with Ministers working in UNESCO’s field of competence, including the Minister of Land, Housing and Water and Energy, the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, the Minister of Information, Youth and Culture and Tourism and Sports, and the Minister of Social Welfare, Youth and Women. More 

Photos: © UNESCO

Director-General visits Mali with French President François Hollande

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova made a visit to Mali on Saturday 2 February with French President François Hollande and the interim President of Mali Dioncounda Traoré.

The main aim of the visit was to launch the process of reconstruction and safeguarding of the cultural heritage of northern Mali, including the mausoleums of Timbuktu and the city’s fabulous collection of manuscripts. More 

Photos: © Présidence de la République

Director-General’s official visit to Cuba

UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, is on an official visit to Cuba from 27 to 30 November. During this visit, the Director-General met with several government officials including the Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Minister of Culture, Rafael Bernal Alemany and Minister of Education, Ena Elsa Velazquez Cobiella.   More

Photos: © UNESCO/Susana Sam-Vargas, © UNESCO/Yanet Toirac

Irina Bokova joins the Ministers of Culture of South Eastern Europe to strengthen regional cooperation for development through the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova attended in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Eighth Ministerial Conference on Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe, at the invitation of the Minister of Culture of Bulgaria Vezhdi Letif Rashidov.  More

Photos: © UNESCO/Paola Leoncini-Bartoli, © Maria Arangelova

The Director-General and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany celebrate the memory of the reunification of Germany

On 10 October, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, will attend the celebration of the inscription of the “Construction and Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Two-Plus-Four-Treaty of 1990” on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, in the presence of Foreign Minister of Germany Guido Westerwelle.  More

Photos: © UNESCO, © Photothek/Grabowski

Education and Culture of Peace at the Centre of Director-General’s Participation in UN General Assembly

At a time when peace is failing in many societies, UNESCO Director-General stressed the international community’s responsibility to defend human dignity by promoting quality education for all, building bridges of dialogue for respect and tolerance, and giving all individuals the capacity to fulfill their aspirations, throughout her engagements at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly in New York from 20 to 28 September.  More

Photos: © UNESCO

Irina Bokova on an official visit to Uruguay

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova is on an official visit to Uruguay from 13 to 15 September. She opened the consultation meeting with Member States and National Commissions of Latin America and the Caribbean region for the elaboration of the new Medium-Term strategy for UNESCO. At the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII), the Director-General  attended the ceremony for five students benefitting from scholarships in environmental engineering, specialized in sanitary engineering within the framework of the agreement between UNESCO-IHE Institute of for Water Education and ANII.  More

Photos: © UNESCO/Susana Sam-Vargas, © Norberto García

Republic of Korea: Director-General Joins Closure of Yeosu Expo on Oceans

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova participated in the Yeosu Declaration Forum and the Closing Ceremony of the Yeosu Expo on “The Living Ocean Coast” on 12 August, alongside the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Mr Kim Hwang-sik. More

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

Myanmar: Director-General to Express Support for Ongoing Reforms

In her first visit to Myanmar from 7 to 10 August, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova expressed her support to the country’s democratic reforms and discuss measures to better assist authorities in addressing key priorities, including education, cultural heritage, media freedom and resilience in the face of natural disasters. During her visit, the Director-General met with President U Thein Sein, the chairperson of the National League for Democracy and Member of Parliament Aung San Suu Kyi, and all ministers linked to UNESCO’s areas of competence.  More 

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

Director General on an official visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova was on an official visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan from the 28th – 31st of May. The Director-General met with H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Kairat Mami, Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, H.E. Mr. Imangali Tasmagambetov, Chairman of the National Commission, and several heads of the Kazakhstan Federation of UNESCO Clubs.  More

Photos: © UNESCO

Director-General on an official visit to Jordan

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova paid an official visit to Jordan from 20 to 23 May. The Director-General met with His Majesty King Abdullah II, HRH Prince Ghazi Ben Mohammad, HRH Princess Sumaiya and several government officials.  More

Photos: © UNESCO/Paola Leoncini-Bartoli

Shanghai: Director-General promotes skills for work and life

Some 40 ministers and participants from over 100 countries participated in the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), that opened on 14 May in Shanghai, in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. In Shanghai, Irina Bokova also signed an agreement on the establishment of an International Research and Training Center for Science and Technology Strategy (Category 2). She visited World Heritage Sites in Suzhou, where the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research is based, and Hangzhou, where she gave the Mayor a certificate nominating it as a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art. More

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman, © Zhang Jun

Cultural Diversity in the Asia Pacific takes center stage at Dhaka Forum

Promoting cultural diversity across the Asia Pacific was at the center of the Director-General's first official visit to Bangladesh from 9 to 11 May. Irina Bokova addressed the opening of the Ministerial Forum of the Asia Pacific region, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina. During her visit, the Director-General  gave a lecture at the University of Dhaka on tackling climate change and building green societies, an opportunity to present UNESCO's perspective on the Rio+20 Conference. She discussed the Organization's cooperation with Bangladesh with the Prime Minister and top cabinet officials, and met with the Founder and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee that has rich experience in non-formal education. She also visited the World Heritage Site of Paharpur, where the remains of the most important and largest known Buddhist monastery south of the Himalayas have been excavated. More

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman, © Sumon Das

Director-General celebrates World Press Freedom Day in Tunis

From 3 to 5 May, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova was in Tunisia for an official visit and for World Press Freedom Day celebrations. During her visit, the Director-General met with the President of the Tunisian Republic Moncef Marzouki and several government officials including the Minister of Culture Mehdi Mabrouk, Minister of Education Abdellatif Abid, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moncef Ben Salem. More

Photos: © UNESCO

Irina Bokova strengthens cooperation with Algeria

From 8 to 11 April, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova was on an official visit to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. During this visit, the Director-General met with several government officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mourad Medelci, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Rachid Harraoubia, the Minister of Education Boubekeur Benbouzid and the Minister of Culture Khalida Toumi. These meetings were opportunities to exchange views on ways to strengthen cooperation between Algeria and UNESCO and to back the reform process launched by the President of the Republic. More

Photos: © UNESCO

Director-General makes the case for UNESCO in the US

On a visit to the United States, from 13 to 25 March, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova is travelling to Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles where she is participating in events highlighting UNESCO’s role in promoting lasting peace and more inclusive and sustainable development. She is bringing a sharp message focusing on women’s and girls’ education and literacy, on UNESCO’s action for freedom of expression across the world, and on the importance of protecting world cultural and natural heritage, especially in this year commemorating the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. More

Photos: © UNESCO

Irina Bokova's official visit to Bulgaria

On 20 February, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova was on an official visit to Bulgaria where she inaugurated a Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO. The ceremony took place with the participation of the Chairperson of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria Tsetska Tsacheva, Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov and Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov. On the same day, Irina Bokova also met with President Rosen Plevneliev.

Photos: © UNESCO/Vesselina Ivanova © CROSS/Roumen Dobrev © Minister of Culture/Maria Arangelova

Solidarity in Adversity: Director-General Visits Japan

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the Director-General visited Japan to convey a message of solidarity and highlight the role of culture, education and scientific cooperation in the recovery process. Symbolically, she launched the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in Japan in Hiraizumi, a Buddhist site inscribed on the List in 2011 and located in the northeastern part of the country, struck by the earthquake. In the same region, she also gave a lecture at Tohoku University, a first-class institution located in Sendai, birthplace of the first UNESCO club in Japan in July 1947, and visited an elementary school belonging to UNESCO’s Associated Schools Network. In Tokyo, the Director-General participated in a symposium at the United Nations University on tsunami warning systems, co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The event, attended by H.I.H. Crown Prince Naruhito, focused on lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 11 March 2011, which caused the death of close to 20,000 people. During the visit, she met with high-level government officials, members of the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO and the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan, and representatives of large private companies.

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

Director-General’s first official visit to Finland

During her first official visit to Finland from 19 to 20 January 2012, UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova met with the President of the Republic of Finland, Tarja Halonen, as well as several government officials including Erkki Tuomioja, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heidi Hautala, Minister for International Development, Paavo Arhinmäki, Minister of Culture and Sport, Jukka Gustafsson, Minister of Education and Science and Jussi Pajunen, Mayor of the City of Helsinki. Irina Bokova also participated in a seminar entitled “UNESCO – Freedom of Expression”.

Photos: © UNESCO/Mariama Saidou-Djermakoye, © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

Director-General’s visit to the Republic of Korea

During her official visit to the Republic of Korea from 26 to 30 November, the Director-General attends the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, where she joins the United Nations delegation to call on governments to make aid work for development. In the course of her visit, the Director-General closes the First World Humanities Forum, visits the World Heritage Sites of Bulguksa and the Gyeongju area, inaugurates the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, and meets with senior government officials, including the Ministers of Education, Environment and Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

Indonesia Hosts the World’s Intangible Heritage

During her official trip to Indonesia from 19 to 25 November, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova opened the 6th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bali and visited the Borobudur Temple Compound in Yogyakarta to mark the completion of UNESCO-supported efforts to clean the World Heritage Site following the eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010. She also visited the Tsunami Early Warning Centre, which is one of the three regional service providers for twenty-three Indian Ocean rim countries. In Jakarta, she joined a worldwide online-lecture about building green societies involving universities worldwide, and participated in a special session of Indonesia’s House of Representatives on “The Millennium Development Goals and Poverty Eradication.” Throughout her visit, she met with senior government officials to discuss UNESCO’s cooperation with Indonesia.

Photos: © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

Director-General’s first official visit to Hungary

UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, went to Budapest on an official visit to attend the World Science Forum, held from 17 to 19 November. The Forum met this year to discuss the theme “The changing landscape of science.” The Forum is also an opportunity to underline the role of young scientists and focus on their growing responsibility in finding solutions to the challenges facing humanity. Irina Bokova opened the Forum with Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary, Viktor Orban and President of World Science Forum, Jozsef Palinkas. Within the framework of World Science Forum, the Director-General awarded the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria with the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation 2011. During her visit to Budapest, the Director-General attended the inauguration of a World Heritage Plaque in front of the Parliament of Hungary and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Hungary.

Photos: © Peto foto info OGY, © PHILIP János, © Gergő Botár, kormany.hu, © Kasztner András

Official visit to Spain and meeting of Mayors and managers of Spanish World Heritage Sites

On 10 and 11 October 2011, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova was in Spain for an official visit and to take part in a meeting of Mayors and managers of Spanish World Heritage Sites on the theme “Current status and challenges towards the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention.” The meeting was hosted by the Prince of Asturias, Felipe de Borbon y Grecia, and held in the city of Segovia, a World Heritage Site. While in Spain, the Director-General conveyed a message underscoring the importance of culture for development. In Madrid, Irina Bokova held meetings with Mr José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, President of the Spanish Government, Ms Ángeles González-Sinde Reig, Minister for Culture, Ms Trinidad Jiménez García-Herrera, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and His Majesty the King Juan Carlos.

Photos: © Borja Fotografos , © La Moncloa/J.M.Cuadrado , © EFE

66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York

From 19 to 23 September 2011, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova attended the 66th high level debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. More than 120 heads of state and governments as well as heads of international organizations gathered at the UN Headquarters to discuss the current global challenges and design corresponding solutions. The Secretary-General’s Symposium on International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation dedicated to the promotion of dialogue and understanding, as well as a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative were amongst the special sessions chaired by Irina Bokova. The Director-General also held a meeting of the EFA principals and participated in a number of other high-level meetings on a wide range of issues including the Rio+20 Conference preparations, education for democracy, non-communicable diseases, desertification and biodiversity.

Photos: © UNESCO/Michelle Freeouf, © UNESCO/Lily Valtchanova, © UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Official visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Struga Poetry Evenings

On 28 August 2011, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, attended the fiftieth Struga Poetry Evenings, one of the oldest international poetry festivals in the world, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. By partnering with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of this globally renowned festival, UNESCO wishes to reaffirm its support for the work of poets and highlight the role of poetry in intercultural dialogue. During her official visit, the Director-General held discussions with Mr Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic, Ms Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, Minister of Culture and President of the National Commission for UNESCO of The former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia and Mr Abdulakim Ademi, Minister of Environment and Urban Planning.

Photos: © UNESCO/Vesselina Ivanova and © Aleksandar Gjorgjiev

Official visit to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

From 9 to 12 July 2011, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova paid her first official visit to Mongolia, on the occasion of the Naadam National Holiday, a traditional festival inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which also coincided with the celebrations of the 805th Anniversary of the Great Mongolian State. During her visit, Irina Bokova met with President Tsahiagiin Elbegdorj, Prime Minister Sukhbaataryn Batbold and senior government officials. Also during her stay, the Director-General signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mongolian Government in which both parties committed to reinforcing cooperation in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals within UNESCO’s fields of competence.

Photos: © Government of Mongolia and © UNESCO/Vesselina Ivanova

International Women Leaders’ Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation and official visit to Israel

Between 29 and 30 May 2011, during her first official visit to Israel, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova opened the “International Women Leaders’ Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation: Education and Training for Women and Girls” in Haifa, where she also inaugurated the “UNESCO Circle for tolerance and Peace” and received a Honoris Causa degree from the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Centre at Haifa University. In Jerusalem, the Director-General visited the Yad Vashem Memorial and met with Mr Shimon Peres, President of Israel. She held meetings with Daniel Hershkowitz, Minister of Science and Technology, Gideon Sa’ar, Minister of Education, Limor Livnat, Minister of Culture and Sport, Yona Yahav, Mayor of Haifa, and Ambassador Eviatar Manor, Head of the Division for the UN and International Organizations of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Photos: © UNESCO

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, and Prime Minister of Mali Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé, will join other global and corporate leaders for the launch of a major new UNESCO initiative to promote girls' and women's education.

Official visit to Bucharest, Romania

On her first official visit to Romania from 25 to 27 April 2011, Director-General Irina Bokova met with President Traian Basescu, gave an address to Parliament and discussed strengthened collaboration with the country's political leadership, including the Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate. Romania's Legislative body is unique in the world for having created in 2008 a two-chamber joint parliamentary committee for UNESCO. The Director-General was conferred a Doctorate honoris causa by the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest.

Photos: © Sova Liviu and © UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

Official visit to Peru (Lima, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu)

From 20 to 25 February 2011, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova makes her first official visit to Peru, where she met with President Alan García and a number of high level government officials, including all Ministers concerned by UNESCO’s fields of action. During her stay, Irina Bokova visits two education establishments and three of the country’s World Heritage Sites, namely the historic centre of Lima, the city of Cuzco and the historic sanctuary of Machu-Picchu. In Cuzco she addressed the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of Latin America (CRESPIAL), the only such centre in the world, created in 2006 under the auspices of UNESCO.

Photos: © Government of Peru/Oscar Farje - © UNESCO Office in Peru - © UNESCO/Sophie El Akremi - © UNESCO/Susana Sam-Vargas

Promoting UNESCO’s priorities in Brussels

From 15 to 17 February 2011, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova was in Brussels, Belgium, to open UNESCO’s liaison office to the European Union (EU) and its subsidiary bodies.  During her stay, the Director-General held a number of meetings with senior authorities of the Belgian Government as well as EU representatives.

Fotos: © The Council of the European Union - © European Commission/Etienne Ansotte - © UNESCO/Agence Mapez - © Government of Wallonia - © City of Brussels/Eric Danhier

Official visit to Rabat, Morocco

On 8 and 9 February 2011, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova made her first official visit to Morocco, where she held meetings with the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Culture, Education, Communication, Energy and Environment as well as the Secretary of State for Education and that for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.  Also during her stay, Irina Bokova met with the Director-General of ISESCO, met students at a UNESCO Associated school and visited the mausoleum of late King Mohamed V.

Photos: © UNESCO

Official visit to Brazzaville, Congo

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova undertook her first official visit to Congo on 14 and 15 January 2011, where she held meetings with the President and senior Government officials, namely: Florent Ntsiba, Minister of State, Work, and Social Security; Ange Antoine Abena, Minister of Higher Education and President of the Congolese National Commission for UNESCO; Rosalie Kama Niamayoua, Minister of Literacy, Primary and Secondary Education; and Justin Koumba, President of the National Assembly.  Irina Bokova also visited two schools and met with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso as well as the First Lady, Antoinette Sassou-Nguesso.

Photos: © UNESCO

Official visit and 20th Ibero-American Summit

From 30 November to 5 December 2010, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova made her first official visit to Argentina, where she met with high-level Government officials and participated in the 20th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Governments. 

Photos: © UNESCO/Diego San Martin

Official visit and 5th Session of the Intangible Heritage Committee

During her official visit to Kenya from 15 to 17 November, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova met Members of the Government and opened the Fifth Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Photos: © UNESCO/Lynne Patchett

World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education

Between 26 and 30 September 2010, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova participated in the first ever ‘World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education’ (WCECCE). The conference was held in Moscow, Russian Federation, where Ms Bokova also held meetings with representatives of government, business, academia and the press.

Photos: © UNESCO/Krista Pikkat, © Courtesy of RIA Novosti and AZERTAG

United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit

From 19 to 24 September 2010, Director-General Irina Bokova took part in the High-level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York (MDG Summit). Amidst the numerous activities Irina Bokova carried out during the MDG Summit, she met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, participated in the second meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, contributed to the panel ‘Making 1GOAL: Education for All a Reality’, opened the high-level roundtable on Culture for Development, and led the luncheon discussion ‘The Central Role of Education in the MDGs’.

Photos © UNESCO/Bob Krasner

Video: Irina Bokova at the Broadband Commission for Digital Development

Irina Bokova visits flood-stricken zones in Pakistan

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova visited flood-stricken zones and met with national and regional authorities during a visit to Pakistan on 31 August. She took part in a press conference of United Nations Chief Executive officers to present UN efforts to save lives and rebuild communities in Pakistan.

Photos: © UNESCO/Genc Seiti  |  © UNESCO/Mark Richmond

Photo Gallery on the UN joint Press Conference - UNESCO Office in Islamabad website

Photo Gallery on the Pakistan flood disaster - UNESCO Pakistan flood response website

Official visit to Azerbaijan

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova undertook her first official visit to Azerbaijan from 28 July to 1st August 2010. She met with Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Oral and Musical Traditions, and inaugurated the 2nd Gabala International Music Festival on 30 July 2010.

© UNESCO/Fuad Pashayev

1Goal Education for All Summit in South Africa

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova took part in the 1Goal Education for All Summit hosted in Pretoria on 11 July by South African President Jacob Zuma ahead of the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

© UNESCO/Cynthia Guttman

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-level Segment meetings in New York

From 28 June and 2 July 2010, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova participated in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) High-level Segment meetings at UN Headquarters in New York.

© UNESCO/Bob Krasner

Eighth Summit of the Heads of State of South East Europe in Istanbul, Turkey

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova met high-level representatives of the Turkish Government and participated at the Eighth Summit of the Heads of State of South East European countries in Istanbul on 22 and 23 June 2010.

© UNESCO/FW Russell-Rivoallan, 2010

Official visit to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

From 15 to 17 June 2010, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova paid her first official visit to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.  In Tripoli, she met high-level government officials and participated in the Regional Conference on the Pedagogical Use of the General History of Africa.

© UNESCO/Krista Pikkat

Third Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

During her participation at the Third United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova also visited a ‘Criança Esperança’ centre in Rio.  Criança Esperança is a Globo TV–UNESCO project since 2004, which promotes social development in Brazil with an emphasis on education for children, adolescents and young adults.

© UNESCO/Ierê Ferreira

Official visit to the Republic of Korea

Meetings with leaders in Seoul and participation in national and regional events top the agenda of Irina Bokova’s first official visit to the Republic of Korea from 22 to 25 May 2010.

© UNESCO/Amita Vohra

Official visit to the People's Republic of China and participation at UNESCO week at Shanghai Expo 2010

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova met the Prime Minister of China as well as other government ministers and high-level government representatives during an official visit to China from 17 to 22 May.  This visit was also marked by Irina Bokova’s participation at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai as part of the celebration of UNESCO Week at the world exhibition.

© UNESCO/Amita Vohra

Official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Award Ceremony of the 2009-2010 UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 25 to 27 April 2010. Other than attending meetings with officials in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, the Director-General took part in the Award Ceremony of the 2009-2010 Edition of the UNESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Prize for Outstanding Practice and Performance in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Teachers, held in Dubai on Tuesday, 27 April.

© UNESCO/Krista Pikkat

Director-General visits the United Nations and the United States

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova launching Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010 on 19 January 2010, and in other meetings at UN Headquarters in New York as well as in Washington, D.C.  

Copyright: © UNESCO/Bob Krasner