Date and Method of Creation | 8 February 1957 |
Status | Semi_Governmental |
Department attached to | The Commission is a subordinate advisory, expert and cooperating body to the Ministry of Education and Culture |
Legislation Dates | The judicial text was accepted13/01/1958 and last revised 11/03/1966 |
Legislation | The Statutes of the Commission, which is an advisory body of the Ministry of Education, were adopted in January 1958. The missions of the National Commission are defined in the Governmental Decree dating back to 1966. |
Documentation Centre | No documentation centre. Whereas main UNESCO publications (world reports, etc) are held at the Library of the Ministry of Education, the Jyväskylä University Library is the depositary for all UNESCO publications. Visitors to the library are mainly academics and students but the collections are open to the general public also.
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Structure of the Commission | The National Commission is composed of:
- The General Assembly
- Ado-hoc Working groups
- The Secretariat |
Members/Composition | The Finnish National Commission is independent, and its members consist of high level experts with their respective supporting networks or institutions behind them. In order to cover all fields of work of UNESCO and to get access to input from the best knowledge and to human resources, most of the members are from the outset expected to be involved in the work of not only other intergovernmental, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). More or less as a rule, NGOs, such as the human rights league, the UN Association or artists associations, are asked to propose candidates for nomination to the National Commissions. |
Executive Committee | Composed of 12 members, representing the Ombudsman for Children in Finland, the Parliament, governmental and academic institutions, universities, cultural centres, and a professional association (Union of Journalists). The representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the right to be present and speak at the meetings of the Commission. Members are appointed for a four-year term on the basis of broad consultations.
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General Assembly | The enlarged Commission meets two to three times per year (General Assembly with invited guests). |
Committees or Sub-Committees | The Commission favours a light structure and appoints working groups on ad hoc basis |