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Name and Logo

UNESCO Logo

The use of the name and logo of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is subject to rules laid down by the governing bodies of the Organization.

In this page you will find:

  • Graphics:

    • Presentation of logo according to use
  • The General Principles:
    • Authorization for the use of the name and logo of the Organization
    • Authorities with the power to grant this authorization
    • Protection of the logo
    • Reference documents
  • Practical Guidelines:
    • Appropriate procedures to request the use of the name and logo according to type of utilization

This section is continuously updated. Your comments and suggestions will help us to improve it.

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Graphics

Logo Block

UNESCO Logo

The UNESCO logo block is composed of three parts:

  1. the emblem - the temple - including the UNESCO acronym;
  2. the complete name (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in one or several languages;
  3. a dotted line in a logarithmic progression.

These components cannot be disassociated.

This combination is not subject to any interpretation.

Languages

  • The language chosen for the logo must correspond to that of the support used and of the audience targeted.
  • Mindful of the same criteria, several languages may be used. The six official languages of UNESCO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
  • The use of the complete name in English, in association with one or several other languages provides an explanation of the acronym of the Organization.

Basic Rules

UNESCO Logo

  • The logo block of UNESCO should not be used alone. A short text should always be featured on the right-hand side of the dotted line which specifies what type of support UNESCO has granted or what the concerned entity and activity of UNESCO is.
  • This rule must be respected when the UNESCO logo block is used by all its stakeholders and partners.

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The General Principles

General conditions for the use of UNESCO’s name and logo

The objectives for UNESCO's institutional framework and practice concerning the use of its name and logo are:

  • to enhance UNESCO's visibility and outreach through the effective association of its name and logo with activities of its networks and partners,
  • to protect UNESCO's name and logo from inappropriate and unauthorized use.

The Directives Concerning the Use of the Name, Acronym, Logo and Internet Domain Names of UNESCO, which were approved by UNESCO's General Conference during its 34th session, set out the general principles on the use of UNESCO's name and logo.

There are three types of authorization:

The two main criteria in assessing a patronage request are:

  • The proposed activity is relevant to UNESCO's own strategic objectives and operational programmes.
  • The organization is compliant to the values, principles and constitutional aims of UNESCO.

The decision to grant the use of UNESCO's name and logo is always taken in the light of the recommendations of the National Commissions for UNESCO.

The use of UNESCO's name and logo must be expressly authorized in advance and in writing. The visual presentation, duration and scope of the authorization must be respected.

All those authorized to use the UNESCO's name and logo should abide by the General Conditions.

Authorizing the use of UNESCO’s name and logo

  • Authorizing the use of the name and logo of UNESCO is the prerogative of the General Conference and the Executive Board of UNESCO.
  • The governing bodies empower, by delegation, the Director-General and the National Commissions for UNESCO to authorize such use to other bodies. No other entity has the authority to grant the use of UNESCO’s name and logo.
  • In specific cases, the Director-General of UNESCO delegates his authority to grant the use of UNESCO’s name and logo to the Assistant Director-Generals of the relevant programme.
  • The National Commission of UNESCO Member States can authorize:
    • the use of a linked logo which is composed of the UNESCO logo block and the name and logo of the National Commission in cases where National Commissions support national activities;
    • the use of the UNESCO logo block by national committees or coordinating bodies of intergovernmental programmes (eg: biosphere reserves, programme networks such as UNESCO Associated Schools or Chairs, the movement of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations).
  • The form of a linked logo which specifies the identity of the programme, network or movement concerned must comply with the specific conditions and regulations of the programme, network or movement.

Protection of the use of UNESCO’s name and logo

  • The name, acronym and logo of UNESCO have been notified and accepted by the Paris Union Member States under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, adopted in 1883 and revised in Stockholm in 1967.
  • UNESCO has recourse to the domestic systems of Paris Convention States Parties to prevent the use of the name, acronym or logo of UNESCO in cases where such use falsely suggests a connection with UNESCO.
  • UNESCO takes action against the misuse of its name, acronym, logo or its Internet domain names under the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
  • Cases of unauthorized use should be notified immediately to the Office of the Director-General of UNESCO and the National Commission(s) for UNESCO.

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Practical Guidelines

Patronage

UNESCO Logo

  • Patronage is a form of UNESCO’s support for those activities that are entirely organized by other entities. UNESCO is not responsible for these activities and does not involve itself in them.
  • UNESCO’s patronage may be granted to a range of activities, such as producing cinematographic and audiovisual works, publishing books, organizing congresses, meetings and conferences, awarding prizes, and other national and international events.
  • Patronage must be limited in time. It may be granted to one-off or regularly repeated activities. In the latter case, a new request for authorization is required for each repeated activity.
  • Patronage cannot be granted to:
    • personalities
    • organizations
    • permanent activities
    • activities/projects that are evolving continuously (the terms of use of UNESCO’s name and logo for such activities/ projects should be specified by a Contractual Arrangement)
  • There are two levels for UNESCO’s patronage:
    • Patronage granted by the National Commissions for UNESCO for activities of national scope;
    • Patronage granted by the UNESCO Secretariat for activities of significant international or regional scope.
  • The use of UNESCO's name and logo in the framework of patronage is strictly under the General conditions in connection with patronage.
  • In order to deal with requests for the use of UNESCO’s name and logo effectively, UNESCO has appointed a member of staff in each of its programme sectors to act as a Focal Point to coordinate the use of the name and logo and to act as your point of contact.
  • There are seven steps to requesting the use of UNESCO’s name and logo under patronage.

Contractual Arrangements

UNESCO Logo

  • Under a contractual arrangement, UNESCO authorizes the use of its name and logo by other organizations or partners which have concluded a formal agreement with programme sectors or field offices. This could concern, for example, an international conference, a publication that UNESCO has commissioned or agreed to support, or a partnership project between UNESCO and the private sector.
  • In the case that UNESCO’s name and logo is to be used in long-term or permanent activities agreed by contractual arrangement, UNESCO will always include a standard clause in the agreement stipulating that partner organizations are required to seek specific approval each time UNESCO’s name and logo is to be used.
  • For activities of national scope, please contact the National Commission for UNESCO in your country. It will inform you of the possibility of concluding a contractual arrangement with itself.
  • Contact the person in the programme sector, field office or National Commission who is responsible for making the contractual arrangement to obtain authorization for the use of UNESCO’s name and logo.
  • Organizations that use UNESCO’s name and logo under a contractual arrangement are required, as with use under patronage, to report to UNESCO and the related National Commission on the impact of the use.

Commercial use

  • The sale of goods or services bearing the name, acronym, logo or Internet domain names of UNESCO for profit is regarded as “commercial use”.
  • Any commercial use of UNESCO’s name, acronym, logo or Internet domain name, alone or in the form of a linked logo, must be expressly authorized by the Director-General of UNESCO under a specific contractual arrangement, such as a fundraising, merchandizing or licensing agreement.
  • Any request or proposal for commercial use should be addressed to the Assistant Director-General of the Sector for External Relations and Cooperation of UNESCO; the concerned National Commission should also be informed.

National entities

  • National entities belonging to or aspiring to belong to intergovernmental programmes, programme networks or the movement of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations, if you wish to request the right to use UNESCO’s name and logo under this category, please contact the National Commission for UNESCO in your country.

International non-governmental organizations maintaining formal relations with UNESCO

  • As distinct and autonomous entities, international non-governmental organizations must not use the logo of UNESCO on a permanent basis.
  • Instead, international non-governmental organizations may use the sentence “NGO maintaining official relations with UNESCO” to state their relationship with UNESCO for the purpose of information and promotion.
  • However, international non-governmental organizations may request UNESCO’s authorization to use UNESCO’s logo for events under patronage or covered by contractual arrangement.

Institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO

UNESCO Logo

  • "Category II" Institutes and Centres are authorized to use the UNESCO logo block provided that it is always linked to the name and logo of such bodies, together with the wording “under the auspices of UNESCO”.
  • To find out how to obtain this status, please contact the National Commission for UNESCO in your country.

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Contacts

  • For general enquiries please contact logo(at)unesco.org for assistance.
  • For specific enquiries related to conventions, programmes, networks, United Nations Days, Years Decades or Anniversaries, please consult the name and logo Focal point of relevant programme sector.
Step 1: Consulting the National Commission for UNESCO

The first step for any organization seeking UNESCO's patronage is to contact the National Commission for UNESCO in the country in which the organization is registered. The National Commission will advise on:

  • the general acceptability of the request
  • whether other National Commission may need to be contacted (for activities taking place in different countries)
  • whether patronage can be granted by the National Commission itself or whether a request for patronage should be presented, through National Commission, to the UNESCO Secretariat.
Step 2: Completing required information

The Patronage Request Form allows assembling all relevant information.

Step 3: Sending information to the National Commission

After completing the request form, please send your information to the National Commission for UNESCO in your country for formal endorsement.

Step 4: Forwarding request to UNESCO Secretariat
  • The request together with completed request form and the formal support from the National Commission can be sent either directly by the requesting body or by/through the National Commission.
  • It is strongly advised that requests be sent to the Director-General of UNESCO at least three months before the starting date of the activity. All requests must be sent by formal correspondence to the following address:
    Office of the Director-General, UNESCO
    7, place de Fontenoy
    75007 Paris, FRANCE
Step 5: Receiving notification from UNESCO
  • If your patronage is granted, the responsible body will receive an official letter from the UNESCO Secretariat, which sets out the general conditions for the use of UNESCO's name and logo.
  • If a request is declined, the responsible body will also receive a letter from the UNESCO Secretariat, explaining the reasons why the request has not been accepted.
Step 6: Obtaining electronic files of UNESCO's logo

If patronage is granted, the responsible body will be asked to contact the responsible to obtain the appropriate electronic file with the UNESCO Patronage logo.

Step 7: Reporting to UNESCO
  • The objective for UNESCO to grant its patronage is to extend its outreach and impact.
  • At the end of your activity, the responsible body will be asked to send an evaluation report to UNESCO in terms of the visibility, outreach and impact that your activity has achieved. This report should be accompanied by examples of materials and documents that you have produced which bear the name and logo of UNESCO.
  • The report should be sent to:
    UNESCO, Sector for External Relations and Public Information
    Logo Use
    7, place de Fontenoy
    75007 Paris, FRANCE
  • A copy of the report should also be sent to the National Commission for UNESCO which has provided its endorsement for your request.