The new Director General of UNESCO committed to uphold the mandate of organization and to build an organization that is “for the people,” during the 43rd General Conference in Samarkand.
In his inaugural speech Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General, swore a solemn oath to act in the interests of UNESCO and strengthen an organization that enabled dialogue- “especially when dialogue seems impossible elsewhere.”
“Faced with global crises, UNESCO must be the house of dialogue: the place where diagnoses are shared, where cross-cutting projects are built, where consensus is constructed, where a shared universality becomes possible…”
Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General,
He laid out a vision for UNESCO starting with education where he would uphold the right to education for all and continue to defend education in crises. For science, he promised that UNESCO would continue to serve as an ethical compass for emerging technologies such as AI and neurotechnology. He reaffirmed UNESCO’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding culture and to promoting sustainable tourism. He also commended UNESCO’s efforts to promote freedom of expression and committed himself to strengthening efforts to protect journalists and defending linguistic diversity.
“UNESCO’s history is a history of courageous and inventive responses. I will not make the mistake of believing that the number of votes cast for my candidacy is due to me personally. It expresses a hope for an immense mission, for which I find myself today driven by an unwavering determination: to make UNESCO a place for building lasting peace in a world plagued by inequality and division.”
Khaled El-Enany, Director General of UNESCO
UNESCO’s new Director-General is an Egyptologist and Professor of Egyptology at Helwan University in Egypt. He led the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. From 2016 to 2022, he served as Minister of Antiquities and then Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Khondker M. Talha, President of the General Conference, congratulated Mr. El-Enany on his new position and on a career built on preserving cultural heritage and making it accessible to the world.
“Your nomination as Director-General of UNESCO is a tribute to an extraordinary career – a career built on the conviction that culture, education and science can build bridges between peoples.”
Khondker M. Talha, President of the General Conference
Vera El Khoury Lacoeuilhe, Chairperson of the Executive Board, also congratulated him, and highlighted that the board had voted for Mr. El-Enany with an overwhelming majority, confident that he would be able to lead UNESCO into a new era.
“Professor El-Enany your election brings not only expectations but also hope…to ensure that UNESCO continues to serve as a space for multilateralism and prove itself through results.”
Vera El Khoury Lacoeuilhe, Chairperson of the Executive Board
H.E Saida Mirziyoyevam, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, also congratulated the new Director General, on behalf of her country which is hosting the General Conference.
“On behalf of the president of Uzbekistan and our people allow me to congratulate you … your vision of placing people at the core of the organization has resonated in the hearts and minds of people…Under your leadership UNESCO will achieve its aspirations for a better world through education, science, and information.”
H.E Saida Mirziyoyevam, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan
Source: UNESCO