The session examined and approved the Program and budget of Organization for 2012-2013 that amounts to 653 mln. USD.

Elections to the Executive Board and Organization’s intergovernmental bodies and committees were held during the session. At the outcome of these elections Ukraine was elected to the International coordinating council of the UNESCO Program “Man and Biosphere” (MAB) and to the Headquarters Committee.

During the celebration of the International Day of Biosphere Reserves (3 November 2011) creation of the trilateral transboundary biosphere reserve “West Polessiye” (Ukraine, Belarus, Poland) was announced.

Representatives of Ukraine participated in the work of the Youth Forum, held in the framework of the General Conference’s session.

A Leader’s Forum entitled “How UNESCO contributes to the construction of a culture of peace and sustainable development” was also held during the General Conference.

The Conference adopted decisions to grant membership to Palestine and South Soudan. Curaçao and Sint Maarten were admitted to Organization as associated members. Today UNESCO counts 203 states - 195 member states and 8 associated members.

Special events were organized in the framework of this session: a plenary meeting on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and presentation of a Blueprint for Ocean and Coastal Sustainability.

The General Conference also adopted resolutions on proclamation of the international days of Radio (13 February) and Jazz (30 April).


A total of 3000 delegates from 195 member states participated in this session of General Conference.