United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

The report of the Director-General (Torres-Bodet) on the activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization from April 1951 to July 1952 stated that “remarkable progress†had been made during these fifteen months. The Director-General reported that the number of member states rose from 60 to 65, a “more precise conception of aims†resulted in better coordination of endeavor and greater economy in drawing up the program, and that methods of action improved. The report was divided into four parts which dealt with execution of the program, action in the field of international cooperation, administrative and financial questions, and the work of the Executive Board. It revealed that the organization was attempting to promote international cooperation among specialists in two ways: one, by lending its authority to and aiding financially the work of international non-governmental organizations of specialists, and the other, by attempting to compensate for the inadequacy of the national sections of such organizations in some areas through direct action of its science cooperation offices. UNESCO action relating to international organization of specialized documentation also was two-fold: it was concentrating on organizing the national and international standardization, collection and dissemination of specialized documentation; and it had established responsible services within the secretariat, in cooperation with international organizations and national commissions, for assembling and distributing information on program matters. Other phases of UNESCO action described included its work in stimulating and assisting its members to provide their peoples with a minimum of general, technical and moral education knownas fundamental education; expanding primary, secondary and vocational education; promoting higher education and scientific research; protecting writers, artists and scientists; preserving the cultural heritage of mankind; disseminating science and culture; attempting to remove obstacles to the free flow of ideas, concentrating mainly on the international circulation of educational and cultural materials; and studying social problems likely to create national and international tensions.