Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed…
Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO
The Italian Youth Association for UNESCO, established in 2015 – at the time as a Youth Committee – under the aegis of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, is made up of young people, equally representing all the Italian regions, who volunteer their work in the service of culture, science, education and communication and information in our country.
In accordance with the Constitution of UNESCO and with UNESCO Conventions, Declarations, Recommendations and Programmes, the Association RECOGNISES the importance of the following values.
Our values
Awareness-raising and participation of civil society
with particular regard to the active involvement of the younger generations, carrying out actions that foster the dissemination of the principles and values underpinning UNESCO;
Enhancement of Cultural Heritage, tangible and intangible, and of Landscape and Natural Heritage
in shaping the identities of communities, groups and individuals and in uniting past, present and future generations;
Education
as a continuous process of improving knowledge and skills; an opportunity that everyone should have, in order to understand, benefit from and actively participate in the knowledge society;
Promotion of Science
as a body of knowledge obtained through research activity with the aim of understanding the human, social, economic and physical dynamics of the world we live in;
Communication
as the free flow of ideas and universal access to information, an expression of pluralism and cultural diversity; as a means of exchange and sharing, useful in transforming economies, societies and cultures;
Responsibility of Present Generations towards Future Ones
so that the needs, freedoms, rights and interests of the latter are safeguarded, with respect for the environment, cultural heritage, human rights and fundamental freedoms;
International, National and Local Cooperation
as an essential factor in building peace, freedom and justice, in safeguarding, promoting and transmitting Heritage, and in achieving sustainable cultural, social, scientific, economic and technological development;
Diversity
as a source of exchange and of spiritual, intellectual, emotional and material enrichment for humankind and a driver of development;
Awareness
as a process that opens up opportunities for exchanging information and knowledge, capable of improving mutual understanding and developing the skills needed to enable social and behavioural change.
Given the importance of the principles expressed, the Association Committ Itself:
- to place its professional expertise and commitment at the disposal of the community and of national and international institutions, in order to disseminate UNESCO values and to uphold the founding principles of our legal system and of contemporary civil society;
- to stimulate the awareness and consciousness of the younger generations of the importance of culture, science, education and communication and information in all their forms and manifestations, collaborating on, supporting and creating initiatives in line with UNESCO objectives;
- to collaborate in the creation of pilot projects that give fresh impetus to UNESCO values;
- to translate the needs and aspirations of the new generations into concrete actions and projects, seeking to ensure the active participation of young people in initiatives and events in the fields of culture, science, education and communication and information, of international, national and regional significance;
- to create networks and stimulate the interest of the population, particularly its younger members, in UNESCO topics, in order to foster the exchange of ideas, experiences and good practices, ensuring a diversified, secular and non-partisan critical perspective.
The Italian Youth Association for UNESCO therefore
COMMITS ITSELF
to disseminating this document and to supporting the implementation of the principles it contains.
Endorsed by all the territorial representations.
The President