The judicial text was accepted08/04/1980 and last revised
Legislation
The National Commission is governed by a joint Resolution of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) and the Ministry of Education (1980). The National Commission now depends on the General Directorate of the Cultural Relations Sector (Ministry for Foreign Affairs).
Documentation Centre
The National Commission pays particular attention to its information functions and to the distribution of data concerning the various fields of UNESCO’s activities. The Documentation Centre of the Commission, which comprises UNESCO publications and books, periodicals and archives (approximately 2 500 publications) of the Commission , the Ministry of External Relations as well as other governmental departments working in relation with UNESCO, is regularly consulted by school and university students, teachers, scholars, and other interested persons.
Structure of the Commission
The National Commission is composed of the following organs:
- The General Assembly, which meets regularly;
- The Executive Committee
- The Secretariat.
Members/Composition
The Commission has four ex-officio Honorary Presidents. This unique structure shows the importance the Government attaches to the National Commission's work. The Commission is composed of members from various governmental departments and ministries specialized in the fields of UNESCO's competence, as well as representatives of museums, universities, non-governmental organizations, and ex-Permanent Delegates of Venezuela to UNESCO. The members meet regularly in Plenary.
Executive Committee
Composed of 25 members representing the National Committees. The Executive Committee meets at least twice a year.
General Assembly
Composed of 65 members representing various ministries (Foreign Affairs, Education, Higher Education, Culture, Environment, Science and Technology, Popular Participation and Social Development, Communication and Information, Planning and Development), the civil society, universities, and public and private institutions.
Thee General Assembly meets twice a year.
Committees or Sub-Committees
The Commission has seven National Committees: 1) Education for All; 2) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); 3) Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB); 4) Against Illicit Traffic of Cultural Properties; 5) Memory of the World Programme; 6) Cultural Diversity; 7) Information for All and Communication Development
Committees/Sub-Committees Details
Number of Committees or Sub-Committees
7
Periodicity
Once a month.
Sub-committee Topics
[X] Education
[X] Science
[X] Social Sciences
[X] Culture
[X] Communication
Interaction with UNESCO and National Commissions
Overview
The Venezuelan National Commission collaborates with a number of National Commissions within and outside its region. The Commission also collaborates with the International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC) and maintains working relations with the UNESCO Field Offices in Santiago (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay), Quito (Ecuador) and Lima (Peru), amongst others.
