The May 5, 2006 agreement between the Government of Québec and the Government of Canada concerning the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) was an unprecedented step forward, placing it among the most decisive initiatives in Québec’s international relations history. The Québec Government Representative in the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO is mandated to:

  • Promote the interests of the Government of Québec in matters of education, culture, scientific development and information society within the international community.
  • Improve government positions through strategic actions drawing on the network of bilateral and multilateral relations of Québec diplomacy.
  • Communicate and defend positions maintained by the Government of Québec in various decision-making and advisory bodies of UNESCO concerning strategic issues.
  • Promote and develop the expertise of the Government of Québec and civil partnership in UNESCO’s fields of activity and in reaching sustainable development targets.
  • Develop and maintain institutional relations with delegations from UNESCO Member States.
  • Actively participate in the work and activities of UNESCO representative groups such as La Francophonie and the Commonwealth.
  • Contribute to the implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Québec and UNESCO – A Vision, a Community, Priorities for 2022-2023

The document Le Québec et l’UNESCO – Une vision, une communauté, des priorités pour 2022-2023 (PDF 5.37 Mb) (Québec and UNESCO – A Vision, a Community, Priorities for 2022-2023) is designed to provide information on the Government of Québec’s presence in the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO as well as to illustrate its advantages and positive impacts.

It also presents the primary focus areas for 2022-2023:

  • culture and education—historical and fundamental priorities
  • the ethics of artificial intelligence
  • the promotion of open science
  • the procedure for adding Anticosti Island to the list of World Heritage Sites
  • the International Decade of Indigenous Languages

Above all, this government vision also seeks to raise awareness about the Québec-UNESCO community, which is composed of all institutional partners and civil society. These partners are numerous, active and committed. They work in various sectors of activity and have cutting-edge expertise on issues that are decisive for the planet and humanity. They contribute to Québec’s brand image with respect to UNESCO and its Member States. Québec’s actions within this great institution of the United Nations system would not be possible without them.