Mission and mandates of Francophone and Multilateral Affairs Delegation

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.

The document "Le Québec et l’UNESCO – Une vision, une communauté, des priorités pour 2024 et 2025 (PDF 6.84 Mb)" (Québec and UNESCO – A Vision, a Community, Priorities for 2024 and 2025) offers a comprehensive overview of the Government of Québec's involvement in the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO, highlighting its benefits and positive outcomes. Furthermore, this edition assesses the initiatives carried out over the past two years.

The document also outlines the primary focus areas for 2024 and 2025:

• Culture
• Education
• Ethics of artificial intelligence
• Ethics of neurotechnologies
• Open science
• International Decade of Indigenous Languages

In addition, Québec will play an active role within the Francophone Group of UNESCO.

Above all, the government publication emphasizes the Québec-UNESCO community, which includes various institutional partners and civil society. These active and dedicated partners are deeply involved in multiple sectors and possess advanced expertise on crucial global issues. What’s more, they significantly contribute to enhancing Québec’s reputation within UNESCO and among its Member States. Québec's engagement with this specialized United Nations agency relies heavily on the support of these partners.