U.S. to rejoin UNESCO after years of absence

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The U.S. will rejoin UNESCO this summer. Associated Press/Photo by Christophe Ena

U.S. to rejoin UNESCO after years of absence

The United Nation’s cultural and scientific agency UNESCO on Monday said the United States will pay more than $600 million in back dues and rejoin the organization in July. The U.S. Under Secretary of State for Management John Bass in March said America should rejoin the organization to counter China’s growing influence in UN agencies. In 2011, the Obama administration stopped funding the agency when it voted to include Palestine as a member. The Trump administration cited anti-Israel bias within the agency when the United States and Israel withdrew in 2018. Israel last year said it wouldn’t oppose an American return to UNESCO.

What does UNESCO do? The agency creates policies and programs intended to promote education, science, and culture. It’s also known for designating World Heritage sites. The organization has recently been involved in developing international standards for artificial intelligence.

Dig deeper: Read Jill Nelson’s report in WORLD Magazine about how Jordan plans a Biblical village attraction at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Jesus’ baptism.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.