The UNESCO Centre of Catalonia – Unescocat was created in 1984 to bring UNESCO to Catalonia and Catalan language and culture to UNESCO. Today, the Centre aims to become a reference in managing diversity and is committed to the essential values of human rights, the culture of peace, cultural plurality, biodiversity and dialogue between cultures. Unescocat works at “building bridges, breaking boundaries” in Catalonia, the Mediterranean and among intergovernmental platforms, through innovative, interdisciplinary action based on the principles of sustainable development, social cohesion, national identity and promoting democracy. Unescocat maintains official relations with UNESCO and has consultative status with ECOSOC and the United Nations Department of Public Information.

The official founding ceremony of the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia was held on 12 December 1984. The initial articles of association were registered at the Catalan Government's Directorate General for Law and Legal Entities of the Ministry of Justice on 25 February 1985 and were updated on 6 September 1996.

The Centre's working structure is organised around departments, areas and services. The departments generate thought and projects on linguistic diversity, religious diversity and dialogue, human rights and cultural diversity, education, heritage and sustainability. The content produced by the departments is given projection and visibility by four areas; the Consultancy, the Learning Centre, the Observatory and the coordination of the UNESCO Civil Network in Catalonia. The services provide support for the development of programmes.

 

AREAS OF WORK

 

Social Action

Unescocat’s Social Action Area is aimed to develop and apply ideas and projects designed by the different departments of the UNESCO Centre at a local level. The Area’s technical experts help organisations and local areas prevent or intervene in conflict situations, and they provide advisory services on managing diversity.

Unescocat’s Social Action Area:

• offers advisory services on managing diversity in the public arena
• identifies needs and offers possible solutions to city councils on the spheres of action of the different departments at the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia
• promoting ways to improve living together and social cohesion in local areas with cultural and religious diversity.
• Unescocat currently has agreements in place on managing religious diversity and promoting interreligious dialogue with the Barcelona City Council (through the management of the Barcelona City Council’s Office of Religious Affairs), Lleida, the Consorci Badalona Sud, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sabadell, Salt, Cunit and Blanes.

 

Educational Action

All people are entitled to a quality education that guarantees diversified subject matter and is geared toward fully developing individual personalities and instilling values of peace, democracy, tolerance and understanding between cultures.

Unescocat's educational programmes are currently coordinated from the Area of Social and Educational Action. Priority is given to

• tending to quality education, aimed at acquiring the values ​​of peace, democracy, tolerance and understanding between cultures.
• disseminating UNESCO programmes in the field of education aimed at lifelong learning, improving the quality of education and promoting rights and freedom
• collaborating with Catalan educational institutions within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2015)
• specializing in educational cooperation, to help relating education, culture of peace and living-together.

 

Learning Centre

The Learning Centre is a training centre focused on UNESCO topic areas: cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, human rights, heritage and sustainability.

The Learning Centre:

• offers training aimed at building practical, independent, critical thought
• builds capacity among professionals, groups, public and private organisations so that they can transmit UNESCO values
• disseminates UNESCO values to the general public through training activities which include elements for reflection and proposals for debate to promote social transformation
• affirms its international dimension by involving students and trainers from other countries and with the future incorporation of online training.

 

The Observatory

The Observatory aims to be a “watchtower” from which it provides information connected to reality, and theoretical and practical knowledge that contributes to decision making and the development of actions for Catalan public administrations and civil society.

The Observatory:

• facilitates the production of knowledge and tools
• works with Unescocat’s departments and services and liaises with the different institutions and networks
• promotes knowledge and the application of UNESCO Normative Instruments
• publishes and disseminates the digital collection of publications Research Papers (QR).

 

UNESCO Civil Network

Catalonia is home to a highly active civil society. The sheer number and level of activity of Catalan organisations and institutions belonging to civil society networks promoted by UNESCO serve as a model to follow around the world.

As a result of its separate status with UNESCO and its established structure, Unescocat is able to offer technical support to, and co-ordinate, these networks in Catalonia.

The civil network in Catalonia is made up of the following organisations:

• UNESCO Associations and Clubs
• Group of Catalan UNESCO-Associated Libraries
• UNESCO-Associated University Chairs
• UNESCO-Associated Schools
• Unescocat Youth Group