Rules of Procedure
Rules of Procedure of the
Georgian National Commission for UNESCO
(Government Decree No. 66, February 19, 2015)
Article 1. General Provisions
1. The main objectives of the National Commission for UNESCO (hereinafter – the Commission) are to ensure the active participation of Georgia in UNESCO’s activities, to facilitate the implementation, at a national level, of programs in line with UNESCO’s priorities and to promote UNESCO’s activities in the country by providing a good level of information on the values and priorities of UNESCO.
2. The work of the Commission is guided by the Georgian Constitution, Treaties and International Agreements concluded by Georgia, other national legal acts, as well as UNESCO’s Constitutive Act, the older regulations of the National Commissions for UNESCO and the Rules of Procedures of the Georgian National Commission for UNESCO.
3. The Commission shall have a bank account, a logo, a letterhead and a stamp with the inscription ‘National Commission for UNESCO’.
4. The Commission sits at the following address: 4 Chitadze Street, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, 0118 Tbilisi, Georgia.
Article 2. Main functions and prerogatives
The main functions of the Commission are as follows:
A) information and consultation of the Government of Georgia, concerned Ministries, non-governmental organizations, associations and experts on UNESCO’s main orientations and priorities, with a view to promoting the activities of the Organization and to ensure greater participation of the country in UNESCO’s activities;
B) information and consultation of relevant Georgian institutions and organizations on UNESCO’s major programs;
C) information of relevant institutions on scholarships and fellowships, as well as UNESCO Prizes;
D) preparation of proposals and recommendations on the main issues on the agenda of the sessions of the Executive Board and the General Conference of UNESCO with a view to preparing the country’s positions on them;
E) preparation of proposals and recommendations on Georgia’s candidatures within the various governmental bodies of UNESCO, as well as on the support of candidates from partner countries;
F) presentation of conclusions and recommendations adopted by UNESCO to the institutions and organizations concerned;
G) preparation of reports on the work of the Commission, creation and management of a website dedicated to the Commission;
H) participation in UNESCO surveys and opinion polls;
I) coordination of exchanges between UNESCO’s Secretariat and governmental bodies, institutions or non-governmental organizations of Georgia;
J) coordination of exchanges at the national level between local partners, UNESCO Network members (UNESCO-accredited non-governmental organizations, UNESCO Clubs, UNESCO Chairs, Associated Schools, Goodwill Ambassadors, Artists for Peace and others) and UNESCO’s Secretariat;
K) development of its cooperation with the National Commissions of other member countries of UNESCO, preparation and implementation of joint programs and projects;
L) participation in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of UNESCO’s program, in cooperation with UNESCO’s Secretariat;
M) organization of the participation of the Georgian Delegation in the General Conference, the Executive Board and other intergovernmental bodies of UNESCO, participation in regional consultations held by the Director-General;
N) selection of candidates within the framework of UNESCO’s programs;
O) selection of projects under the “Participation Program” and other similar UNESCO programs;
P) preparation and implementation of projects for the development of its capacities, within the framework of UNESCO’s “Participation Program”.
Article 3. Composition and methods of work
1. The Commission shall consist of 12 members, including: the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary-General and other members.
2. The members of the Commission may be representatives of Ministries working in the fields of competence of UNESCO, but also other governmental agencies, local authorities, public educational and research institutions, as well as members of associations and non-governmental organizations or independent experts.
3. Ministries shall be represented at the level of Deputy Ministers.
4. Members of the Commission shall be appointed by the President on the proposal of the Ministries concerned.
5. The heading of the Commission shall be signed by the President, the Vice-President or the Secretary-General.
6. Members of the Commission shall work without remuneration.
7. Meetings of the Commission shall be convened by the President of the Commission on the recommendation of the Secretary-General.
8. Each member of the Commission shall have one vote.
9. The Commission may approve a decision if more than half of the total number of its members is present at the time of the decision. Decisions are taken by simple majority.
10. The Commission may set up a group of experts to resolve a specific problem related to UNESCO’s fields of competence.
11. Any member may withdraw from the Commission after notification in writing to the President.
Article 4. The President of the Commission
1. The President of the Commission shall be the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He appoints members of the Commission, members of expert groups and members of the Secretariat. He shall convene and chair the sessions of the Commission.
2. The President shall represent the Commission to UNESCO, to the Member States of the Organization and their competent governmental bodies.
3. He shall lead the Georgian Delegation at the General Conference of UNESCO.
4. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President of the Commission shall assure his functions.
Article 5. The Vice-President of the Commission
The Vice-President of the Commission is the Deputy Minister in charge of UNESCO-related issues.
Article 6. The Commission Secretariat
1. The daily work of the Commission shall be carried out by its Secretariat.
2. The Secretariat of the Commission is directed by the Secretary-General, who is the official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the head of the unit in charge of UNESCO.
3. The members of the Secretariat of the Commission shall be appointed by the President of the Commission, on the recommendation of the Secretary-General, from among the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the unit in charge of UNESCO.
4. The financial documentation of the Secretariat of the Commission shall be managed with the help of the relevant unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or by an external contract employee.
5. The Secretary-General of the Commission shall:
A) represent the Commission to UNESCO, to the Member States of the Organization and their competent governmental bodies;
B) ensure effective cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of Georgia to UNESCO through coordinated exchange of information;
C) decide on the allocation of the logo at various national events, with the aim of promoting the activities of UNESCO;
D) submit its recommendations to the President for convening a session of the Commission;
E) make recommendations to the Commission on the development, evaluation and implementation of projects under the “Participation Program”;
F) submit a report on its activities to the Commission;
G) stamp, sign financial documents and contracts with organizations implementing projects financed by UNESCO’s “Participation Program” or other funds of the Organization.
Article 7. Logistics and equipment
The premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are used for the logistical and material functioning of the Commission.
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