Day 2: International Organizations – Part 2

1. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

  • Full Form: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
  • Establishment: 16 November 1945
  • Headquarters: Paris, France1
  • Purpose: To promote international collaboration in education, science, culture, and communication and information. It focuses on achieving quality education for all, mobilizing science knowledge and policy, protecting and promoting cultural heritage and diversity, and fostering freedom of expression.
  • Key Functions:
    • Education: Promoting Education for All (EFA), teacher training, literacy programs.
    • Natural Sciences: Promoting sustainable development, addressing climate change, managing natural resources.
    • Social and Human Sciences: Addressing ethical and societal challenges, promoting human rights and democracy.
    • Culture: Protecting World Heritage sites, promoting cultural diversity, supporting cultural industries.
    • Communication and Information: Fostering free flow of ideas, promoting access to information, supporting media development.
  • Notable Initiatives: World Heritage List, Man and the Biosphere Programme, International Geoscience Programme.

2. UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)

  • Full Form: United Nations Children’s Fund (originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)
  • Establishment: 11 December 1946
  • Headquarters: New York City, USA
  • Purpose: To provide humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. It focuses on child survival and development, basic education and gender equality, child protection, HIV/AIDS, and policy advocacy.
  • Key Functions:
    • Child Survival and Development: Immunization, nutrition, healthcare access.
    • Basic Education and Gender Equality: Promoting access to quality education for all children, especially girls.
    • Child Protection: Protecting children from violence, exploitation, and abuse.
    • HIV/AIDS: Preventing HIV transmission among children and providing care for those affected.
    • Policy Advocacy: Working with governments and partners to promote child rights.
  • Notable Initiatives: The State of the World’s Children report, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (partner).

3. SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation)

  • Full Form: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
  • Establishment: 8 December 1985
  • Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.2
  • Purpose: To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in the region3 through mutual cooperation in economic, social, cultural, technical, and scientific fields.
  • Key Objectives:
    • Promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields.
    • Strengthen cooperation4 among member countries in international forums on matters of common interest.
    • Accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region.
    • Promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia.
  • Challenges: Political tensions between member states have often hindered its effectiveness.

4. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

  • Full Form: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Establishment: 16 October 1945
  • Headquarters: Rome, Italy
  • Purpose: To lead international efforts to defeat hunger. Its goals are to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active and healthy lives.5
  • Key Functions:
    • Providing technical assistance to developing countries in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water management.
    • Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on food and agriculture.
    • Providing a neutral forum for discussion and negotiation of agricultural issues.
    • Responding to food emergencies and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
  • Notable Reports: The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture.
  • World Food Day: Celebrated annually on 16th October.

5. ILO (International Labour Organization)

  • Full Form: International Labour Organization
  • Establishment: 1919 (became a specialized agency of the UN in 1946)
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Purpose: To promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its mission based on the conviction that universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice.
  • Key Functions:
    • Setting international labour standards in the form of conventions and recommendations.
    • Providing technical assistance to member states to improve labour laws and practices.
    • Promoting tripartism (dialogue between governments, employers, and workers).
    • Conducting research and publishing reports on labour issues.
  • Notable Conventions: Core Labour Standards (freedom of association, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, elimination of child labour, non-discrimination).
  • Nobel Peace Prize: Awarded in 1969 for promoting social justice and peace.

30 MCQs on International Organizations (Day 2)

  1. The headquarters of UNESCO is located in which city?
    a) New York
    b) Geneva
    c) Paris
    d) Rome
  2. When was UNICEF established?
    a) 1945
    b) 1946
    c) 1948
    d) 1950
  3. Which of the following is NOT a member state of SAARC?
    a) Nepal
    b) Myanmar
    c) Bangladesh
    d) Afghanistan
  4. The primary goal of FAO is to:
    a) Promote cultural exchange
    b) Defeat hunger
    c) Ensure global health security
    d) Advance technological innovation
  5. The ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in which year?
    a) 1945
    b) 1950
    c) 1969
    d) 1971
  6. Which of the following initiatives is NOT directly associated with UNESCO?
    a) World Heritage List
    b) Education for All (EFA)
    c) Global Polio Eradication Initiative
    d) Man and the Biosphere Programme
  7. UNICEF primarily focuses on providing assistance to:
    a) Refugees
    b) Children and mothers
    c) Developing economies
    d) War-torn regions
  8. The headquarters of SAARC is in:
    a) Dhaka
    b) Islamabad
    c) Kathmandu
    d) Colombo
  9. World Food Day is observed on:
    a) 1st June
    b) 16th October
    c) 10th December
    d) 24th January
  10. Which organization sets international labour standards?
    a) WHO
    b) ILO
    c) WTO
    d) IMF
  11. Which UNESCO initiative aims to protect natural and cultural heritage around the world?
    a) EFA
    b) World Heritage List
    c) Biosphere Reserves
    d) International Geoscience Programme
  12. What is the full form of UNICEF?
    a) United Nations International Children’s Education Fund
    b) United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
    c) United Nations Fund for Children’s Education
    d) United Nations Emergency Fund for Children
  13. How many member states are currently part of SAARC?
    a) 6
    b) 7
    c) 8
    d) 9
  14. Where is the headquarters of FAO located?
    a) Paris
    b) Geneva
    c) Rome
    d) New York
  15. Which principle is central to the ILO’s mission?
    a) Free market economy
    b) Social justice
    c) Technological advancement
    d) Political neutrality
  16. Promoting freedom of expression is a key focus area of which international organization?
    a) UNICEF
    b) SAARC
    c) UNESCO
    d) FAO
  17. Which of the following is a major publication of UNICEF?
    a) The State of the World’s Children
    b) World Development Report
    c) Human Development Report
    d) Global Competitiveness Report
  18. When was SAARC established?
    a) 1975
    b) 1980
    c) 1985
    d) 1990
  19. Which UN agency leads the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in partnership with others?
    a) FAO
    b) UNESCO
    c) UNICEF
    d) ILO
  20. The concept of tripartism is strongly associated with the work of:
    a) FAO
    b) ILO
    c) UNESCO
    d) UNICEF
  21. Protecting cultural diversity is a key objective of:
    a) SAARC
    b) UNESCO
    c) ILO
    d) UNICEF
  22. Which of the following is NOT a focus area for UNICEF?
    a) Immunization
    b) Teacher training programs for adults
    c) Child protection from violence
    d) Promoting gender equality in education
  23. Which country hosted the first SAARC summit?
    a) India
    b) Bangladesh
    c) Sri Lanka
    d) Nepal
  24. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices is a key function of:
    a) WHO
    b) FAO
    c) UNESCO
    d) ILO
  25. Which of the following core labour standards is promoted by the ILO?
    a) Right to own property
    b) Freedom of association
    c) Universal suffrage
    d) Freedom of religion
  26. The Man and the Biosphere Programme is an intergovernmental scientific program launched by:
    a) UNICEF
    b) FAO
    c) UNESCO
    d) ILO
  27. Providing humanitarian assistance during emergencies is a key role of:
    a) UNESCO
    b) UNICEF
    c) SAARC
    d) FAO
  28. Which of the following is a challenge often faced by SAARC?
    a) Lack of financial resources
    b) Political tensions between member states
    c) Limited membership
    d) Absence of a permanent secretariat
  29. Collecting and analyzing data on food and agriculture is a primary function of:
    a) UNICEF
    b) UNESCO
    c) FAO
    d) ILO
  30. Promoting dialogue between governments, employers, and workers is a key function of the:
    a) World Bank
    b) ILO
    c) UNESCO
    d) IMF

Good luck with your preparation! Let me know if you need anything else.

Okay, here are the answers to the English version of the MCQs as well:

  1. c) Paris
  2. b) 1946
  3. b) Myanmar
  4. b) Defeat hunger
  5. c) 1969
  6. c) Global Polio Eradication Initiative
  7. b) Children and mothers
  8. c) Kathmandu
  9. b) 16th October
  10. b) ILO
  11. b) World Heritage List
  12. b) United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
  13. c) 8
  14. c) Rome
  15. b) Social justice
  16. c) UNESCO
  17. a) The State of the World’s Children
  18. c) 1985
  19. c) UNICEF
  20. b) ILO
  21. b) UNESCO
  22. b) Teacher training programs for adults
  23. b) Bangladesh
  24. b) FAO
  25. b) Freedom of association
  26. c) UNESCO
  27. b) UNICEF
  28. b) Political tensions between member states
  29. c) FAO
  30. b) ILO

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