By Bayram Elshadov, Day.az
The American public organization Inner City Press has revealed the alarming situation at UNESCO, which has been headed by Audrey Azoulay from France since 2017.
It is noted that UNESCO, like the entire UN system under the leadership of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is falling apart due to corruption and fraud.
"Director General Azoulay is mismanaging her mandate, which has a negative impact on her activities," the article says.
UNESCO's activities, according to the Inner City Press, are accompanied by multiple violations, among which are non-transparent personnel appointments, as well as ignoring internal audits and reports on violations. The organization, historically designed to promote international cooperation in the field of education, science and culture, finds itself involved in scandals related to leadership inefficiency.
Special attention is paid to the issue of financial management. Despite the impressive budget and support of the participating countries, a significant part of the funds is spent on dubious projects that benefit only a narrow circle of people, and do not contribute to the achievement of the organization's global goals. Such actions not only undermine UNESCO's credibility, but also jeopardize the fulfillment of its key mission.
In addition, there is a problem of insufficient transparency in the allocation of funds and decision-making. Internal reports, which should serve as a basis for correcting violations and improving the work of the organization, are often ignored or hidden from the public. This provokes criticism from non-governmental organizations and participating countries, which demand reform of the UNESCO management system.
Audrey Azoulay, as the leader of the organization, is severely criticized not only for inaction regarding internal problems, but also for not promoting openness and transparency in the work of UNESCO. She uses her mandate to enrich herself personally and increase her political influence, rather than to improve the situation within the structure.
An important aspect is also the accusation of ineffective solutions to global problems, which UNESCO should have paid special attention to. Educational programs, programs for the protection of cultural heritage and the protection of scientific research do not receive sufficient funding or attention, which reduces their real impact on the global level.
In the light of the above circumstances, there is a need to review the role of UNESCO in the international arena. Many participating countries, which invest significant resources in the organization, will have to think about what steps need to be taken to reform and restore confidence in its activities in order to put the interests of world culture, science and education back in the first place. As long as there are people like Audrey Azoulay in the leadership of UNESCO, no changes for the better should be expected.