Iceland concludes successful term on UNESCO’s Executive Board
Iceland concluded today its four-year period on the Executive Board of UNESCO during the 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Iceland presented its candidature on behalf of the Nordic countries following a decision by the Government of Iceland and was responsible for Nordic coordination during this period. Today, Norway was elected to the Executive Board for the period 2025-2029 and will serve as representative of the Nordic countries on the board.
“UNESCO has a key role in international cooperation on peace and sustainable development. Peace is not achieved with words alone but with our actions that reflect common values and responsibilities,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir. “The foundation of peace builds on education, fostering critical thinking, independent media which holds those in power accountable, science that serves the wellbeing of humanity, protection of nature, culture that stimulates and provides beauty and wisdom, and last but not least human rights guaranteeing rights and dignity for all. My heartfelt congratulations go to Norway on its elections to the Executive Board.”
The Delegation of Iceland at the 43rd General Conference was led by H.E. Ms. Bergdís Ellertsdóttir, Deputy Permanent Secretary of State, and was comprised of the Permanent Delegation of Iceland in Paris and the National Commission. While delivering Iceland’s national statement, Ambassador Ellertsdóttir highlighted the indivisibility of human rights, gender equality and the rights of LGBTQI+ person across the Organization’s work. She underlined the importance of the emergency assistance programmes in Ukraine and Gaza, where UNESCO provides vital support to the continuity of education, freedom of expression of journalists and scientists and protects and monitors damage to cultural heritage. She also highlighted the serious situation of women and girls in Afghanistan:
“Millions of children, especially girls, remain excluded from school, often in conflict zones or under repressive regimes such as in Afghanistan, where women and girls face blatant gender persecution. UNESCO must continue to stand with Afghan women and girls, keeping education alive and ensuring their voices are heard.”
Member States elected a new Director-General at the General Conference, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, who formally takes over this position on 15 November 2025. The General Conference held a farewell ceremony for Audrey Azoulay, who has served as Director-General of UNESCO from 2017, and included a video-address from Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
The Executive Board of UNESCO comprises of 58 Member States, elected by member states for four-year terms at a time. The Board is a constitutional organ and is responsible for overseeing the execution and implementation of UNESCO’s policies and programmes, examining the corresponding budget estimates, recommending the appointment of the Director-General.
During its tenure on the Executive Board, Iceland prioritized gender equality and human rights in all programmes of the UNESCO, the freedom of expression of journlists, artists and scientists, education for all, the protection of languages, the oceans and climate change, and the Organization’s emergency programmes in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Gaza.
Iceland has served as co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Gender Equality from 2021 and was twice elected to the CR-Committee responsible for human rights issues for the periods 2021-2023 and 2023-2025. Iceland was for the first time elected to the Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee (IOC) for the period 2023-2025, which is the custodian of targets under SDG14 on life in water on ocean acidification and incresing scientific knowledge and technology for the oceans.