TThe The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established immediately after World War II with the thought of opening the channels of peace and dialogue among societies through education, science and culture. The international societal leaders who founded the UNESCO perceived that a lack of tolerance among peoples and societies was one of the basic reasons for the major destruction behind this war. A vast majority of the prejudices that encourage a lack of tolerance were stemming from inadequate education and ignorance. The prerequisite for achieving and establishing permanent peace among peoples and societies was through the elimination of prejudices. Waging war could not occur among people know and understand each other. No doubt, the best way for people to become acquainted with each other was by getting to know each other’s cultures. Around this ideal, the representatives of 44 countries that met in London in November 1945 accepted the Founding Charter of the UNESCO. Turkey set forth its strong support given for the realization of the thought of peace and dialogue of the UNESCO by being in tenth place among the first twenty states that signed this Charter. The UNESCO Founding Charter was ratified by Turkey with Law No. 4895 and dated 20 May 1946. Subsequently, the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, which has the attribute of the sole and legal representative in Turkey of the UNESCO General Directorate,
started activities on 25 August 1949 in accordance with Article 7 of the UNESCO Founding Charter.