Dominican Republic concludes participation in UNESCO’s 221st Executive Council

Paris.- The Dominican Republic, represented by Ambassador Larissa Veloz, concluded its active participation in the 221st Session of UNESCO’s Executive Council. The delegation engaged in key discussions and strategic initiatives across several priority areas on the organization’s agenda.

A major focus was the ongoing selection process for the next UNESCO Director-General, with the Dominican delegation attending private interviews with the three candidates—Khaled El-Enany (Egypt), Gabriela Ramos (Mexico), and Firmin Matoko (Congo). The final election will take place during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In the education sector, the Dominican Republic advocated for strengthening the digital platform of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network, while also emphasizing the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) due to climate change and natural disasters.

Culturally, the Dominican delegation stressed the importance of MONDIACULT, to be held in Barcelona, as a space to reaffirm culture’s role in sustainable development. The country also commended UNESCO’s work to protect journalists, highlighting the “RD-UNESCO Journalist” award. In science and technology, it urged the integration of ethical, inclusive digital policies, especially around AI and open science, and spotlighted the upcoming AI Ethics Summit in Santo Domingo. Overall, the Dominican Republic reiterated its commitment to UNESCO’s mission of education, cultural preservation, and free expression.