AUDREY AZOULAY RE-ELECTEDAS HEAD OF UNESCO

French Audrey Azoulay was re-elected with a very large majority for a second four-
year term as head of UNESCO, the UN organization based in Paris. Recall that in
mid-October, the organization’s 58-member executive council decided, by 55 votes out of
57 presents, to “recommend” his candidacy. This decision was awaiting validation at the
41st session of UNESCO. This is today done. Concurring sources agree that Audrey
Azoulay’s re-election enshrines the strategy of depoliticizing the institution that she wanted
from her election. It should be noted that the Director-General took up her duties in a
deteriorated context, due to the departure of the United States and Israel. Both countries
accused the institution of a pro-Palestinian bias. These tensions have now subsided,
which precedes the return of these two countries to the organization in the medium
term.

Audrey Azoulay born 4 August 1972 is a French civil servant and politician who has
been serving as the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2017, becoming the second female
leader of the organization. She previously served as France’s Minister of Culture in the
government of Prime Minister Manuel Valls from 2016 to 2017. She was born in Paris to a Moroccan Jewish family from Essaouira. Her father, André Azoulay, is former adviser to the king of Morocco Hassan II from 1991 to 1999, then the current adviser to king Mohammed VI
of Morocco. Her mother, Katia Brami, is a Moroccan writer.
Note: According to the human technology foundation, “UNESCO has considerable
assets to keep the debate on new technologies alive and is based above all on its universal
vocation to the within the multilateral system of the United Nations.” The organization
is establishing a bridge between multiple stakeholders including civil societies
organizations and offers them a platform for exchange and debate.
Today as noticed during the last general congress in Paris, the prospects offered by
new technologies, and in particular artificial intelligence, are also revolutionizing all areas
of the mandate of the Organization. His multidisciplinary expertise guarantees him
an understanding of complete range of issues.