No Vote for Uncle Sam in UNESCO?

The U.S. is expected to lose its vote in the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference on Friday because it has not paid its dues since 2011.

This alarms people like former assistant secretary of state for international organizations Esther Brimmer. Earlier this week, she argued that loss of a vote will impede U.S. efforts to defend its interests and those of Israel, imperil UNESCO programs that advance U.S. interests, and punish “pro-U.S. United Nations agencies that have no control over Palestinians.” These concerns are overblown.

UNESCO member states granted full membership to the Palestinian Authority in 2011 over the objections of the Obama administration. Prior to the vote, the U.S. repeatedly warned the organization that it would have no choice but to discontinue funding if the organization granted the Palestinians membership. UNESCO’s General Conference nonetheless approved Palestinian membership with a vote of 107 in favor, 14 against, and 52 abstentions.

…

UNESCO’s Holocaust education programs won’t wither without U.S. support. According to investigative reporter Claudia Rosett, UNESCO has only one full-time staff member dedicated to Holocaust education, and that worker’s salary is paid “out of a donation from Israel. . . . UNESCO’s annual contribution comes to a niggardly $215,000.” By contrast, the U.S. spends tens of millions on Holocaust education annually, including $47 million for the Holocaust Museum in fiscal year 2012.

Read the full article here.