Written Statement of the German National Commission UNESCO must make a substantial and visible contribution to dealing with the challenges faced by the international community as a result of global developments. Three overarching strategic goals should guide the work of all five sectors of the organization: democratic participation – particularly through quality education for all –, sustainable development and cultural diversity. Respect and furtherance of the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms are overarching principles in the pursuit of these goals. Education for sustainable development, i.e. learning to live without compromising the options of future generations, is a crucial issue of our time to which UNESCO – through an interdisciplinary approach including all sectors – must make a substantial contribution. The application of modern management methods in UNESCO must include termination of less successful projects and further elimination of excessive bureaucratic regulations. It is vital for UNESCO to create more visibility for its objectives, its action and its achievements. Much has happened in this regard, still the existing measures for better communicability (reform and restructuring in the sectors, clearer setting of priorities) and for better communication should be further developed. Professional and effective communication work must accompany every programme. National Commissions are an indispensable mechanism for UNESCO in Member States. As interface and mediator between national politics, civil society, the media and the Organization, they make a decisive contribution to UNESCO’s visibility in Member States. They help to shape UNESCO’s programme by bringing in substantial feedback from national expert communities. By the very nature of the Organization’s mandate, this constant input of specialist expertise from Member States is essential for the quality of UNESCO’s programmes. National Commissions are a unique model in the UN system for the effective involvement of civil society to raise awareness in Member States for the objectives and instruments of multilateral cooperation. A substantial further development and a more effective use of the network of National Commissions should be one of UNESCO’s priorities. National Commissions themselves need to strengthen their cooperation, including North-South and SouthSouth-cooperation, in order to better fulfil their mandate. With regard to National Commissions of the European Region, working relations between the Secretariat of UNESCO and these Commissions need to be strengthened. This will significantly improve the outreach and visibility of UNESCO in many developed countries, which in the long term is crucial for UNESCO’s global impact.