Credit: whc.unesco.org/   France-UNESCO 

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

France will increase its voluntary contribution to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)  to €5 million ($5.7 million) in 2019 to support programs and projects related to the education of girls and Africa,  the French Ministry reported Friday.  Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, met Friday with Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of  UNESCO.  “The minister reaffirmed France’s full support for UNESCO, whose action in the areas of education, culture and the protection of heritage makes a significant contribution to the UN’s vision of peace, ” the French Ministry said in a statement. Le Drain indicated indicated that, within the framework of the G7 presidency, he would co-chair a joint meeting of development and education ministers on July 5 and that an international conference on girls’ access to education would take place at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.