Audrey Azoulay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audrey Azoulay
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Azoulay in 2016
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| 10th Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization | |
| Assumed office 15 November 2017 |
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| Deputy Director-General | Xing Qu |
| Preceded by | Irina Bokova |
| Minister of Culture | |
| In office 11 February 2016 – 10 May 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Manuel Valls Bernard Cazeneuve |
| Preceded by | Fleur Pellerin |
| Succeeded by | Françoise Nyssen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1972 La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France |
| Political party | Independent |
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| Education | Paris Dauphine University Lancaster University Sciences Po École nationale d'administration |
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Audrey Azoulay, born on August 4, 1972, is a French public servant and politician. She has been the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2017. UNESCO is a special agency of the United Nations. She is the second woman to lead this important organization. Before this, she was France's Minister of Culture from 2016 to 2017. In 2024, she received the Alumna of the Year award from Paris Dauphine University.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Audrey Azoulay was born on August 4, 1972, in La Celle-Saint-Cloud, France. Her family came from Essaouira, Morocco. Her father, André Azoulay, is a senior adviser to King Mohammed VI of Morocco. He also advised the previous king, King Hassan II.
Audrey Azoulay studied at several well-known universities. She earned a master's degree in management science from Paris Dauphine University in 1994. She also received an MBA from Lancaster University. Later, she attended Sciences Po and the École nationale d'administration (ENA). These schools helped her prepare for a career in public service.
Career in Public Service
Early Roles in Government
In 2000, Audrey Azoulay became a civil administrator. She worked for the government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. From 2000 to 2003, she led an office focused on public media. This included planning and funding for media organizations. She also helped the European Commission with media projects.
From 2003 to 2006, she worked on media and film financing at Sciences Po. She also reviewed how public services were managed. In 2004, she even had a small role in a film called "Le Grand Rôle."
Focus on Culture and Media
In 2006, Azoulay joined the National Center of Cinematography and the moving image (CNC). This organization supports French cinema and audiovisual arts. She held several important roles there, including Deputy Director-General.
From 2014 to 2016, she was an advisor to President François Hollande. Her work focused on communications and cultural matters.
Leading France's Culture Ministry
On February 11, 2016, Audrey Azoulay became France's Minister of Culture. She took over from Fleur Pellerin. During her time, she greatly increased the budget for culture. In 2017, the budget reached €2.9 billion. This was the largest amount ever given to the arts in France.
She also supported a special art prize for women artists. On the world stage, she worked with UNESCO and the United Arab Emirates. Their goal was to protect cultural treasures in areas affected by conflict. She also signed the Florence Declaration, which spoke out against destroying cultural sites. In March 2017, she helped pass a UN Security Council resolution. This resolution aimed to protect cultural heritage during wars.
Leading UNESCO
Becoming Director-General
In 2017, Audrey Azoulay became a candidate to lead UNESCO. She was one of nine people hoping to become the next Director-General. After several rounds of voting, she was elected. She officially took office on November 15, 2017. She is the second woman to hold this important role. In 2021, she was re-elected for a second four-year term.
UNESCO's Goals Under Her Leadership
When she became Director-General, Audrey Azoulay shared her vision for UNESCO. She wanted to make the organization stronger and more trusted. Her main goals included focusing on Africa, promoting gender equality, and improving education worldwide. She also worked to prevent violent extremism. This included creating programs to empower young people. She also supported guides for schools to fight against prejudice.
Key Achievements During Her First Term (2017–2021)
Resolving Important Issues
During her first term, Audrey Azoulay helped solve long-standing disagreements within UNESCO. For example, she helped reach an agreement on preserving the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. She also supported a joint effort by North and South Korea to list traditional Korean wrestling as a World Heritage item.
Rebuilding Mosul's Historic Center
In February 2018, she started the Revive the Spirit of Mosul project. This project aimed to rebuild the historic center of Mosul, Iraq. The city was damaged during its occupation by the Islamic State. UNESCO raised over $100 million for this effort. The project helped rebuild important sites like the Al-Saa'a Convent and the Al-Nouri Mosque. It also restored many historic homes and created thousands of local jobs.
Developing Ethics for Artificial Intelligence
In 2019, UNESCO published a study on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. This was the first step towards creating global rules for AI. Audrey Azoulay emphasized that AI must be fair, transparent, and inclusive. She believed that trust in new technologies depends on these efforts.
Helping Notre-Dame Cathedral
In April 2019, a fire badly damaged Notre-Dame de Paris. Audrey Azoulay offered UNESCO's help to assess the damage. UNESCO also offered support for the cathedral's restoration.
Increasing UNESCO's Budget
In November 2019, UNESCO's member countries agreed to increase their contributions. This was the first budget increase in many years. This showed growing support for UNESCO's work under Audrey Azoulay's leadership.
Supporting Education During COVID-19
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools worldwide. Audrey Azoulay launched a "Global Education Coalition." This group brought together many organizations to help students and teachers. They created solutions to support learning during the pandemic and beyond. This initiative helped hundreds of millions of students and teachers in many countries.
Helping Beirut After the Explosion
In August 2020, a large explosion hit the port of Beirut, Lebanon. Audrey Azoulay visited the city and promised UNESCO's help. UNESCO coordinated the repair of 280 damaged schools. They also helped restore cultural sites, including the Sursock Museum and historic buildings.
Re-election and End of Term
On November 9, 2021, Audrey Azoulay was re-elected for a second term. She received strong support from member states. Many saw her leadership as bringing stability and focus to UNESCO. Her term as Director-General is set to officially conclude on November 15, 2025.
Other Activities
- Generation Unlimited, member of the board (since 2018)
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), ex officio member of the Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (since 2017)
- International Gender Champions (IGC), member
Recognition
In September 2024, Azoulay received the Premio Sostenibilidad (Sustainability Award). This award was given at the Premios Vanguardia in Barcelona, Spain.
Images for kids
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Audrey Azoulay with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe in 2018
See also
In Spanish: Audrey Azoulay para niños
