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Briefing Paper: Abusing UNESCO

Date:
February 2012

This briefing paper looks at the on-going damage caused by President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea to the reputation and standing of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

It summarizes Obiang's efforts to set up a UNESCO science prize in his name, despite his regime being accused of human rights abuses and extensive corruption. It also examines the naming of his son Teodorin as Equatorial Guinea’s deputy permanent delegate to UNESCO, which could endow Teodorin with diplomatic immunity in the face of criminal money laundering investigations in France.

The briefing paper is also available in Spanish.

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Briefing Paper: Abusing UNESCO
PDF Document - 652K
Download the 10-page document.

Briefing Paper: Abusing UNESCO (Spanish)
PDF Document - 1040K
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Additional Information

UNESCO: Obiang Prize Suspended Again
Press Release
October 5, 2011
The Open Society Justice Initiative and five other groups have called for UNESCO to eliminate a controversial prize that would honour Africa's longest serving autocrat.

UNESCO warned on Obiang Probe Risk
Press Release
September 29, 2011
Open Society Justice Initiative and other groups raise questions about source of funding for prize that would honor Africa's longest-ruling autocrat.

UNESCO Must Stop Discredited Prize
Press Release
September 26, 2011
UNESCO should reject a new bid to honor Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the president of Equatorial Guinea and now Africa's longest serving ruler, with a prize in his name, a group of nine human rights organizations said today.

"God" of Equatorial Guinea Takes a Hit at UNESCO
Erica Razook
October 22, 2010
blog BLOG  
The decision to suspend the UNESCO "dictator prize" is a testament to the power of an informed global citizenry to strip away the veneer of untouchability from a corrupt human rights abuser with a god complex.

UNESCO Suspends Dictator Prize After Global Protest
Press Release
October 21, 2010
The Open Society Justice Initiative and its partners welcomed UNESCO’s decision today to suspend, indefinitely, the prize funded by and named after President Obiang of Equatorial Guinea.

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