UNESCO adopted by acclamation Resolution 43 C/22 on the Commemoration of the International Day of Vesak at UNESCO, at its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand on 6 November 2025. The landmark Resolution was initiated by Sri Lanka, and was adopted by the General Conference as per the provisions of the Executive Board Decision 219 EX/27 of March 2024 which requested the Director-General to transmit the Decision on the Annual Commemoration of Vesak to the General Conference at its 43rd Session for adoption.
The General Conference Resolution, like the March 2024 Executive Board Decision before that, was based on and built upon the UN General Assembly Resolution 54/115 (1999) on the International Recognition of the Day of Vesak at the United Nations. The UNESCO General Conference Resolution, while emphasizing the continuing relevance of Buddhism, its universal values and practices for the health and well-being of contemporary society; “requested the Director-General to issue an annual message on the International Day of Vesak”; and “to make appropriate arrangements to commemorate the International Day of Vesak annually on the Day of Vesak in the month of May at UNESCO Headquarters, in consultation with the relevant Permanent Delegations wishing to collaborate in this endeavour”.
Addressing the Social and Human Sciences (SHS) Commission following the adoption of the Resolution, the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Sri Lanka to UNESCO Manisha Gunasekera welcomed the adoption of the General Conference Resolution 43 C/22 on the Annual Commemoration of the International Day of Vesak at UNESCO, reiterating the Day’s universal significance as a global celebration of peace, inter-cultural dialogue and shared humanity; and highlighted the relevance of Vesak to UNESCO’s core mandate. The Ambassador also highlighted the Resolution’s alignment with the objectives of Major Programmes III & IV of UNESCO; as well as SDG 16 on the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. The Ambassador also extended her deep appreciation to all Member States, the Director-General and the Secretariat, including the incumbent and former Assistant Directors-General/SHS and the staff of the SHS Division for their interest, and for the strong support extended towards the adoption of the historic Resolution.
The initial Executive Board Decision 219 EX/27 of March 2024 was co-authored by Sri Lanka and a group of like-minded countries comprising Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand, and received the support of the Member States of UNESCO across all regions, including India. Following the adoption of the Executive Board Decision in 2024, Sri Lanka collaborated with Member States and the UNESCO Secretariat, through the 2024 Vesak celebration at UNESCO of a cultural evening themed “Harmony in Motion: Celebrating Vesak through Dance, Music, and Cultural Expression”; and the 2025 Vesak celebration of a Symposium themed “Buddhist Cosmopolitanism and Exchange along the Silk Road: Interplay between Buddhism and Trade in Ancient Asia”. These events demonstrated Vesak’s validity as a cultural celebration that unites civilizations across the world, while celebrating the shared heritage of humanity.
Statements were also delivered by the Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates of India and Vietnam, and the Delegation of Bangladesh welcoming the adoption of the historic Resolution at the UNESCO General Conference.
Permanent Delegation of Sri Lanka to UNESCO
Paris, France
10 November 2025
