Every two years, the UNESCO General Conference meets to determine the policies and major lines of work for the coming years. The General Conference will be hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan in Samarkand from 30 October – 13 November.

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Photo by Ozodbek Erkinov on Unsplash

Why we go

Member States and Associate Members, alongside observers from non-Member States, intergovernmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) discuss progress, major issues of concern, and strategic programming for the coming years. As an NGO in official partnership with UNESCO, this is an important space for IFLA to contribute input on behalf of the global library field.

On the agenda

The General Conference includes Commissions that align with each of UNESCO’s Sectors, along with commissions considering legal and financial, administrative and general questions. IFLA will be following the Communications and Information (CI) Commission, which considers work in areas including the Information for All Programme (IFAP) and Memory of the World, as well as the Culture Commission, which considers items related to culture in emergencies and culture for development.

One important item that the commissions will be considering and adopting is the Draft Programme and Budget for 2026-2029.

IFLA will also be taking the floor in the General Policy Debate, in which Member States and Observers can share general statements on recent work and views for the future. IFLA will be highlighting some of our recent collaborations, including the IFLA-UNESCO School Library Manifesto, and outcomes from MONDIACULT 2025.

IFLA in Uzbekistan

We are excited to join the international community at the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand. We are also taking the opportunity to meet with the Uzbek library field!

IFLA Policy and Advocacy Manager Claire McGuire will be making a visit to the National Library of Uzbekistan, and contributing to the opening of the National Library Week conference, “Betgerxonlik – 2025”.  She will give an address that aligns with the Conference theme: “Libraries and Their Role in Society: Scientific Research, Cultural Relations, and Impact on Sustainable Development.”