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Advisory Commission on UNESCO activities

The Advisory Commission on UNESCO1 Activities (hereinafter – the Advisory Commission) is a permanent internal commission of the Research Council of Lithuania (hereinafter – RCL), whose purpose is to assist the representative appointed by the RCL to adequately represent RCL in the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO2  and to advise the chairman of the RCL on relevant UNESCO activity issues. The Advisory Commission contributes to the strategic priority of the RCL – proactively implementing research and higher education policies by allocating expert resources and providing recommendations to policymakers3 .

The Advisory Commission advice the chairman of the RCL on the following matters:

  1. Regarding drafts of legal acts or other documents related to UNESCO activities.
  2. Regarding the implementation of the provisions of the documents related to UNESCO activities at the national and/or RCL level.
  3. On other issues related to UNESCO activities.

Members of the Advisory Commission:

  1. Dr. Gediminas Brazaitis – Professor at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Ecology of the Agriculture Academy of Vytautas Magnus University, member of the Expert Committee for Natural and Technical Sciences of the RCL.
  2. Dr. Rima Povilionienė – Professor at the Department of Musicology of the Music Faculty at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, member of the Expert Committee for Humanities and Social Sciences of the RCL (Vice-Chair).
  3. Dr. Liutauras Kraniauskas – Director of the Centre of Social Change Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of Klaipeda University, Senior Researcher, member of the Expert Committee for Humanities and Social Sciences of the RCL.
  4. Dr. Edita Baltrėnaitė-Gedienė – Senior Researcher at the Research Institute of Environmental Protection of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, member of the Expert Committee for Natural and Technical Sciences of the RCL.
  5. Dr. Nerija Putinaitė – Associate Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University, Member of the Expert Committee for Research and Higher Education Policy of the RCL.

The composition of the Advisory Commission is approved by the chairman of the RCL, who also appoints the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Advisory Commission. Candidacies for members of the Advisory Commission are proposed by the Expert Committees of the RCL:

  • Expert Committee for Natural and Technical Sciences and Expert Committee for Humanities and Social Sciences – each proposes two candidates.
  • Expert Committee for Research and Higher Education Policy – proposes one candidate.

The term of office for a member of the Advisory Commission is three years. A person can serve as an Advisory Commission member for no more than two consecutive terms.

1. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 

2. More information about the activities of the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO can be found here. 

3. Strategic Activity Plan of the Lithuanian Research Council for the years 2025-2027, approved by the decision No. 8V-2 of the Board of the Lithuanian Research Council on January 29, 2025. 

1. Regulations of the Advisory Commission on UNESCO Activities of the Research Council of Lithuania, approved by the order No. 265 of the Chairman of the Research Council of Lithuania on June 10, 2025, 'On the Approval of the Regulations of the Advisory Commission on UNESCO Activities of the Research Council of Lithuania'

2. Order No. V-338 of the Chairman of the Research Council of Lithuania on July 24, 2025, 'On the Approval of the Advisory Commission on UNESCO Activities of the Research Council of Lithuania'

3. Regulations of the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, approved by the Resolution No. 772 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on June 17, 2003, 'On the Establishment of the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO and the Approval of its Regulations'

Encouraging trust in science and the safety of scientists, as well as the links between science and policy, UNESCO adopted the Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (hereinafter – the Recommendation)1 in 2017, which includes key components such as:

  • Enabling women and girls to follow a career in sciences;
  • making scientific applications accessible to all;
  • providing the conditions for scientists to work in freedom and safety;
  • favouring trust and a science culture in society; and
  • ensuring science-led policymaking.

Each member state is invited to submit a report on the implementation of the Recommendation every four years, covering 10 key areas that the UNESCO General Conference particularly urged member states to focus on. Lithuania submitted its first report of this kind in 2021. The Advisory Committee prepared and on March 26, 2025, submitted to UNESCO the Second Report of Lithuania on the implementation of the Recommendation2. 

While preparing the report, the Advisory Committee analyzed existing legislation and other documents, detailed current practices, and ongoing activities in all areas addressed by the Recommendation. These areas include ensuring human dignity, collaboration between science and society, the role of science in shaping national policy and decision-making, international cooperation and development, promoting science as a common good, non-discrimination in the fields of science and education, ensuring the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities of researchers, scientific integrity and ethical codes, and the role of member states in this area3. 

The submission of the Second Report of Lithuania is an important step in assessing and demonstrating the country's progress in implementing the Recommendation. This report allows not only for a review of completed activities and applied practices but also for the identification of areas for improvement to strengthen the role of science in society and international cooperation. Furthermore, it contributes to enhancing Lithuania's image as a responsible and active member of UNESCO on a global scale.

1. UNESCO Recommendation on Research and Scientific Researchers (2017). 

2. Second Report of Lithuania on the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on Research and Scientific Researchers (2017) (submitted on March 26, 2025)

3. Focused implementation: the 10 key areas of the UNESCO Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers (2017)

Last updated: 05-05-2026