Statement by Dr. Esther D. Brimmer, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA 2017-10-12 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Washington, October 12, 2017 — Today, the U.S. Department of State announced its intention to withdraw the United States from membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The following is a statement from Dr. Esther Brimmer, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

“As international educators, we believe in engagement, not isolation, as we work to find solutions to the world’s problems. We are again disappointed by another Trump administration short-sighted decision, this time to withdraw from UNESCO. Understanding and protecting the cultural heritage of the world’s people, promoting scientific advancement and supporting educational opportunities are vital to building a more secure and peaceful world. While the United States has differed on important matters with some UNESCO members, withdrawing from the organization will further isolate us from the rest of the world, something that we cannot afford to let happen. This decision will waste critical opportunities to engage in dialogue with other nations and will only serve to make the United States seem less welcoming and closed to other ideas and perspectives.”

Sample tweet: Withdrawing from @UNESCO will only isolate the U.S. & waste critical opportunities for #IntlEd, says @EstherAtNAFSA http://bit.ly/2xBVZvu

About NAFSA: With more than 10,000 members, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education. Visit us at www.nafsa.org/press. To learn more about our advocacy efforts on behalf of international education, visit www.ConnectingOurWorld.org and @ConnectOurWorld on Twitter. Resources to guide our members on these issues can be found at www.nafsa.org/reginfo, which includes a page dedicated to advising DACA recipients.