Since then the area of communication has been added, so that UNESCO now has four core areas of operation. Denmark became a member of UNESCO in 1946. Since that time, parliamentary responsibility has rested with the Minister for Education.

The Danish authorities primarily involved in UNESCO work are the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. Also involved are the Greenland Home Rule Government and a range of institutions and organizations. The Danish National Commission for UNESCO advises the Government on UNESCO questions. Day-to-day contact with the UNESCO Secretariat and the UNESCO delegations of other countries, including contribution to EU cooperation, coalitions etc. and participation in activities not adequately covered by itinerant colleagues is dealt with by the permanent Danish UNESCO Delegation in Paris.

The policy governing the Danish contribution to UNESCO is laid down in a memorandum signed by the Minister for Education in June 2001. The principal purpose behind this policy is to help to ensure that UNESCO, as part of the UN system and through its member states, fulfils its objective – to contribute to peace and security by cooperation within its mandate areas, and in extension of this to promote universal respect for justice and human rights irrespective of ethnic affiliation, gender, language or religion. As far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, the contribution is determined by the assistance policy guidelines. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also bears the responsibility for general questions of foreign policy, such as UN policy questions that might be relevant to UNESCO.

Denmark is trying to link the policy governing its UNESCO contribution to the ongoing processes within UNESCO, including the reforms initiated by the UNESCO leadership as regards administration and programme. Cooperation with the UNESCO member states is essential for the development and implementation of ideas for the reform of UNESCO. In addition to this it is important that UNESCO should try to expand its collaboration with other UN and multilateral organizations, and with bilateral donors.