UNESCO-UNAM / Jaime Torres Bodet Prize in social sciences, humanities and arts

This Prize was inspired by the life of Jaime Torres Bodet, eminent poet, novelist, essay writer, diplomat, and one of the founding members of UNESCO and Director-General of the Organization from 1948 to 1952.

Born in 1903, Jaime Torres Bodet graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He began his career as Head of the Libraries Department of the Ministry of Education. He held the position from 1922 to 1924 before his appointment as Professor of French Literature at the University of Mexico City. In 1929, he joined the diplomatic service, where he occupied various posts in Europe. He then served as Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (1940-1943) and Minister of Education (1943-1946), in which capacity he launched a campaign on an unprecedented scale to combat illiteracy. In 1945, he headed the Mexican delegation to the United Nations Conference for the establishment of UNESCO in London before becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1946.

As Director-General of UNESCO as of 1948, Jaime Torres Bodet reinforced the importance of the Organization in the world. He struggled for international social justice and against illiteracy by promoting the reconstruction of the educational system, facilitated women's access to education, and supported cultural developments as a condition for international peace.

He passed away in 1974.