And what the natives would like out of the Olympics is a little bit in return: international acceptance, respect.

NPR: Thousands Practice Olympic Smiles

His decision, in 2005, to press for international acceptance of India's civil nuclear programme, ending a ban on foreign assistance imposed because of India's refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, was meant to usher in a new era of co-operation and trust.

ECONOMIST: America and India try to define a new sort of relationship

Each international convention is subject to agreement (in the form of ratification, acceptance or accession) by individual States.

UNESCO: UK National Commission for UNESCO :: UNESCO Cultural Conventions

Plan International says that education remains the key to improving the situation for girls and young women and in changing acceptance of discriminatory practices within a society.

BBC: Educating girls is vital to a country's economy, Plan says

The awardees are officially recognized at a ceremony that is held at UNESCO Headquarters on the International Day for Tolerance, celebrated every year on 16 November, at which they are invited to deliver an acceptance speech.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES