The International Federation of Photographic Art is active world-wide. Its purpose is the promotion of photographic art in all its aspects and through all kinds of photographic events. All considerations of political, ideological, racial or religious nature are totally excluded from FIAP activities. FIAP was founded by Dr. M Van de Wijer (Belgium) in 1946. FIAP is the only international photographic organization recognized by UNESCO. Is a NPO and its operational members are the national federations, on the basis of one per country. Local associations can join FIAP as Individual Members, with reduced rights compared with Operational members. From September 2014, the individual authors are also affiliated to FIAP. FIAP is present in 102 different countries in the five continents and represents the interests of more than one and a half million of individual amateur and professional photographers.