ORGANIZATION OF WORK
Contribution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
The written contribution to the preparatory process for the Durban Review Conference submitted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is annexed to this note.*
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Annex
Durban Review Conference
Geneva, 20-24 April 2009
STRENGTHENING THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM:
UNESCO’S ACHIEVEMENTS SINCE THE 2001 WORLD CONFERENCE
AGAINST RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA
AND RELATED INTOLERANCE
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INTRODUCTION
The United Nations Charter states that all persons are entitled to human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinctions as to colour, sex, language or religion.
The fight against racism, discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance is at the heart of UNESCO's mandate since its very creation. Article 1 of UNESCO’s Constitution, adopted on 16 November 1945, stipulates that the Organization shall “contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion”.
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II. SOCIAL AND HUMAN SCIENCES
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Philosophy, democracy and dialogue
(a) Activities directly referring to the Durban Programme of Action
Through its work of promoting philosophical thought and dialogue, UNESCO contributes indirectly to the struggle against all forms of ideological stand, and discrimination.
The “Civil Societies in Dialogue: Israel/Palestine” programme is part of UNESCO’s efforts to contribute to reconciliation in the region. Aimed essentially at encouraging open exchange within and between members of civil societies and their organizations, it seeks in particular to support a permanent forum for dialogue in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and promote academic cooperation between researchers in Israeli and Palestinian universities, particularly in the social and human sciences.
So far, three documents have been produced within this programme, aiming at facilitating and encouraging dialogues between civil societies of both sides (Durban, Rec. 192):
Mapping of mainstream Israeli and Palestinian organizations willing to engage in dialogue http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001561/156120e.pdf
Evaluation of cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli NGOs http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001564/156437e.pdf
Proposed guiding principles for Israeli/Palestinian academic cooperation http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001575/157520e.pdf
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Document Type: Annex, Report
Document Sources: General Assembly, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Subject: Education and culture, Human rights and international humanitarian law, NGOs/Civil Society, Palestine question, Peace-building, Racial discrimination
Publication Date: 20/04/2009