Educational and cultural institutions in OATs – UNESCO decision

The Executive Board,

1. Recalling 34 C/Resolution 58 and 177 EX/Decision 62, as well as Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with regard to the right to education, Articles 4 and 94 of the Fourth Geneva Convention with regard to the denial of the right of children to education, as well as the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), and the Hague Convention (1954) and its Additional Protocols,

2. Having examined documents 179 EX/39 and Add.,

3. Also recalling the role that UNESCO is called upon to play in order to satisfy the right to education for all, and to meet the need for Palestinians to have safe access to the education system,

4. Further recalling paragraph 31 of the Medium-Term Strategy (31 C/4 Approved), defining a “roadmap for a revitalized UNESCO: principles of action and programming”, and paragraph 12 of 31 C/Resolution 43,

5. Committed to the safeguarding of monuments, works of art, manuscripts, books and other historical and cultural properties to be protected in the event of conflict,

6. Deeply convinced that the continuous strengthening of the reconstruction and development process in the Palestinian territories should be carried out in a context of non-violence and of mutual respect and recognition, as promoted by the objectives of the roadmap,

7. Supports the efforts made by the Director-General with a view to the implementation of 34 C/Resolution 58 and 177 EX/Decision 62, and requests him to do everything possible to ensure that they are fully implemented in the framework of the Programme and Budget for 2008-2009 (34 C/5 Approved);

8. Expresses its appreciation for the substantial contributions of all concerned Member States, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to UNESCO’s action in the Palestinian territories, and appeals to them to continue assisting UNESCO in this endeavour;

9. Thanks the Director-General for the results that have been obtained in relation to the implementation of a number of current educational and cultural activities, and invites him to strengthen UNESCO’s financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian educational and cultural institutions in order to address new needs and problems resulting from recent developments;

10. Expresses its continuing concern at any actions undermining the cultural and natural heritage, and cultural and educational institutions, as well as at any impediments which prevent Palestinian and all other schoolchildren and students from being an integral part of their social fabric and from exercising fully their right to education, and calls for the observance of the provisions of 34 C/Resolution 58 and 177 EX/Decision 62;

11. Encourages the Director-General to continue to reinforce his action in favour of the reconstruction, rehabilitation and restoration of the Palestinian archaeological sites and cultural heritage;

12. Invites the Director-General to address the needs for capacity-building in all UNESCO’s fields of competence by expanding the financial assistance programme for Palestinian students both from the regular budget and from extrabudgetary resources, and by establishing a multi-donor trust fund benefiting Palestinian students in need;

13. Requests the Director-General to follow closely the implementation of the recommendations of the eighth meeting of the Joint UNESCO-Palestinian Authority Committee (4-5 March 2008), and to organize, as soon as possible, the ninth meeting of the Joint UNESCO-Palestinian Authority Committee;

14. Encourages Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, and expresses the hope that a just and comprehensive peace will be brought about speedily;

15. Also invites the Director-General:

(a) to continue the efforts he is making to preserve the human, social and cultural fabric of the occupied Syrian Golan, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this decision;

(b) to undertake efforts to offer appropriate curricula, and to provide more grants and adequate assistance to the educational and cultural institutions of the occupied Syrian Golan;

16. Decides to include this item in the agenda of the Executive Board at its 180th session, and invites the Director-General to submit to it a progress report thereon.

[Extracted from the docuument entitled: "Decisions Adopted by the Executive Board at its 179th session, Paris, 1-17 April 2008" and dated 16 May 2008