Educational and cultural institutions in the OPT, Syrian Golan – UNESCO decision

36 Implementation of 35 C/Resolution 75 and 184 EX/Decision 30 concerning educational

and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories (185 EX/36; 185 EX/52 Rev.)

N.B. After considering this item and following a vote taken by roll-call, with 41 votes in favour, 1 vote against and 15 abstentions, the United States of America having voted against, the Programme and External Relations Commission recommended that the Executive Board adopt the following draft decision:

The Executive Board,

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1. Recalling 35 C/Resolution 75 and 184 EX/Decision 30, 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 document 185 EX/36,

3. Further 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. 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,

5. 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 Road Map,

6. Supports the efforts made by the Director-General with a view to the implementation of 35 C/Resolution 75 and 184 EX/Decision 30, and requests her to do everything possible to ensure that they are fully implemented in the framework of the Programme and Budget for 2010-2011 (35 C/5 Approved);

7. Expresses its appreciation for the substantial contributions of all concerned Member States and 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;

8. 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 her 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;

9. Expresses its continuing concern about the harmful impact of the Separation Wall and other practices on the activities of cultural and educational institutions, as well as obstacles that result which prevent Palestinian 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 35 C/Resolution 75 and 184 EX/Decision 30;

10. Shares, in this regard, the call by the Quartet on 17 March 2010 upon Israel “to freeze all settlement building, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001 and halt demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem”, and hopes for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations;

11. Encourages the Director-General to continue to reinforce her 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;

13. Requests the Director-General to organize, as soon as possible, the ninth meeting of the Joint UNESCO-Palestinian Authority Committee;

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14. Also invites the Director-General:

(a) to continue the efforts she 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;

(c) to dispatch an expert to assess and evaluate the needs of the educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Syrian Golan, who would report to the

Director-General before the 186th session of the Executive Board;

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15. Decides to include this item in the agenda of the Executive Board at its 186th session, and invites the Director-General to submit to it a progress report thereon.