UNESCO contribution to Gaza reconstruction and development – Decision

The Executive Board,

1. Recalling the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions (1949), the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and its related Protocols, and the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), and the recommendations, resolutions and decisions of UNESCO on the protection of cultural heritage,

2. Having examined document 181 EX/59 Rev.,

3. Having also examined documents 181 EX/47 and Add.,

4. Noting with deep concern the very heavy toll suffered by Palestinian civilians and the deaths and injuries inflicted on Israeli civilians during the escalation of violence and hostilities in December 2008 and January 2009,

5. Also noting the destruction of infrastructure, the significant deterioration of basic services, and the damage to schools, universities and cultural heritage sites caused by the escalation of violence and hostilities in December 2008 and January 2009, and recognizing that schools, universities and cultural heritage sites should not be involved in military conflicts,

6. Recalling the information meeting held by the Director-General on 6 February 2009 to provide Member States with an update on the outcome of the rapid needs assessments conducted in the Gaza Strip, and UNESCO’s participation in the humanitarian response to the situation resulting from the escalation of violence and hostilities in December 2008 and January 2009,

7. Also recalling the strong commitment made by the international community in favour of the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan presented at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza (2 March 2009, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt),

8. Congratulates the Director-General for UNESCO's rapid response to the situation in the Gaza Strip, and thanks him for the initiatives that have already been taken, in particular the participation in the joint rapid needs assessment conducted by the United Nations agencies in Gaza, the identification of humanitarian assistance priorities as reflected in the six UNESCO projects retained in the United Nations Flash Appeal for Gaza, and the opening of a UNESCO project antenna in Gaza City;

9. Notes in this regard the importance of free and sustained movement of personnel and humanitarian relief items for the successful implementation of the above-mentioned projects;

10. Calls upon the Director-General to participate actively in the integrated United Nations response to the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan developed by the Palestinian Authority, by focusing on UNESCO's contribution to its educational and cultural heritage protection components;

11. Thanks Finland and Japan for their generous financial contributions to the UNESCO projects retained in the United Nations Flash Appeal for Gaza, and invites Member States, international governmental and non-governmental organizations and relevant international and national institutions, as well as private institutions, to further assist in this regard through extrabudgetary funding;

12. Decides to include this item in the agenda of the Executive Board at its 182nd session, and invites the Director-General to submit to it a progress report thereon.

[Extracted from the document entitled: "Decisions Adopted by the Executive Board at its 181st session, Paris, 14-30 April 2009" and dated 30 May 2009