Educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories – UNESCO Gen. Conf. resolution

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The General Conference,

Recalling 34 C/Resolution 58, 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,

Having examined documents 35 C/17 and Add.,

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,

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

1. Supports the efforts made by the Director-General with a view to the implementation of 34 C/Resolution 58 and 182 EX/Decision 54, and requests him 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);

2. 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;

3. 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;

4. Congratulates the Director-General on UNESCO’s rapid response to the situation in the Gaza Strip resulting from the escalation of violence and hostilities in December 2008 and January 2009, thanks him for the initiatives that have already been implemented in the framework of the United Nations Flash Appeal for Gaza, with the generous financial support of Member States and donors, in particular Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser al Missned, First Lady of Qatar and UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, and calls upon him to continue contributing to the United Nations humanitarian response and to participate in the integrated United Nations response to the Gaza Early Recovery and Reconstruction Plan developed by the Palestinian Authority, within the Organization’s fields of competence;

5. 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 the present resolution;

6. 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;

7. 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 thanks Saudi Arabia for its generous contribution in this regard;

8. 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), especially in Gaza, and to organize, as soon as possible, the ninth meeting of the Joint UNESCO-Palestinian Authority Committee;

9. Encourages the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, and expresses the hope that the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations will be resumed, and that a just and comprehensive peace will be brought about speedily, in accordance with the Constitution of UNESCO and the United Nations resolutions on this matter, particularly the relevant Security Council resolutions;

10. 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 resolution;

(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;

11. Recalling that this item is inscribed on the agenda of the 184th session of the Executive Board, decides to include this item on the agenda of the 36th session of the General Conference.

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1 Resolution adopted on the reports of the ED Commission and the CLT Commission at the 16th and 17th plenary meetings, on 22 and 23 October 2009 respectively.