Regional consultation of Arab NGOs – UNESCO/Amman

FIRST REGIONAL CONSULTATION OF NGOs IN

ARAB COUNTRIES TO OPEN IN AMMAN, JORDAN

     Paris, 6 March – UNESCO will co-organize the first regional

consultation of non-governmental organizations (NGO) in the Arab

countries from 10 to 14 March in Amman, Jordan.

     Intended to improve contacts between NGOs in the region and

better their co-operation with UNESCO as it prepares and carries

out its programmes, the consultation is organized in co-operation

with the Jordanian National Commission for UNESCO, the Queen Alia

Fund and the UNESCO ONG Permanent Committee. It forms part of the

Organization's efforts to decentralise and take into account

citizens' needs in each country. The objective is closer

partnership with NGOs in the fields of education, science, culture

and communication.

     During three round tables, representatives of some 100 NGOs

with headquarters or offices in the Arab region will discuss

specific characteristics of the activities of associations in Arab

countries, their relations with the national commissions for UNESCO

and the Organization's regional offices, and their role in

informing public opinion about UNESCO objectives and programmes.

     Participants will also examine new directives adopted by the

Organization's 28th General Conference to diversify, revitalise and

reinforce co-operation between UNESCO and the NGOs. As well, they

will study aspects pertinent to Arab countries of the

Organization's medium-term strategy and its 1996-97 programme and

budget.

     The consultation will close with a report containing

recommendations to the Director-General and national commissions on

modalities of the NGOs' co-operation with the Organization.

     Similar consultations have already been held for the African

region in Dakar, Senegal, in 1987, the Latin America and Caribbean

region in Quito, Ecuador, in 1990, and the Asia and Pacific region

in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 1994.

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