Educational and cultural institutions in OATs – UNESCO decision

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL,

SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

Executive Board    ex

Hundred and seventy-second session

(Paris, 13-29 September 2005)

172 EX/Decisions

PARIS, 21 November 2005

DECISIONS ADOPTED

BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AT ITS 172nd SESSION

51   Implementation of 32 C/Resolution 54 and 171 EX/Decision 53 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories (172 EX/47; 172 EX/61 Add.)

The Executive Board,

1. Recalling 32 C/Resolution 54 and 171 EX/Decision 53, 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 172 EX/47,

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

5. Deeply 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,

6. Supports the efforts made by the Director-General with a view to the implementation of 32 C/Resolution 54 and 171 EX/Decision 53, and requests him to do everything possible to ensure that they are fully implemented, and that their implementation be reinforced in the framework of the Programme and Budget for 2006-2007 (33 C/5);

7. Expresses its appreciation for the substantial contributions of all concerned Member States, IGOs and NGOs 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 which have been obtained in relation to the implementation of a number of current educational and cultural activities, and invites him to promote UNESCO’s assistance to the Palestinian educational and cultural institutions;

9. Expresses its 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 32 C/Resolution 54 and 171 EX/Decision 53;

10. 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;

11. 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;

12. Requests the Director-General to follow closely the implementation of the recommendations of the 7th session of the Joint UNESCO/Palestinian Authority Committee (1-2 September 2005), especially in Gaza, and to strengthen cooperation with the Palestinian authorities in order to convene a donor meeting in compliance with 32 C/Resolution 54;

13. 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 speedily be brought about in accordance with UNESCO’s Constitution and the United Nations resolutions on this matter, particularly the relevant Security Council resolutions;

14. 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;

15. Recalling that this item is inscribed on the agenda of the 33rd session of the General Conference, recommends that the latter adopt this text as it stands;

16. Decides to include this item on the agenda of the Executive Board at its 174th session, and invites the Director-General to submit to it a progress report thereon.