Educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories – UNESCO – Resolutions (excerpts)

Records of the General Conference

Twenty-third Session

Sofia, 8 October to 9 November 1985

Volume 1

RESOLUTIONS

United Nations Educational

Scientific and Cultural Organization

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The General Conference,

Recalling the Geneva Convention (1949) relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war and the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague Convention, 1954),

Affirming that everyone has the right to education (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26, paragraph 1) and that this right is not limited to primary and secondary education but also applies to higher education (International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 13, paragraph 2),

Considering that higher educational institutions should be free communities of intellectuals and students enjoying universally recognized university freedoms,

Considering that the existence and free functioning of these institutions are fundamental and essential elements in the affirmation and consolidation of the cultural identity of the Palestinian people,

Expressing its keen desire to see the inhabitants of the occupied territories enjoy the fundamental right to receive an education adapted to their needs and their cultural identity like all other peoples,

Noting with grave concern, after consideration of the report of the Director-General contained in documents 23C/22 and Add. 1 and 2, that the Israeli occupation authorities are continuing to obstruct the normal functioning of educational institutions, UNRWA/UNESCO training centres, universities, institutes for advanced studies and cultural institutions,

1. Reaffirms all the resolutions and decisions adopted by the General Conference and by the Executive Board concerning the educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories;

2. Deplores the obstruction and repression practiced by the occupation authorities against educational and cultural institutions in the Palestinian territories and other occupied Arab terri­tories, which could threaten the very existence of those institutions;

3. Asks the occupation authorities to respect the Geneva and Hague Conventions, by cancelling all the measures taken, all the acts committed and all the military orders issued against edu­cational and cultural institutions, and to preserve the academic freedoms of the universities and other educational and cultural institutions so that they may conduct their activities without let or hindrance;

4. Warmly thanks the Director-General for his continuing efforts to enable UNESCO to keep a watch on the functioning of educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories and on the implementation of the resolutions and decisions of UNESCO relating to these institutions;

5. Invites the Director-General to appoint a leading academic personality with responsibility for conducting a comprehensive study of the conditions in which academic freedoms are guaran­teed and exercised in the occupied Arab territories, the said mission to gather the necessary information in the occupied territories, hear testimony at the Headquarters of the Organization and prepare a report to be submitted, when completed, to the Executive Board for consideration at a future session;

6. Decides to place this question on the agenda of its twenty-fourth session, with a view to ascertaining the development of the situation in those territories.

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1. Resolution adopted on the report of Commission V at the thirty-sixth plenary meeting, on 8 November 1985.

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