Report of the Culture Commission, Draft Resolutions – UNESCO (41 C/74) (Excerpts)

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ITEM 5 GENERAL POLICY AND PROGRAMME QUESTIONS

Item 5.2 Jerusalem and the implementation of 40 C/Resolution 43 (41 C/16

7. The CLT Commission examined item 5.2 at its first meeting. The CLT Commission recommended to the General Conference to adopt the draft resolution contained in paragraph 23 of document 41 C/16, without amendment. The CLT Commission agreed to adopt the draft resolution by consensus. The resolution reads as follows:

The General Conference,

Recalling 40 C/Resolution 43, as well as 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 Protocols, and the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), the inscription of the Old City of Jerusalem at the request of Jordan on the World Heritage List (1981) and on the List of World Heritage in Danger (1982), and the recommendations, resolutions and decisions of UNESCO on the protection of cultural heritage,

Affirming that nothing in the present resolution, which is aimed at the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem and it Walls, shall in any way affect the relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions, in particular the relevant Security Council resolutions on the legal status of Jerusalem,

Having examined document 41 C/16,

1. Expresses its sincere thanks to the Director-General for her sustained efforts for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, in compliance with the General Conference resolutions, and reiterates its concern as to the obstacles and practices, unilateral or otherwise, affecting the preservation of the distinctive character of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls;
2. Thanks international donors for their generous contributions to the UNESCO Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, and calls upon Member States and the international donor community to further support, through extrabudgetary funding, activities aimed at the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, in particular in the context of the Action Plan;
3. Expresses its gratitude to the Director-General for the progress made in the implementation of conservation, restoration and training activities in the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls, in particular with regard to the development of the Al-Aqsa Centre for the Restoration of Islamic Manuscripts in al-Ashrafiya Madrasa, thanks to the generous financial contribution and coordination of Jordan and Norway, and the refurbishment and revitalization of the Islamic Museum of al-Haram ash-Sharif, thanks to the generous financial contribution from Saudi Arabia;
4. Recognizes the concerns raised about the Israeli archaeological excavations and works in the “Old City and on both sides of the walls” of the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls;
5. Invites the Director-General to pursue her efforts with the parties concerned for the safeguarding of the outstanding universal value of the Old City of Jerusalem and its distinctive character;
6. Recalls that this item is included in the agenda of the 214th session of the Executive Board;
7. Also invites the Director-General to present to it at its 42nd session a progress report on the implementation of the UNESCO Action Plan for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, and decides to inscribe this item on the agenda of its 42nd session.

Item 5.3 Implementation of 40 C/Resolution 67 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories (41 C/17)

8. The CLT Commission examined item 5.3 at its first meeting. The CLT Commission recommended to the General Conference to adopt the draft resolution contained in paragraph 48 of document 41 C/17, without amendment. The CLT Commission agreed to adopt the draft resolution by consensus. The resolution reads as follows:

The General Conference,

Recalling 40 C/Resolution 67, as well as Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with regard to the right to education, Articles 24, 50 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 document 41 C/17,

Also recalling the role that UNESCO is called upon to act in order to help fulfill the right to education for all, and to meet the need for Palestinians to have safe access to the education system,

Committed to the protection and 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 40 C/Resolution 67, and requests her to do everything possible to ensure that it is fully implemented in the framework of the Programme and Budget for 2022-2025 (41 C/5);
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 occupied Palestinian territory, 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 her 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. Also thanks the Director-General for UNESCO’s response to the situation in the Gaza Strip and for the initiatives that have already been implemented with the generous financial support of Member States and donors, and calls upon the Director-General to further expand the early recovery programme, 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 her action in favour of the reconstruction, rehabilitation and restoration of the Palestinian archaeological sites and cultural heritage;
7. Encourages the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, and expresses the hope that the Arab Israeli peace negotiations will succeed, 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;
8. Also invites the Director-General:
   • to continue the efforts she is making to preserve the human, social and cultural fabric of the occupied Syrian Golan, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this resolution;
   • 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;
9. Recalls that this item is inscribed on the agenda of the 214th session of the Executive Board, and decides to include this item in the agenda of the 42nd session of the General Conference.

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