Executive Board Hundred and seventy-ninth session

Executive Board Hundred and seventy-ninth session 179 EX/ORAL REP/PX ORAL REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE PROGRAMME AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMISSION (PX) 17 APRIL 2008

Mr Chair of the Executive Board, Mr President of the General Conference Director-General, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me pleasure to present the report on the results of the work of the Programme and External Relations Commission, which I had the honour of presiding over for the first time at this session of the Executive Board. After adopting its timetable, and in application of Rule 16.2 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, the Commission elected at its first meeting as temporary Chair the distinguished representative of Chile, Ambassador Piedad Armanet, to whom I should like to express special thanks for her excellent performance and for her willingness to assist me in leading the debate. In accordance with the agenda adopted by the Executive Board at its first plenary meeting on 7 April 2008, 30 items were examined by the Programme and External Relations Commission, 13 of which were examined at the joint meeting of the PX and the Finance and Administrative (FA) Commissions. The PX Commission thus held five meetings, on 10, 15 and 16 April 2008. Mr Chair, Pursuant to Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, which provides that The Board shall adopt the entire set of draft decisions recommended by each plenary commission ( ) as a whole, unless a Member State requests that a specific decision be adopted separately, I will submit at the end of the report the entire set of draft decisions contained in document 179 EX/59. My oral report will consist of a summary of the debates which took place in the Commission. A more extensive version of this report, providing an account of the rich discussions that were held by the Commission, will be published subsequently. Let me point out, Mr Chair, that the draft decisions submitted by the Commission were all approved by consensus, testimony to the spirit of mutual understanding which prevailed as the Commission conducted its work. Mr Chair, dear colleagues, At the start of its work, the Commission decided not to hold a debate on item 37 Report by the Director-General on proposed revised criteria and procedures for consideration of the proposals by Member States concerning the celebration of anniversaries with which UNESCO could be associated, item 47 Proposal for the proclamation by the United Nations of 2011 as an international year of chemistry and item 50 concerning progress on the African World Heritage Fund. The Commission considered the three items and approved the draft decisions contained in the written report. My report will give an account of the debates under the following themes: (i) the report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Programme and Budget (33 C/5) and on the followup to decisions of the Executive Board; (ii) the theme of evaluation; (iii) sectoral themes: education, culture, social sciences, natural sciences and communication; and, lastly, (iv) cross-cutting themes. [Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Programme] [Items 4 and 5] The Commission decided to consider jointly the programme aspects of item 4 Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Programme and Budget (33 C/5) and on results

2 achieved in the previous biennium (2006-2007) (Draft 35 C/3) and item 5 Report by the Director- General on the follow-up to decisions and resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and the General Conference at their previous sessions. In relation to item 4, the Assistant Director-General for Strategic Planning, Mr d Orville, pointed out the new features of the combined document 179 EX/4 Draft 35 C/3. The Chair of the Special Committee presented the salient aspects of the Committee s debates on that item. A majority of the Member States expressed their satisfaction at the improved quality of the report on the implementation of the Programme and Budget and the progress achieved in the assessment of the Organization s programme performance. Improvements in the report in terms of format and content were also acknowledged. While document 179 EX/4 constituted a good tool for the evaluation and monitoring of results, the need for further improvements was stressed, especially concerning broader use of the results-based management (RBM) approach. Member States also pointed to the need to ensure a more harmonized and consistent approach, especially in the tables contained in document 179 EX/4, which present the achievements made under each of UNESCO s five functions. Greater efforts needed to be made to draw more attention to best practices that could be reproduced or transferred. When reporting on intersectoral and countrylevel activities, National Commissions should be consulted. The Assistant Director-General said that efforts to improve the use of the results-based management approach and to make reporting more consistent would continue. He explained that intersectoral platforms were a new mechanism launched under document 34 C/5, and reporting on their activities would be included as a new feature of future EX/4 documents. With regard to item 5, several Member States highlighted the importance of regional consultations for the promotion of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). The intersectoral character of that theme was also stressed, and the intersectoral platform launched in that field was considered to be a welcome development. Recognizing the need for stakeholders to have a clear understanding of education for sustainable development and how it could be put into practice, the Assistant Director-General for Education said that UNESCO would continue to ensure that existing models and guides were widely diffused. He added that concerted efforts would be made to enhance awareness-raising and promotional activities for the Decade. During the debate, questions were raised with regard to teacher policies, the Teacher Training Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa (TTISSA), and the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme. In respect of teacher policies, the Assistant Director-General for Education said that in addition to TTISSA, UNESCO had been carrying out awareness-raising activities to promote the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations concerning the Status of Teachers, which were being reprinted in seven languages, together with a set of questions and answers. The UNESCO International Institute for Capacity-Building in Africa (IICBA), which focused mainly on teacher training, had been strengthened through an 80% increase in its budget under document 32 C/5 and the recruitment of a staff member at P-5 level. He said that a list of criteria for establishing new Chairs had been produced and that the Organization planned to facilitate the involvement of Chairs in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of UNESCO s activities. Some Member States asked for clarification with regard to the contribution of biosphere reserves to environmental conservation and sustainable development, engineering and science education programmes, and science policies. In reply, the representative of the Secretariat mentioned the water education and environmental programmes already under way, and the UNESCO-L OREAL regional fellowship programme for Africa, which would begin in 2009. With regard to the contribution of biosphere reserves to sustainable development, a question addressed in the Madrid Action Plan, he said that

3 the Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere (ICC-MAB) would examine the subject in April and that the outcomes of that debate would be used during consultations for the preparation of document 35 C/5. Finally, he recalled UNESCO s part in the implementation of the NEPAD Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action. [Evaluation] Item 20 In its examination of the Report by the Director-General on evaluations completed during the 2006-2007 biennium, the Commission discussed the achievements and difficulties of each of the three evaluations relating, respectively, to UNESCO s contribution to the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), the effectiveness of the UNESCO Windhoek Cluster strategic priorities and actions for 2003-2007, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC). In reply to a question about the provision of evaluations to the Executive Board, the representative of the Director-General said that all the reports, the quality of which was ensured by the Internal Oversight Service (IOS), were available to the Members of the Executive Board on its website. Education Issues relating specifically to the Education Sector were discussed under items 6, 51 and 26. The new Rector of the United Nations University (UNU), Mr Konrad Osterwalder, was present during the Commission s consideration of item 6 United Nations University: report by the Council of the University and the Director-General s comments thereon. He presented the University s annual reports for 2006 and 2007 and shared his views with the Members of the Board concerning future cooperation between UNU and UNESCO. That subject greatly interested the Members of the Board. Most of them placed particular stress on the need to strengthen cooperation between UNESCO and UNU. They highlighted the need to increase the University s activities in developing countries, in particular through cooperation with universities at the local level. They stressed that UNU needed to redouble its efforts to give greater visibility to its activities and requested, in particular, that it disseminate its publications through the National Commissions. A majority of Member States urged UNU to conduct research in UNESCO s priority areas such as education for all (EFA), lifelong learning and education for sustainable development. Such reinforced cooperation could be achieved through, inter alia, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme. With regard to the Progress report by the Director-General on the application of the Global Action Plan to achieve the EFA goals by 2015, the Commission welcomed the priority accorded by UNESCO to education for all. Some Member States made the point that it was nevertheless important to clarify the respective roles of UNESCO and of the other organizations working in that area. Other delegations requested practical information in relation to the Global Action Plan on Education for All (GAP) at the national level, including UNESCO s strategy for mobilizing resources and the role of the International Advisory Panel on Education for All. Emphasis was placed in general on the crucial importance of ensuring that each of the six goals was dealt with appropriately and in a balanced manner. In reply to those concerns, the representative of the Secretariat noted that one of UNESCO s objectives at the international level was to promote education for all in a general manner with a view to ensuring that the six EFA goals were on the agenda of the relevant international conferences such as the G-8 and other fora dealing with that subject. With regard to the amendments to the Statutes of the Intergovernmental Regional Committee for the Regional Education Project for Latin America and the Caribbean (PRELAC), the Assistant Director-General for Education acknowledged that additional information should be included in the

4 document relating to the item in line with the concern expressed by the Latin America and Caribbean Group (GRULAC). He proposed that debate on that item be postponed until the 180th session of the Board so that a detailed document could be prepared, in cooperation with GRULAC. GRULAC reiterated its dissatisfaction with the document submitted by the Secretariat. The Commission decided to postpone consideration of the item until the 180th session of the Executive Board. Communication [Item 14] In the area of communication, the Commission considered the Report by the Director- General on the strategic plan for the Information for All Programme (IFAP). The report was introduced by the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, who asked the Executive Board to examine the item at its 180th session in order to enable the Intergovernmental Council for the Information for All Programme to revise the draft strategy in the light of the discussions that would take place at its fifth session, in April 2008. Bearing in mind the Secretariat s arguments, the Commission decided to postpone consideration of the item until the next session of the Executive Board. Social and Human Sciences [Item 48] The Commission then turned to the item under the social and human sciences relating to the Follow-up to the Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Human Rights and Cultural Diversity (Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 3-4 September 2007), which had required broad consultations among the countries concerned. The Commission had had to suspend its work and resume consideration of the item from the previous day. At its final meeting, on Wednesday 16 April 2008, the Commission approved, without amendments, the draft decision introduced by the Chair. The draft decision welcomes United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/155, which reaffirms the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration and all its articles reaffirm the importance of including the subject of human rights and cultural diversity in the programme for the celebration of the Declaration s 60th anniversary. As you are aware, many consultations have been held on this subject in the past few days, which led to an agreement. I should therefore like to thank all the participants for their efforts. Following the approval of the draft decisions by the Commission at its plenary meeting on Thursday 17 April 2008, the representatives of Cuba, Norway and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Observer, 179th session of the Executive Board) made statements in which they expressed their thanks to the Member States that had provided support and assistance during the many consultations leading up to the agreement. Culture [Items 25, 9, 39 and 52] With regard to the agenda items relating to the Culture Sector, the Commission first considered the Proposal by the Director-General for the preparation of a revised recommendation concerning the safeguarding and contemporary role of historic areas. Member States were generally in favour of the idea of drawing up a standard-setting instrument for the safeguarding of historic areas. Noting the relevance of such an initiative in the light of the new challenges of demographic growth and other aggravating factors, the great majority of the Member States

5 stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive study on the technical and legal viability of an instrument in that field. They requested scientific advice from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the World Heritage Committee. I turn now to item 9 Jerusalem and the implementation of 34 C/Resolution 47, 177 EX/Decisions 19 and 20 and item 39 Implementation of 34 C/Resolution 58 and 177 EX/Decision 62 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories. Following consultations with the parties concerned, a consensual draft decision was introduced by the Chair. The respective draft decisions were approved without debate and by consensus. One delegation expressed concern at the delay in the shipment of the equipment needed for the operation of the manuscript conservation laboratory. In reply, the Assistant Director- General for Culture confirmed that the Secretariat had taken steps to resolve the problem. Lastly, with regard to the Report by the Director-General on progress made in the implementation of the decision adopted by the Executive Board at the special plenary meeting held during its 176th session concerning Israeli archaeological excavations at the Mughrabi ascent in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Commission also approved a draft decision by consensus and without debate. Following the approval of the draft decision, the representative of the United States of America expressed his views on items 9 and 52, pointing out that the two subjects were connected and should consequently be dealt with by the Commission under a single discussion unit. He asked that those subjects be examined together at future sessions of the Executive Board. Cross-cutting themes I come now to the last two items on the agenda, items 15 and 43, which concern the Organization s cross-cutting themes. [Item 15] The examination of the Report by the Director-General on a draft UNESCO strategy for action on climate change gave rise to a rich debate. Most of the Member States endorsed the draft strategy presented, although one of them considered that it should be revised and submitted for consideration at the next session. Some Member States wanted the strategy to be focused on some of UNESCO s fields of competence. The Africa Group, supported by other delegations, called for specific actions, resources and performance indicators to be integrated into a plan of action for Africa. Emphasis was placed on the relevance of the two pillars of the strategy, namely the production and rational and unbiased use of data, information and research concerning climate change, and the use of educational tools and awareness-raising activities for the general public. Other possible spheres of action for the plan were mentioned, such as using the contributions of the social sciences to respond to the many aspects of climate change and building the capacities of the Member States. Overlap between some of UNESCO s activities and those of other agencies should be avoided and better coordination within the framework of United Nations inter-agency cooperation was needed. Member States asked the Secretariat for more information with respect to UNESCO s contribution to the implementation of mitigation and energy activities, the green audit of activities at UNESCO Headquarters, and carbon credits for the purpose of achieving climate neutrality. In reply, the representative of the Secretariat said that the strategy constituted a general framework of action for UNESCO, the operational part of which would be ensured by the Organization s intersectoral platform for climate change through the preparation and implementation of a plan of action to which budgetary resources would be allocated. He said that a plan of action for Africa could be drawn up in the framework of the intersectoral platform, under which special attention would be paid to the region and to gender equality.

6 [Item 43] With reference to the Report by the Director-General on UNESCO s contribution to the reconstruction and development of Lebanon, the representative of the Director-General informed the Commission of the significant progress made since the 177th session of the Executive Board and reiterated UNESCO s pledge to send an intersectoral mission to Lebanon as soon as circumstances would permit it. The representative of Lebanon informed the Commission that the security situation on the ground had improved and urged UNESCO to dispatch the high-level mission rapidly. The programme of the mission, which would be coordinated by Lebanon, should include contacts with appropriate non-governmental organizations and representatives of civil society. The Commission expressed its satisfaction at UNESCO s efforts to support the reconstruction of Lebanon in its fields of competence. It was agreed to expedite the dispatch of the high-level mission so that a comprehensive programme of assistance could be drawn up, and to keep the item, which was of great importance, on the Board s agenda in order to give it visibility. Mr Chair of the Executive Board, Director-General, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, CONCLUSION In conclusion to my oral report, allow me to thank on behalf of the Commission all those who have contributed to the success of its work. I should like first of all to thank the representatives of the Member States serving on the Commission and their alternates and the representatives of the Director-General for their valuable contributions, which ensured a debate of high quality and an enriching exchange of views. I should like particularly to thank you, Mr Chair, for your wise guidance and your unfailing support during the various stages of the Commission s work. Your untiring search for compromise under all circumstances has greatly contributed to the results we have achieved today. I should like to thank the Secretary of the Executive Board, Mr Parsuramen, and his entire team for their constant assistance. My thanks go also to the invisible hands that have worked so hard: to the interpreters in particular for their excellent work, to the room clerks who were always ready to provide assistance to the delegates, and to the Secretariat for providing the documents to the representatives in a timely fashion. Finally, special thanks go to the team of the Programme and External Relations Commission Ms Susana Sam-Vargas, its Secretary, Mr César Moreno-Triana, Ms Clare Stark, Ms María del Mar Marcos-Camier and Ms Inés Mens, for their exemplary work, which often required them to stay late into the evening. All of them have demonstrated a great sense of professionalism and dedication. Thank you very much.