Executive Board Hundred and seventy-sixth session 176 EX/50 PARIS, 28 March 2007 Original: English Item 50 of the provisional agenda REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON UNESCO S CONTRIBUTION TO THE RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF LEBANON SUMMARY This document is presented in compliance with 175 EX/Decision 54. It summarizes progress achieved by UNESCO, since the 175th session of the Executive Board, in providing assistance in favour of reconstruction and development in Lebanon within the Organization s fields of competence. Decision proposed: paragraph 19.
176 EX/50 INTRODUCTION 1. The present document reports on progress achieved by UNESCO in delivering assistance in favour of recovery and reconstruction in Lebanon, following the conflict which affected the country during the summer of 2006. Part I of the document provides updated information on UNESCO s contribution to Lebanon s early recovery efforts, following the Stockholm Conference (31 August 2006). Part II provides information on Lebanon s reconstruction programme, beyond early recovery, as presented by the country s authorities at the Paris III Conference (25 January 2007) and describes UNESCO s contribution to this new phase. 2. The period under review witnessed strong political tensions, unrest and sporadic outbreaks of violence in Lebanon. In November 2006, Lebanon s Minister of Industry, H.E. Pierre Amine Gemayel, was assassinated in the outskirts of Beirut. In January 2007, violent confrontations at the Beirut Arab University left four persons dead. On the same day, the Director-General officially condemned acts of violence within schools and universities and invited Lebanese students to pursue dialogue and non-violence. 3. In December 2006, the Security Council issued a presidential statement 1 reiterating its full support for the legitimate and democratically elected Government of Lebanon, calling for full respect for the democratic institutions of the country, in conformity with the constitution and condemning any effort to destabilize Lebanon. It also called upon the international community urgently to provide the Government of Lebanon with financial assistance in support of the national early recovery and reconstruction process. Since then, the United Nations has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to stand by the Lebanese people in its efforts to consolidate stability, sovereignty and prosperity. 4. In this context, UNESCO continued its assistance within the Organization s fields of competence in close consultation with the Lebanese authorities. In particular, during his visit to UNESCO Headquarters in October 2006, H.E. T. Mitri, Minister of Culture of Lebanon, had extensive talks with UNESCO s senior management on the Organization s contribution to recovery and reconstruction. During these consultations, he insisted on the critical role UNESCO could play in contributing to the human and intellectual dimensions of such processes. Moreover, and as explained in details in Part II of this report, the UNESCO Beirut Office has provided continuous support to the preparations for the Paris III Conference, particularly through advice to the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education on reconstruction and development priorities in this field. 5. Nevertheless, because of the changing situation on the ground, the Organization was not in a position to carry out a broader response as initially conceived and put forward to the Executive Board at its 175th session. 2 In close consultation with the Lebanese authorities, it was indeed decided to postpone sine die the envisaged high-level intersectoral mission envisaged by the Director-General. Together with the Lebanese authorities and stakeholders concerned, this mission was notably expected to explore possible new initiatives aimed at reactivating the cultural and intellectual life in Lebanon, as one means to counter the brain drain which appears as a key concern in the context of the reconstruction process. The Director-General intends to reschedule the mission as soon as circumstances permit, so that UNESCO can draw up a comprehensive programme of assistance to Lebanon as called for in document 175 EX/INF.14. PART I. UNESCO S ASSISTANCE TO LEBANON S EARLY RECOVERY 6. Following the Stockholm Conference for Lebanon s Early Recovery, UNESCO supported the Government of Lebanon in addressing the country s early recovery priorities in the fields of 1 2 Ref. S/PRST/2006/52. In information document on UNESCO assistance to post-crisis recovery and reconstruction in Lebanon, ref. 175 EX/INF.14, dated 27 September 2006.
176 EX/50 page 2 education and culture as reflected in the document Setting the Stage for Long-Term Reconstruction: the National Early Recovery Process, presented at the Stockholm Conference. Education 7. In the field of education, UNESCO focused its assistance on psychological and social support to children and youth traumatized by the conflict, particularly in South Lebanon and in the Beka a valley. The programme concentrates on training of teachers as well as animators from community learning centres on post-conflict psychological and social support. Seven workshops targeting 210 teachers and 40 community animators from public schools and community learning centres from the most affected areas were organized and comprised basic concepts in psychology, education and animation, active learning, stress managing and healing through drama, play, drawing and handicraft. A specific component on mine awareness was also developed. In the context of the same programme, cultural activities reaching out to more than 2,000 children and parents from 25 affected villages in South Lebanon was organized. The purpose is to provide a joyful learning environment for children and communities through an itinerant caravan performing games, puppet shows and songs. Contributions from the Czech Republic ($40,000) and from Goodwill Ambassador Ms O Hoven ($100,000) have allowed implementing this programme. A mailing campaign for private donations was also launched in February 2007 in order to raise additional funds for this programme. 8. Moreover, in close cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Education, preparations are under way with a view to organizing two National Conferences on the National Strategy on Education and on Civic and Citizenship Education, in summer 2007. It is hoped that both Conferences will lead to longer term support programmes to affected children and young people. Culture 9. In September 2006, UNESCO fielded an international expert mission, headed by Mr Bouchenaki, Dir. ICCROM, to assess the potential damage of the conflict on World Heritage sites in Lebanon (Byblos, Tyre, Baalbek and Anjar), as well as Saida and Echmoun which are on the Tentative List. As reported to the 175th session of the Executive Board, 3 the mission found limited damage to the sites and identified several areas of action to protect cultural heritage as part of the early recovery and subsequent reconstruction process. 10. A top priority was the emergency cleaning of archaeological remains of the ancient harbour of Byblos, which was affected by the oil spill, as well as the emergency restoration of the basement of the medieval entrance tower to the harbour. Under its overall contribution to Lebanon s early recovery, the Japanese Government earmarked $100,000 to UNESCO in order to assist the Lebanese authorities in such preservation endeavours. Preparations are under way for the cleaning work to start as soon as the weather conditions permit, as requested by the General Directorate of Antiquities of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture. Social and Human Sciences 11. During his visit to Headquarters in September 2006, Mr Tarek Mitri, Minister of Culture of Lebanon, stressed the role UNESCO could play in promoting social research, especially on issues like democracy, power sharing, cultural diversity, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and conflict resolution. To this end, the Byblos Centre for Human Sciences (ICHS) has strengthened its activities to promote international dialogue on peace, mutual understanding and reconciliation and to enhance collaborative work among the various research institutes in Lebanon, in order to bridge the divides across different segments of the Lebanese society. 12. In September 2006, the ICHS organized the fourth edition of the Byblos Autumn School attended by 37 scholars, young researchers and graduate students from Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt 3 Cf. paragraph 35 of document 175 EX/INF.14, dated 27 September 2006.
176 EX/50 page 3 and various European countries. It focused on the study of political systems based on power sharing and on the impact of external factors on conflict and coexistence in plural societies, with special attention to the case of Lebanon. 13. From 11 to 13 November 2006, the ICHS organized an international conference on Culture, Conflict and Democracy: Exploring factors conducive to democratic conflict regulation. On the first day, four panels explored perceptions of conflict issues in southern Africa, sub-saharan Africa, southern Asia and Lebanon. The second day was dedicated to the presentation and scrutiny of empirical data collected in the frame of research projects conducted in ten countries by ICHS and partner institutions. In all case studies, education proved to be the principal factor explaining positive attitudes towards democracy. On the conference s last day, methodological approaches to a systematic comparison of the data were defined and recommendations for additional studies in view of finalizing the ICHS programme elaborated. PART II. TOWARDS A UNESCO PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTION IN LEBANON 14. On 25 January 2007, the French authorities hosted an international donor conference for Lebanon s reconstruction, referred to as the Paris III Conference. The conference focused primarily on economic recovery, in particular debt relief. During this conference, the Government of Lebanon released a five-year plan on Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform focusing on macroeconomic reform, including a social sector reform component. 15. UNESCO, in cooperation with the World Bank and UNICEF, actively assisted the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Ministry of Finance in the identification of five priority areas for the reconstruction and reform of the education system. These areas were further developed by a national expert meeting, organized by the government and attended by the World Bank, UNESCO and UNICEF, and are as follows: 1. Ensure compulsory basic education for all children from 6 to 15 years of age, and free basic education for all children in public schools (through such measures as waiving school fees, ensuring free textbooks, supporting needy families, etc.). 2. Ensure equality of opportunity in the pursuit of schooling and in the chances of success (moving from access to success) to all children in public schools (through such measures as enhancing the quality of teaching and learning processes, providing educational and other support to children with special educational needs, etc.). 3. Ensure strategic management of school facilities (through such measures as strict implementation of school mapping). 4. Ensure strategic management of the human resources of the education system, particularly teachers. 5. Adopt a national framework for quality assurance in higher education (particularly through the development of standards and procedures). 16. At the occasion of the Paris III Conference, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, on behalf of the Director-General, met with H.E. Mr Tarek Mitri, Minister of Culture and Minister of Foreign Affairs a.i. of Lebanon. She reiterated UNESCO s commitment to assist the Lebanese authorities in the implementation of its programme of reconstruction and reform, particularly in the field of education. UNESCO, namely through its regional bureau for education in Beirut, its International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), its International Bureau of Education (IBE) and its Institute for Statistics (UIS), could actively support these efforts.
176 EX/50 page 4 17. At this occasion, ADG/CLT also reaffirmed UNESCO s commitment in support of cultural institutions and universities, media, artists and journalists with the aim of revitalizing intellectual life in Lebanon and promoting peace, pluralism and tolerance. In this context, UNESCO is launching a project entitled Cultural reconciliation for Lebanese youth. Funded by Norway ($211,389), the project aims at mobilizing Lebanese youth towards the creation of networks of solidarity based on a shared understanding of their cultural identity. It is expected that more than 300 young students will engage in discussions on different topics, namely, shared heritage, history, religion, as well as human rights and citizenship. A second proposal on the Strengthening of book industry, in particular through initiatives such as book fairs and enhancement/promotion of the most representative works of Lebanese literature has been developed but not yet submitted to any specific donor. Next steps 18. Based on the Organization s positive contribution to Lebanon s early recovery efforts especially in the fields of education and culture, the Director-General intends to further consolidate the cooperation with the Government of Lebanon in support of the human dimensions of its longer term reconstruction programme. In this context, and as mentioned in paragraph 5 above, the Director-General intends to dispatch a high-level intersectoral mission to Lebanon, led by the Deputy Director-General, as soon as circumstances permit. The mission would consult with the Lebanese authorities and stakeholders on possible new initiatives aimed at reactivating the cultural and intellectual life in Lebanon, as one means to counter the brain drain currently affecting Lebanon. Moreover, the UNESCO Beirut Office will continue to maintain close cooperation with the Lebanese authorities in developing further assistance in favour of the country s recovery and reconstruction. Proposed draft decision 19. In the light of the above, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: The Executive Board, 1. Recalling 175 EX/Decision 54, 2. Having examined document 176 EX/50, 3. Emphasizing the need to reinforce UNESCO s contribution in favour of Lebanon s reconstruction, in the context of the five-year plan entitled Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform presented by the Government of Lebanon to the Paris III Conference in January 2007, 4. Recalling the responsibility of UNESCO, within the integrated United Nations response, in the fields of education, culture, science and communication, and more particularly its role in the protection and preservation of Lebanese cultural heritage, as well as in the promotion of education for all throughout Lebanon, 5. Notes with satisfaction the results achieved by UNESCO in contributing to early recovery efforts led by the Government of Lebanon; 6. Requests the Director-General to strengthen support to the Lebanese Government in the formulation and implementation of programmes within UNESCO s fields of competence, in the context of the reconstruction process; 7. Thanks Member States, IGOs and foundations for their contributions to UNESCO action in favour of the Lebanese people; 8. Appeals to them to continue to assist UNESCO in its efforts to foster reconstruction and development in Lebanon. Printed on recycled paper.