(xxxvi) thousandth anniversary of the popular epic Alpamysh;
Resolution by UNESCO 151 Session
Paris 3 July 1997
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board ex
Hundred and fifty-first Session
151 EX/Decisions
PARIS, 3 July 1997
DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
AT ITS 151st SESSION
(Paris, 26 May-12 June 199)
151 EX/Decisions - page (i)
LIST OF MEMBERS
(REPRESENTATIVES AND ALTERNATES)
President of the General Conference1 Mr Torben KROGH (Denmark)
Members
Angola
Representative Mr Pedro Domingos PETERSON
Alternates Mr Domingos VAN-DUNEM
Mr P. Barros NSINGUI
Mr Domingos MARTINS
Argentina
Representative Mr Victor MASSUH
Alternates Mr Carlos FLORIA
Ms Mar¡a Susana PATARO
Mr Eduardo E. GONZALEZ PLAZA
Ms Claudia Alejandra ZAMPIERI
Mr Gustavo Alfredo ARAMBARRI
Mr Alejandro MARTINEZ MANRIQUE
Austria
Representative Mr Anton PROHASKA
Alternates Ms Frieda LUGGAUER-GOLLNER
Mr Christian STROHAL
Mr Ernst-Peter BREZOVSZKY
Mr Gerhard MAYNHARDT
Mr Harald GARDOS
Ms Eva Maria LENZ
Mr Franz-Otto HOFECKER
Bangladesh
Representative Mr Abul AHSAN
(Chairperson, Special Committee)
Alternates Mr Tufail K. HAIDER
Mr A.H.M. MONIRUZZAMAN
Mr Ikhtiar M. CHOWDHURY
Mr A.F.M. GOUSAL AZAM SARKER
1. The President of the General Conference shall sit ex officio in an advisory capacity on the Executive
Board.
151 EX/Decisions - page (ii)
Belgium
Representative Mr Henri BEYENS
Alternates Mr Peter MARTIN
Mr Georges-Henri DUMONT
Mr Philippe CANTRAINE
Mr Pierre RUYFFELAERE
Benin
Representative Mr Nour‚ini TIDJANI-SERPOS
(Chairperson of the Executive Board)
Alternates Mr Rigobert K. KOUAGOU
Mr Isidore MONSI
Ms Ra‹matou ADECHOKAN TINGBO
Bolivia
Representative Mr Victor Hugo CARDENAS CONDE
Alternates Mr Carlos Antonio CARRASCO
Mr Eduardo BARRIOS I¥IGUES
Brazil
Representative Mr Fernando PEDREIRA
Alternates Mr Ricardo V. de CARVALHO
Mr Armando BOISSON CARDOSO
Mr Ricardo A. BASTOS
Mr Pedro SARAIVA ETCHEBARNE
Mr Alessandro W. CANDEAS
Mr Debrair Isaias DA SILVA
Ms Helena DURAN HEWITT
Mr Isnard G. de FREITAS
Bulgaria (Vice-Chairperson)
Representative Mr Simeon ANGUELOV
Alternates Ms Stanislava RADITCHEVA
Mr Christo GUEORGUIEV
Mr Kosta PACHEV
Cameroon
Representative Mr Eb‚nezer NJOH MOUELLE
Alternates Mr Pascal BILOA TANG
Mr Innocent MEUTCHEYE
151 EX/Decisions - page (iii)
Chile
Representative Mr Jorge EDWARDS VALDS
(Chairperson, Committee on Conventions
and Recommendations)
Alternates Mr Jaime CONTRERAS
Ms Ana Mar¡a MAZA
Ms Sylvia BEAUSANG
Ms Andrea CABRERA
China
Representative Mr ZHANG Chongli
Alternates Mr TIAN Xiaogang
Mr LIU Jinke
Ms LIN Sha
Mr TIAN Jianping
Mr LIU Jun
Ms WANG Suyan
Ms DONG Jianhong
Mr ZHAO Changxing
Costa Rica (Vice-Chairperson)
Representative Ms A¡da de FISHMAN
Alternates Ms Iris LEIVA de BILLAULT
Ms Gabriela CASTILLO GARCIA
Ms Janina ROVINSKI GIBERSTEIN
Cuba
Representative Mr Miguel BARNET LANZA
Alternates Ms Mar¡a Soledad CRUZ GUERRA
Mr Cleton EDGHILL FORD
Mr Lorenzo MENNDEZ ECHEVARRIA
Mr Enrique HIDALGO VIDAL
Czech Republic
Representative Ms Jaroslava MOSEROVA
Alternates Mr Petr LOM
Mr Karel KOMAREK
Mr David MASEK
Ms Mark‚ta LARSENOVA
151 EX/Decisions - page (iv)
Egypt (Vice-Chairperson)
Representative Mr Hussein Kamel BAHA-EL-DINE
Alternates Mr Mohsen TAWFIK
Ms Taysir RAMADAN
Mr Elsayed HALIMA
El Salvador
Representative Mr David ESCOBAR GALINDO
Alternates Mr Jos‚ Ramiro ZEPEDA ROLDAN
Ms Rosa Ester MOREIRA de LEMOINE
Ms Nanette VIAUD DESROCHES
Ethiopia
Representative Ms GENNET ZEWIDE
Alternates Mr Mulugeta ETEFFA
Mr Mulatu KEFFELEW
France
Representative Mr Jean FAVIER
Alternates Ms Anne LEWIS-LOUBIGNAC
Mr Yves BRUNSVICK
Mr Jean-Ren‚ GEHAN
Mr Emmanuel de CALAN
Mr Yves CHARPENTIER
Ms Aur‚lia BOUCHEZ
Mr Jean-Pierre BOYER
Ms Florence CORMON
Ms Anne CONSTANTY
Ms Catherine DUMESNIL
Ms Martine GUERCHON
Mr Jean-Paul MARTIN
Ms Corinne MATRAS
Mr Jean-Pierre REGNIER
Ms Muriel SORET
Germany
Representative Mr Christoph DERIX
Alternates Ms Rose LŽSSING
Mr Uwe HEYE
Mr Thilo KÖHLER
Mr Lothar KOCH
Mr Peter CANISIUS
Mr Traugott SCHÖFTHALER
Mr Hartmut HEIDEMANN
151 EX/Decisions - page (v)
Guyana
Representative Mr David DABYDEEN
Alternates Mr Laleshwar SINGH
Ms Carmen JARVIS
Ms Lilawatie GAJRAJ
Hungary
Representative Mr P l PATAKI
(Chairperson, Programme and External
Relations Commission)
Alternates Mr P‚ter KARIKAS
Mr Mih ly ROZSA
Ms M rta SZABO
India
Representative Mr Ram Niwas MIRDHA
Alternates Mr Chiranjiv SINGH
Ms NEENA
Indonesia
Representative Mr Makaminan MAKAGIANSAR
Alternates Mr Soedarso DJOJONEGORO
Mr Iman SANTOSO
Mr Sam Elihar MARENTEK
Mr Achmad ZAINI
Italy
Representative Mr Giancarlo LEO
Alternates Ms Tullia CARETTONI
Mr Francesco MARGIOTTA-BROGLIO
Mr Pietro SEBASTIANI
Mr Giovanni ARMENTO
Ms Marina MISITANO
Japan
Representative Mr Azusa HAYASHI
Alternates Mr Yasuo NOSAKA
Mr Hiroshi KARUBE
Mr Takahito NARUMIYA
Mr Shinichiro HORIE
Mr Hiroshi YOSHIMOTO
Ms Miyako MURAKAMI
Mr Akira TAKEDA
Ms Tokuko NABESHIMA
151 EX/Decisions - page (vi)
Jordan
Representative Mr Munther Wassef MASRI
Alternates Mr Al-Sharif Fawaz SHARAF
Ms Janette BERMAMET
Mr Wajed MUSTAKIM
Kenya
Representative Mr Shem Oyoo WANDIGA
Alternate Mr Jones A.M. NZEKI
Lesotho
Representative Mr Thekiso G. KHATI
Alternates Ms Thami MASHOLOGU
Mr Tefetso MOTHIBE
Malaysia
Representative Mr Mohamed NAJIB
Alternates Mr Khalid YUNUS
Mr Osman JAFFAR
Mr Mukhtar BOERHANNOEDDIN
Mr Kenneth J. LUIS
Mr Faqir Chand VOHRA
Mali
Representative Mr Baba Akhib HAIDARA
(Chairperson of the Finance and Administrative
Commission)
Alternates Ms Madina LY-TALL
Mr Kl‚na SANOGO
Mr Samuel SIDIBE
Mr Amidou DOUCOURE
Mr S‚kou Gaoussou CISSE
Mr Amadou Kamir DOUMBIA
Mr Aly CISSE
Malta
Representative Mr Vincent CAMILLERI
Alternates Mr Clive AGIUS
Ms Tanya VELLA
Ms Marie Stella ASSIMAKOPOULOS
Ms Catherine PINTOUT
151 EX/Decisions - page (vii)
Mauritius
Representative Mr James Burty DAVID
Alternates Ms Marie-France ROUSSETY
Mr Taye WAN CHAT KWONG
Mr Nadrajen CHEDUMBARUM
Mexico
Representative Mr Miguel LIMON ROJAS
Alternates Mr Mario Hector OJEDA GOMEZ
Mr Jos‚ CHANES NIETO
Ms Zadalinda GONZALEZ y REYNERO
Mr Jos‚ Manuel CUEVAS
Morocco
Representative Mr Mohamed Allal SINACEUR
Alternates Mr Driss AMOR
Ms Na‹ma SEDRATI
Mr Mohamed Mustapha KABBAJ
Mr Salah Eddine EL HONSALI
Namibia
Representative Mr Peter Hitjitevi KATJAVIVI
Alternates Mr Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU
Mr Isaac PROLLIUS
Ms Trudie AMULUNGU
Nepal (Vice-Chairperson)
Representative Mr Keshav Raj JHA
Alternate Mr Shyamanand Das SUMAN
New Zealand
Representative Mr Russell MARSHALL
Alternates Ms Elizabeth ROSE
Ms Rachel FRY
Niger
Representative Mr Lambert MESSAN
Alternates Ms Aissatou SOULEY
Mr Bako Mahamadou IBRAHIM
Mr Abdourahamane DIALLO
151 EX/Decisions - page (viii)
Nigeria
Representative Mr Emmanuel O. AKINLUYI
Alternates Mr Umar AHMED
Mr Yemi LIJADU
Mr Oladejo ADELEYE
Pakistan
Representative Mr Khwaja Shahid HOSAIN
Alternates Mr Roshan Ali SIYAL
Mr Aman RASHID
Ms Drissia CHOUIT-NFISSI
Poland
Representative Mr Jerzy KLOCZOWSKI
Alternates Ms Alicja CIEZKOWSKA
Ms Joanna WRONECKA
Mr Wojciech FALKOWSKI
Ms Aleksandra WACLAWCZYK
Mr Grzegorz WALINSKI
Republic of Korea
Representative Mr Hyun-Gon KIM
Alternates Mr Jung-Hee YOO
Mr Gul-Woo LEE
Ms Ji-eun PARK
Ms Young-Ae SEO
Mr Yung-Min YOON
Mr Seunghwan LEE
Ms Soon-ho CHOI
Russian Federation
Representative Mr Vasili SIDOROV
Alternates Mr Mikhail FEDOTOV
Mr Anatoli EGOCHKINE
Mr Teimouraz RAMICHVILI
Mr Igor AKIMOV
Mr Alexandre KOUZNETSOV
Mr Boris BORISSOV
Ms Olga IVANOVA
Mr Vladimir KOROTKOV
Mr Vladimir KOVALENKO
Mr Grigori ORDJONIKIDZE
Mr Valeri SAKHAROV
Ms Natela LAGUIDZE
Mr Vladimir ENTINE
151 EX/Decisions - page (ix)
Saudi Arabia
Representative Mr Mohammed Ahmed RASHEED
Alternates Mr Ibrahim AL-SHEDDI
Mr Abdulaziz S. Bin SALAMAH
Senegal
Representative Mr Th‚odore NDIAYE
Alternates Mr Assane HANE
Mr Ousman BLONDIN-DIOP
Mr Cheikhna SANKHARE
Slovakia
Representative Mr Dusan SLOBODNIK
Alternates Mr Frantisek LIPKA
Ms Viera POLAKOVICOVA
Mr Anton GAJDOS
Ms Magdal‚na POHLODOVA
Spain (Vice-Chairperson)
Representative Mr F‚lix FERNANDEZ-SHAW
Alternates Mr Jes£s EZQUERRA
Mr Manuel PREZ DEL ARCO
Ms Clara BARREIRO
Mr Agust¡n GANGOSO
Sweden
Representative Mr Nils Gunnar NILSSON
Alternates Mr Ingemar LINDAHL
Mr Anders FALK
Ms Eva HERMANSSON
Ms Britta HANSSON
Switzerland
Representative Ms Doris MORF
(Chairperson, Committee on International Non-
Governmental Organizations)
Alternates Mr B‚n‚dict DE TSCHARNER
Mr Rudolf BŽRFUSS
Ms Sylvie MATTEUCCI
Mr Hans Jacob ROTH
Mr Bernard THEURILLAT
Mr Bernard WICHT
Ms Monika RúHL
Mr Daniel HAENER
Ms Madeleine VIVIANI
Mr Robert MúGGLER
151 EX/Decisions - page (x)
Thailand
Representative Mr Adul WICHIENCHAROEN
Alternates Ms Savitri SUWANSATHIT
Ms Sasithara PICHAICHANNARONG
Ms Duangtip SURINTATIP
Ms Weeranut MAITHAI
Ms Chavanart THANGSUMPHANT
Tonga
Representative Mr Senipisi Langi KAVALIKU
Trinidad and Tobago
Representative Mr Lawrence D. CARRINGTON
Alternates Mr Trevor SPENCER
Ms Mary Ann RICHARDS
Ms Lauren BOODHOO
Mr Rabindranath PERMANAND
Ms Sandra GIFT
Ukraine
Representative Mr Volodymyr KHANDOGY
Alternates Mr Yuri KOCHUBEY
Mr Olexander DEMIANIUK
Mr Leonid GUBERSKY
Mr Vyacheslav SOTNYKOV
Mr Volodymyr KHRYSTYCH
Mr Oleg YATSENKIVSKIY
United Arab Emirates
Representative Mr Salem Humaid AL GHAMMAI
Alternates Mr Abdul Aziz Nasser Rahma AL SHAMSI
Mr Abdulla Tayeb QASSEM
United Republic of Tanzania (Vice-Chairperson)
Representative Mr Immanuel K. BAVU
Alternate Mr Mohamed SHEYA
Yemen
Representative Mr Abdallah Yahya EL-ZINE
151 EX/Decisions - page (xi)
Zimbabwe
Representative Mr Christopher J. CHETSANGA
Alternates Mr Joey Mazorodze BIMHA
Mr Josiah Jasper MHLANGA
Representatives and Observers
Organizations of the United Nations system
Mr Hassen M. FODHA United Nations
Mr Alexandre DABBOU
Mr Michael MILLS World Bank
Mr Evlogui BONEV United Nations Development Programme
Mr Darioush BAYANDOR United Nations High Commissioner for
Ms Corinne PERTHUIS Refugees
Mr Muhiedeen TOUQ United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Mr Peter KONZ United Nations University
Ms Catarina CASULLO
Intergovernmental organizations
Ms Graziella BRIANZONI Council of Europe
Mr Piergiorgio MAZZOCCHI European Commission
Mr Renaud-François MOULINIER
Mr Samy SANCHEZ
Mr Mohamed EL-MILI Arab League Educational, Cultural and
Mr Wagdi MAHMOUD Scientific Organization
Mr Youcef RAHMANIA
Mr Dominique BOREL International Committee of the Red Cross
151 EX/Decisions - page (xii)
Mr Geraldo CAVALCANTI Latin Union
Ms Lil DESPRADEL
Mr Ernesto BERTOLAJA
Ms Dolores ALVAREZ
Mr Daniel PRADO
Ms Claudia COSTA
Ms Elisabeth De BALANDA
Ms Marta PRIETO
Ms Helena VARGAS
Mr Mohamed TRABELSI League of Arab States
Mr Mohamed Tahar ADDOUANI
Mr Abdelmajid KLAI
Mr Nanguyalai S. TARZI Organization of the Islamic Conference
Mr Thomas ALEXANDER Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Mr Andreas SCHLEICHER Development
Secretariat
Mr Federico MAYOR (Director-General), Mr Adnan BADRAN (Deputy Director-General),
Mr Henri LOPES (Deputy Director-General for Africa), Mr Colin Nelson POWER (Assistant
Director-General for Education), Ms Francine FOURNIER (Assistant Director-General for
Social and Human Sciences), Mr Henrikas Alguirdas IOUCHKIAVITCHIOUS (Assistant
Director-General for Communication, Information and Informatics), Mr Daniel JANICOT
(Assistant Director-General for the Directorate), Ms Lourdes ARIZPE (Assistant Director-
General for Culture), Mr Ahmed Saleh SAYYAD (Assistant Director-General for External
Relations), Mr Maurizio IACCARINO (Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences),
Mr Yasuo MATSUI (Assistant Director-General for Management and Administration),
Mr Jacques HALLAK (Assistant Director-General, Director of the International Institute for
Educational Planning), Mr Gunnar KULLENBERG (Assistant Director-General, Executive
Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), Mr Jurgen HILLIG
(Assistant Director-General, Director of the Division for Decentralization and Relations with
Field Units), Mr Georges MALEMPRE (Director of the Executive Office), Mr Jonathan KUSI
(Legal Adviser), Mr Mohamed AL SHAABI (Secretary of the Executive Board), and other
members of the Secretariat.
151 EX/Decisions - page (xiii)
CONTENTS
Page
1 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA, TIMETABLE OF WORK
AND REPORT OF THE BUREAU.................................................................... 1
1.1 Election of the Chairperson of the Finance and Administrative
Commission ............................................................................................... 1
2 APPROVAL OF THE SUMMARY RECORDS OF THE
150th SESSION ....................................................................................... 2
3 EXECUTION OF THE PROGRAMME ............................................................. 2
3.1 Report by the Director-General on the execution of
the programme adopted by the General Conference.................................... 2
I. Universality of the Organization ........................................................ 2
II. Transdisciplinary project `Towards a culture of peace' ...................... 3
III. The situation in educational and cultural institutions in Albania.......... 3
IV. Cash management ............................................................................. 4
V. Decentralization ................................................................................ 4
3.2 Education................................................................................................... 6
3.2.1 Application of 150 EX/Decision 3.2.1, concerning educational
and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories .................. 6
3.2.2 Interim report on the development of the Regional Programme
for Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific ................................... 8
3.2.3 Implementation of 28 C/Resolution 1.15 concerning reform and
renewal of education in Central and Eastern Europe........................ 9
3.2.4 Revision of the International Standard Classification
of Education (ISCED) .................................................................... 9
3.3 Culture ................................................................................................ 11
3.3.1 Jerusalem and the implementation of 150 EX/Decision 3.4.3........... 11
3.3.2 Report by the Director-General on the findings of the
meeting of experts concerning the preparation of an
international instrument for the protection of the underwater
cultural heritage .............................................................................. 12
3.3.3 Feasibility study on the establishment of an International
Institute of Comparative Civilization at Takshaschila
(Taxila, Pakistan)............................................................................ 13
3.3.4 Follow-up to the report of the World Commission on
Culture and Development ............................................................... 14
151 EX/Decisions - page (xiv)
Page
3.3.5 Invitations to the Stockholm intergovernmental conference
on cultural policies for development................................................ 14
3.3.6 Amendment of the Statutes of the UNESCO Prize for the
Promotion of the Arts ..................................................................... 15
3.4 Communication.......................................................................................... 15
3.4.1 Project to establish a film bank and data base for the use
of the public television channels of developing countries ................. 15
3.4.2 Regulations for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World
Press Freedom Prize ....................................................................... 16
3.4.3 Implementation of 150 EX/Decision 3.5.1 concerning the
challenges of the information highways: the role of UNESCO.............. 17
3.5 Social and human sciences.......................................................................... 18
3.5.1 Tuning in to youth: how to involve it in UNESCO's ideals.............. 18
3.5.2 Draft Declaration on the Safeguarding of Future Generations.......... 18
3.5.3 Restructuring of the Intergovenrmental Committee
for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) and the
International Fund for the Development of Physical Education
and Sport (FIDEPS) ....................................................................... 19
4 MATTERS RELATING TO NORMS, STATUTES AND
REGULATIONS ................................................................................................ 19
4.1 Report by the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations:
Examination of the communications transmitted to the Committee
in pursuance of 104 EX/Decision 3.3.......................................................... 19
5 DRAFT PROGRAMME AND BUDGET FOR 1998-1999 (29 C/5) ................... 20
5.1 Consideration of the Draft Programme and Budget for
1998-1999 ................................................................................................ 20
A. Recommendations by the Executive Board on the Draft
Programme and Budget for 1998-1999 ............................................. 20
B. Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour
Organization (ILOAT) ...................................................................... 31
6. METHODS OF WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION.......................................... 31
6.1 Study on possible ways of limiting the number of draft resolutions
and amendments to be submitted by a single Member State ........................ 31
151 EX/Decisions - page (xv)
Page
6.2 Conclusions of the ad hoc working group established to examine
the structure and function of the General Conference.................................. 31
6.3 Report on the evaluation of UNESCO field offices in Asia and
the Pacific ................................................................................................ 34
7 GENERAL CONFERENCE ............................................................................... 36
7.1 Preparation of the provisional agenda of the twenty-ninth session
of the General Conference.......................................................................... 36
A. Provisional agenda of the twenty-ninth session of the General
Conference........................................................................................ 36
B. Balanced use of the working languages of the General Conference
at UNESCO...................................................................................... 37
7.2 Draft plan for the organization of the work of the twenty-ninth session
of the General Conference.......................................................................... 38
7.3 Invitations to the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference............... 40
7.4 Form of the Executive Board's report on its activities in 1996-1997,
to be submitted to the General Conference at its twenty-ninth session......... 40
8 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONS ..................................... 41
8.1 Report by the Director-General on budget adjustments authorized
within the Appropriation Resolution for 1996-1997.................................... 41
8.2 Twenty-second annual report (1996) of the ICSC and related
General Assembly resolutions: report of the Director-General .................... 43
8.3 Annual report by the Director-General on the use of outside
consultants and advisers by the Secretariat ................................................. 43
8.4 Report by the Director-General on the implementation and
financing of the Renovation Plan for Headquarters buildings....................... 44
8.5 Report by the Director-General on the Information Technology
Master Plan................................................................................................ 45
8.6 Procedure to be followed for the appointment by the Executive
Board of the Chairman and Alternate Chairman of the Appeals
Board ................................................................................................ 45
8.7 Consultation in pursuance of Rule 57 of the Rules of Procedure
of the Executive Board............................................................................... 46
151 EX/Decisions - page (xvi)
Page
9. RELATIONS WITH MEMBER STATES AND INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS............................................................................................ 46
9.1 Recent decisions and activities of the organizations of the
United Nations system of relevance to the work of UNESCO..................... 46
9.1.1 Follow-up to the United Nations Year for Tolerance....................... 46
9.1.2 Questions relating to information and to communication
for development.............................................................................. 46
9.1.3 Implementation of Agenda 21, special session of the
General Assembly on its review and appraisal, and related
resolutions ...................................................................................... 48
9.1.4 Human rights questions: commemoration of the fiftieth
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and review of the implementation of the Vienna Declaration
and Programme of Action ............................................................... 48
9.2 Application of the Directives concerning UNESCO's relations
with non-governmental organizations adopted by the General
Conference at its twenty-eighth session ...................................................... 49
9.3 Revised text of the Directives concerning UNESCO's relations
with foundations and similar institutions ..................................................... 51
9.4 Arrangements for co-operation with international organizations
other than intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental
organizations.............................................................................................. 51
9.5 Proposals by Member States for the celebration of anniversaries
with which UNESCO should be associated in 1998-1999 ........................... 52
9.6 Accountability, management improvement, and oversight in the
United Nations system (JIU/REP/95/2) ...................................................... 55
9.7 Report by the Director-General on the execution of the action plan
for the rehabilitation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina......................... 55
9.8 Relations with the Intergovernmental Television and Radio
Corporation `Mir' and draft agreement between UNESCO and
that body.................................................................................................... 56
9.9 Draft agreement between UNESCO and the International Centre
of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).................................................. 56
9.10 Draft agreement between the Lebanese Government and UNESCO
on the establishment of an International Centre for the Humanities ............. 56
151 EX/Decisions - page (xvii)
Page
9.11 Relations with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) and
draft agreement between UNESCO and that body ...................................... 57
9.12 Relations with the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development
and draft agreement between UNESCO and that organization .................... 57
10 GENERAL MATTERS ...................................................................................... 58
10.1 Evaluation of the entire transdisciplinary project `Environment
and population education and information for development' (EPD) ............ 58
10.2 Report on the implementation of the transdisciplinary project
`Towards a culture of peace' ...................................................................... 58
10.3 Feasibility, mandate, method of work and cost of a World Commission
on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology............................... 58
10.4 The Culture of Maintenance project ........................................................... 58
10.5 Dates of the 152nd session ......................................................................... 59
ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING THE PRIVATE MEETINGS
HELD ON 9 JUNE 1997.............................................................................................. 59
151 EX/Decisions
1 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA, TIMETABLE OF WORK AND REPORT OF
THE BUREAU (151 EX/1, 151 EX/INF.1, 151 EX/INF.1 Rev., 151 EX/INF.1 Rev.2
and 151 EX/2)
The Executive Board adopted the agenda and timetable of work as set out in
documents 151 EX/1, 151 EX/INF.1, 151 EX/INF.1 Rev. and 151 EX/INF.1 Rev.2.
The Executive Board decided to refer to the commissions and committee specified
below the following items of its agenda:
1. Programme and External Relations Commission (PX): items 3.1 (Part I),
3.2.1, 3.2.2, 3.2.3, 3.2.4, 3.3.1,1 3.3.2, 3.3.3, 3.3.4, 3.3.5, 3.3.6, 3.4.1, 3.4.3,
3.5.2, 3.5.3, 5.1, 9.1, 9.4, 9.5, 9.7, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4.
2. Finance and Administrative Commission (FA): items 3.1 (Parts II and III),
5.1, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5 and 9.6.
3. Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations (ONG):
items 9.2 and 9.3.
The Executive Board approved the proposals by the Bureau contained in
document 151 EX/2 concerning the following items of the agenda:
9.8 Relations with the Intergovernmental Television and Radio Corporation (Mir)
and draft agreement between UNESCO and that body (151 EX/137)
9.9 Draft agreement between UNESCO and the International Centre of Insect
Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) (151 EX/38)
9.10 Draft agreement between the Lebanese Government and UNESCO on the
establishment of an International Centre for the Humanities (151 EX/39)
9.11 Relations with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) and draft
agreement between UNESCO and that body (151 EX/40);
and referred item 3.3.6 - Amendment of the Statutes of the UNESCO Prize for the
Promotion of the Arts - to the Programme and External Relations Commission.
(151 EX/SR.1 and 11)
1.1 Election of the Chairperson of the Finance and Administrative Commission
In accordance with Rule 16, paragraph 3 of its Rules of Procedure, the Executive
Board elected Mr Baba Akhib Haidara (Mali) as Chairperson of the Finance and
1. This item was examined in plenary. The Board also examined directly in plenary items 1.1, 2, 3.1, 3.4.2,
3.5.1, 5.1, 7.1, 7.3, 7.4, 8.6, 8.7 and 10.5.
151 EX/Decisions - page 2
Administrative Commission to replace Mr Ali Mohamed Zaid (Yemen) for the
remainder of his term of office.
(151 EX/SR.1)
2 APPROVAL OF THE SUMMARY RECORDS OF THE 150th SESSION
(150 EX/SR.1-17)
The Executive Board approved the summary records of its 150th session.
(150 EX/SR.1)
3 EXECUTION OF THE PROGRAMME
3.1 Report by the Director-General on the execution of the programme adopted by
the General Conference (151 EX/5 (Parts I and Corr., II and III and Add.),
151 EX/INF.3, 151 EX/INF.4, 151 EX/INF.10, 151 EX/INF.11, 151 EX/50 and
151 EX/51 and Corr.)
I
Universality of the Organization
The Executive Board,
1. Reaffirming the importance that it attaches to universal membership of the
Organization for the achievement of its mission, which requires international cooperation,
2. Recognizing the benefits, particularly those of an intellectual and scientific nature,
that the Organization and the international community can reap not only from the
return of all the states that have withdrawn from it but also from the entry of the
states that are not yet members of UNESCO,
3. Welcomes with satisfaction the decision of the Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume membership of
UNESCO on 1 July 1997;
4. Notes with interest that the highest authorities of the United States of America, in
express recognition of UNESCO's unique and important role, have pledged to
continue to explore ways and means of bringing about the return to UNESCO of
their country;
5. Encourages the authorities of the United States of America and of Singapore to
contemplate the early return of their countries to the Organization;
6. Encourages, also, the states that are not yet members of UNESCO to consider
joining the Organization;
151 EX/Decisions - page 3
7. Congratulates the Director-General on his action and encourages him to continue
his efforts to create conditions conducive to achieving the universality of the
Organization.
(151 EX/SR.1, 16 and 17)
II
Transdisciplinary project `Towards a culture of peace'
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/5, Part I, and bearing in mind document 151
EX/43,
2. Recalling 149 EX/Decision 7.1.1 concerning a report to the fifty-first session of
the General Assembly on the transdisciplinary project `Towards a culture of
peace',
3. Welcomes General Assembly resolution 51/101 which calls for the promotion of
a culture of peace based on the principles established in the Charter of the United
Nations, respect for human rights, democracy, tolerance, dialogue, cultural
diversity and reconciliation, and efforts to promote development, education for
peace, the free flow of information and the wider participation of women, as an
integral approach to prevent violence and conflicts and to contribute to the
creation of conditions for peace and its consolidation;
4. Takes note of the General Assembly request to the Secretary-General to report,
together with the Director-General of UNESCO, to the General Assembly at its
fifty-second session on the progress of educational activities within the
framework of the transdisciplinary project entitled `Towards a culture of peace',
including the preparation of elements for a draft provisional declaration and
programme of action on a culture of peace;
5. Invites the Director-General to submit to it at its 152nd session his contribution
to the Secretary-General's report, including elements for a draft provisional
declaration and programme of action, with a view to presenting that contribution
to the General Conference as well, so that the Member States may participate
fully in the elaboration of a declaration and an effective programme of action.
(151 EX/SR.16)
III
The situation in educational and cultural institutions in Albania
The Executive Board,
1. Having heard the Director-General's report,
2. Thanks the Director-General for the information concerning the situation in
educational and cultural institutions in Albania;
151 EX/Decisions - page 4
3. Welcomes the Director-General's decision to grant emergency aid to meet the
most urgent needs indicated by the Government of the Republic of Albania;
4. Urges the Director-General, in close co-operation with the competent authorities
of the Republic of Albania and in close co-ordination with the other international
organizations concerned, to draw up a plan of action for the rehabilitation of
educational, cultural and scientific institutions and the restoration of the cultural
and architectural heritage of Albania;
5. Requests the Director-General to submit to it, at its 152nd session, a report on
the follow-up to and implementation of that decision, which will be submitted to
the General Conference at its twenty-ninth session.
(151 EX/SR.16)
IV
Cash management
The Executive Board,
1. Notes that interest cost for borrowing has already amounted in March 1997 to
$1.3 million;
2. Notes also that timely payment of contributions by Member States would bring
borrowing to an end;
3. Requests the Director-General to make every effort to avoid external borrowing;
4. Calls on all Member States to pay their contributions on time.
(151 EX/SR.14)
V
Decentralization
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/5, Part II,
2. Considering the importance to the Organization of reconciling a universal
conception of UNESCO's programmes with the necessary adaptation of its
activities to the local context in which they are carried out,
3. Further considering that the definition of decentralization which was submitted to
the General Conference at its sixth session and subsequently repeated in the `indepth
study on decentralization' submitted to the 136th session of the Executive
Board, as follows: `all the measures which, without destroying the close-knit
coherence of the programme or detracting from the worldwide implications of
UNESCO's aims, tend to make it easier for Member States to take a full part in
the Organization's work and to promote practical and effective action by
UNESCO in the different regions of the world, taking account, as appropriate, of
151 EX/Decisions - page 5
the needs of Member States, of the characteristic features of their civilization, and
of the relative urgency of the problems with which they have to cope', is as
topical as ever,
4. Considering also that a genuine decentralization policy aimed at rationalizing
UNESCO's action in Member States and at reflecting more closely their actual
circumstances in the decision-making process of the Organization's governing
bodies should not be limited to the mere juxtaposition of representation offices,
5. Considering lastly that decentralization should also take its place in the context of
co-operation and co-ordination with the local representatives of other United
Nations agencies,
6. Recalling the recommendations on the decentralization policy adopted at its
136th session and the consolidated report of the five regional working groups on
the overall review of decentralization submitted at its 145th session,
7. Also recalling 149 EX/Decision 3.1 (Part I, para. 7) and 150 EX/Decision 5.1
(Part I, para. 27) concerning, in particular, the opening of new field offices,
8. Reaffirming the importance of the elements singled out in the documents
mentioned in paragraph 6 for the planning and effective implementation of
decentralization, in particular:
(a) the need for each office to fulfil a functional requirement and a clearly
defined mandate,
(b) the need to have the `critical mass' necessary for field offices,
(c) the need to reinforce existing structures (rather than create new ones)
through an effective delegation of authority and an appropriate allocation of
human and financial resources,
(d) the need to draw up an effective decentralization plan embodying precise
targets and time-frames and a clear definition of the links, lines of authority
and respective responsibilities between and among field offices, National
Commissions and Headquarters,
(e) the need to ensure the highest quality of personnel in the decentralized units
through regular rotation of staff between Headquarters and the field,
(f) the need to strengthen and support National Commissions as the major
actors in decentralization, while ensuring their complementarity with field
offices,
9. Conscious of the need for a framework to guide the action of the Secretariat and
of Member States in the implementation of decentralization,
10. Decides to include `the implementation of decentralization' in the agenda of its
152nd session as an item that could be discussed at the joint meeting of the
Programme and External Relations Commission and the Finance and
Administrative Commission;
151 EX/Decisions - page 6
11. Accordingly invites the Director-General to submit to it, at that session, a report
on the activities undertaken in the field of decentralization since the submission to
the 142nd session of the report on the status of the implementation of the
recommendations adopted in 136 EX/Decision 3.3, concerning, in particular:
(a) the function and place of field offices in the policy and actions of
UNESCO;
(b) the criteria for the establishment and restructuring of field offices and their
practical application to those established since the 142nd session;
(c) the policy applied for the recruitment, rotation and assessment of staff;
(d) the qualitative and quantitative data relating to the staff assigned to each
field office;
(e) the operational resources allocated to field offices (maintenance of
premises, equipment, communications, travel expenses, etc.);
(f) the autonomy and responsibility granted to field offices as regards
administrative and financial management;
(g) the co-ordination and control exercised by Headquarters over field offices;
(h) relations and co-operation with the National Commissions and other
institutions of the United Nations system;
(i) the mandate or mandates given to each field office, such information to be
presented in tabular form;
and to propose to it the lines of emphasis he intends to give to the
decentralization process in the future;
12. Recommends that the General Conference adopt, on the basis of these proposals
and in the light of the discussions which will take place at its 152nd session, a
comprehensive framework of standard-setting guidelines and criteria for the
rational implementation of decentralization, especially concerning the
establishment of new field offices in Member States.
(151 EX/SR.14)
3.2 Education
3.2.1 Application of 150 EX/Decision 3.2.1 concerning educational and cultural
institutions in the occupied Arab territories (151 EX/4 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined the report of the Director-General (151 EX/4),
2. Expresses its entire satisfaction and thanks to the Director-General for his
ceaseless efforts to ensure the effective application of 28 C/Resolution 16;
151 EX/Decisions - page 7
3. Expresses its deep concern at the lack of progress of the peace process, which is
threatening peace in the Middle East and hindering co-operation in science,
technology, culture and education and the promotion of dialogue between
peoples;
4. Invites the Director-General to attend to the regular functioning of educational
institutions in the occupied Arab territories by making sure that they are not
closed or obstructed in their activities;
5. Expresses the hope that the Arab-Israeli peace negotiations will be resumed and
that a just and global peace will be speedily brought about in accordance with the
United Nations resolutions to which UNESCO adheres, particularly Security
Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 425, based on withdrawal from the occupied
Arab territories and the principle of land for peace;
6. Considers that UNESCO's action in favour of the Palestinian people is of major
importance and gives the Organization an important role in peace-building within
the United Nations system;
7. Expresses its sincere gratitude and thanks to the Member States, in particular
Italy, Norway and Saudi Arabia, for their financial contributions to the projects of
the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP);
8. Taking note of the deplorable events that have recently occurred in the occupied
Arab territories, urges the Director-General to implement a programme seeking
to consolidate peace and the culture of peace in the region;
9. Invites the Director-General:
(a) to continue his efforts to guarantee freedom of movement to the Palestinian
students of Gaza in order to enable them to go to their colleges and
universities in the West Bank, and to ensure that the same facilities are
accorded to Palestinian students from the West Bank studying in Gaza;
(b) to support the five-year plan drawn up by the Palestinian `Ministry of
Education', in close collaboration with donor states, the Palestinian
authorities concerned and international institutions and agencies;
(c) to give greater support to the Palestinian `Ministry of Culture' to support
the establishment of the Palestinian museum in Bethlehem and to help the
`Ministry' by providing the equipment it needs;
(d) to support Palestinian universities, particularly by increasing the number of
university Chairs;
(e) to speed up the creation of a fund for higher education fellowships;
(f) to continue his efforts among donor states to obtain the necessary funding
for the implementation of projects decided upon by the UNESCO/
Palestinian Authority Co-ordinating Committee;
151 EX/Decisions - page 8
10. Also invites the Director-General:
(a) to continue with his approaches to the Israeli authorities with a view to
preserving the human and social fabric and safeguarding the Syrian Arab
cultural identity in occupied Syrian Golan, in accordance with the relevant
resolutions adopted in this regard;
(b) to continue with his approaches to the Israeli authorities so that they cease
to impose Israeli curricula on the students of occupied Syrian Golan, to
offer grants to these students and to provide assistance to the educational
establishments of the Golan;
11. Decides to include this item in the agenda of the 152nd session.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.2.2 Interim report on the development of the Regional Programme for Higher
Education in Asia and the Pacific (151 EX/6 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/6,
2. Appreciating the efforts already undertaken to strengthen UNESCO's activities in
the field of higher education in the Asia-Pacific region,
3. Bearing in mind the importance of inter-institutional co-operation, including the
development of UNESCO Chairs and Networks within the framework of the
UNITWIN Programme, in order to help higher education institutions achieve
their goals and improve their pertinence and quality,
4. Bearing also in mind the importance of the co-operation with governmental and
non-governmental organizations active in the field of higher education in the
region,
5. Endorsing the holding of a Regional Conference on Higher Education in Tokyo
from 8 to 10 July 1997 within the framework of preparation for the World
Conference on Higher Education in 1998, as a pertinent opportunity for the
further development of the Regional Programme for Higher Education in Asia
and the Pacific,
6. Reaffirming that the Bangkok Office must play a leading role in the co-ordination
of activities related to UNESCO's higher education programme in the region,
7. Invites the Director-General to take appropriate measures to reinforce the
Regional Programme on Higher Education in the Bangkok Office by creating a
separate unit for higher education as a focal point to co-ordinate regional
programmes on higher education and by mobilizing extrabudgetary resources to
implement its activities;
8. Invites the Member States to further support the Regional Programme on Higher
Education through their active participation in its activities;
151 EX/Decisions - page 9
9. Requests the Director-General to submit to it at its forthcoming session a report
on the further development of the structure and the activities of the Regional
Programme, especially in terms of the objectives established as guidelines for
UNESCO's strategy in higher education.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.2.3 Implementation of 28 C/Resolution 1.15 concerning reform and renewal of
education in Central and Eastern Europe (151 EX/7 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined the report submitted by the Director-General on the
implementation of 28 C/Resolution 1.15 on reform and renewal of education in
Central and Eastern Europe (151 EX/7),
2. Taking into account that civic education is of vital importance on a universal
scale and notably in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe undergoing
major social transformations,
3. Acknowledging with satisfaction the diversified action taken by the Organization
to implement activities and projects in civic education in the subregion, especially
the efforts aimed at strengthening the partnerships and co-operation in this area
with other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and with the
National Commissions, and other partners such as CIVITAS (international
consortium of civic educators),
4. Invites the Director-General to continue to provide special support and assistance
to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in order to develop civic
education and introduce into it new components in line with the major democratic
reforms under way in their societies;
5. Also invites the Director-General to intensify UNESCO's co-operation in this
field with the Council of Europe, the European Commission and the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE);
6. Appeals to Member States to support the activities in the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe aimed at reinforcing co-operation and developing new projects in
the area of civic education, considering it a vital element for the promotion of a
culture of peace.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.2.4 Revision of the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED)
(151 EX/8 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/8 concerning the revision of the
International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED),
2. Recommends to the General Conference that at its twenty-ninth session it adopt
the following resolution:
151 EX/Decisions - page 10
`The General Conference,
Recalling 28 C/Resolution 1.11 concerning the International Standard
Classification of Education (ISCED),
Noting with satisfaction that in accordance with this resolution a Task Force was
established in December 1995, composed of experts from Ethiopia, France and
the Netherlands, and of representatives of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD), the Statistical Office of the European
Union (EUROSTAT), and UNESCO, and that a Reference Group of Experts
drawn from all of UNESCO's geographical regions was also established,
Further noting that the ISCED document prepared by the Task Force was
presented for review at two meetings of the Reference Group as well as at a
meeting of experts convened on the occasion of the 45th session of the
International Conference on Education (Geneva, October 1996), and that the
comments and suggestions made at these meetings have been taken into account
in preparing the revised version of ISCED,
Taking note of 151 EX/Decision 3.2.4 of the Executive Board,
1. Approves the revised version of ISCED, contained in Annex II to
document 151 EX/8 as ISCED 1997;
2. Invites the Director-General:
(a) to extend the mandate of the Task Force beyond the twenty-ninth
session of the General Conference and to expand it to include other
conceptual and methodological aspects which are related and relevant
to levels of education and fields of study;
(b) to prepare an operational manual aimed at providing guidance to
users on the interpretation and practical application of ISCED 1997;
(c) to consider the implications ISCED 1997 may have on the 1978
Revised Recommendation concerning the International Standardization
of Educational Statistics;
(d) to continue to revise periodically and to update ISCED 1997 so as to
ensure that it is consistent with developments in education and
training and meets the needs of education policies, and to inform the
General Conference regularly of the changes that have taken place in
that classification;
(e) to request Member States to provide UNESCO with a description of
their education systems in accordance with ISCED and to bring it
regularly up to date;
(f) to report on the results of the work accomplished to the Executive
Board at its 154th session'.
(151 EX/SR.13)
151 EX/Decisions - page 11
3.3 Culture
3.3.1 Jerusalem and the implementation of 150 EX/Decision 3.4.3 (151 EX/9 and Add.)
The Executive Board,
1. Recalling the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of
Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the Protocol thereto and
the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols,
2. Also recalling that the Old City of Jerusalem is inscribed on the World Heritage
List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, and that its protection also comes
within the framework of the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage,
3. Recalling further that, as regards the status of Jerusalem, UNESCO conforms to
the resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and of the Security
Council of the United Nations,
4. Having examined the Director-General's report 151 EX/9 and Add.,
5. Recalling the previous decisions and resolutions on the safeguarding of the
cultural heritage of Jerusalem, requesting that no measure or act be undertaken
that alters the religious, cultural, historical or demographical nature of the city or
impairs the balance of the site as a whole, pending the outcome of negotiations
on the final status of Jerusalem,
6. Keenly regrets that the new buildings and extensions impair the balance of the
urban fabric, disrupt the site and damage the landscape;
7. Also regrets that until now the Israeli authorities have not implemented
150 EX/Decision 3.4.3, which requested them to return the tunnel running along
the western wall of al- Saram ash-SharŒf to its state prior to the opening of an
entrance to that tunnel;
8. Notes:
(a) that the work on a `belvedere' in the east of the city has been almost
completed, despite 147 EX/Decision 3.6.1 and 28 C/Resolution 3.14 of the
General Conference;
(b) that, moreover, the construction of a footpath along the ha-`Ofel road by
the Israeli occupying authorities has brought about the destruction of old
graves in the Muslim Cemetery, and caused very extensive and irreparable
damage to the landscape of the Old City of Jerusalem and that, indeed, the
work now being completed has been the cause of the irremediable loss of
one of Jerusalem's most essential treasures of landscape and history during
this century;
(c) that to date no comprehensive plan has been drawn up for the purpose of
making an inventory of the cultural property of the Old City of Jerusalem
151 EX/Decisions - page 12
and working out safeguarding measures, despite the relevant decisions and
resolutions of the Executive Board and of the General Conference;
9. Notes with satisfaction the progress of the restoration work on the al- Saram ash-
SharŒf, the Sammam al-`Ain and the precious manuscripts of the al-Aq Z…
mosque and the compilation of a catalogue of the collection of old Koranic
manuscripts housed in al- Saram ash-SharŒf;
10. Thanks the Heads of State and Government, the organizations and the legal
entities and private individuals that have contributed to the Special Account for
the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem;
11. Appeals for further contributions to that Special Account;
12. Thanks the Director-General for the praiseworthy efforts that he ceaselessly
expends in order to ensure the full implementation of UNESCO's decisions and
resolutions with a view to the safeguarding of the cultural aspects, features and
property of the Old City of Jerusalem;
13. Requests him to take the necessary measures to:
(a) ensure the implementation of 150 EX/Decision 3.4.3 concerning the
opening of an entrance to the tunnel running along the western wall of
al- Saram ash-SharŒf;
(b) remedy the harmful consequences for the balance of the landscape and the
environment of the Old City of Jerusalem, in particular for the al- Saram
ash-SharŒf, of the construction under way of the footpath between the
western wall of the al- Saram and the ha-`Ofel road;
(c) give instructions for the drawing up of a comprehensive plan for the
purpose of making an inventory of the cultural property of the Old City of
Jerusalem and working out safeguarding measures, such action to be
possibly preceded by a preliminary study with a view to determining the
necessary ways and means of drawing up such a comprehensive plan;
(d) continue his representations to the supreme religious authorities concerned
with a view to undertaking the study on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
and to report to it at its 152nd session;
14. Decides to place this item on the agenda of its 152nd session.
(151 EX/SR.11 and 13)
3.3.2 Report by the Director-General on the findings of the meeting of experts
concerning the preparation of an international instrument for the protection of
the underwater cultural heritage (151 EX/10 and Add. and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined the feasibility study submitted by the Director-General on the
drafting of an international standard-setting instrument for the protection of the
underwater cultural heritage (146 EX/27), the report of the meeting of experts
151 EX/Decisions - page 13
for the protection of the underwater cultural heritage held at Headquarters from
22 to 24 May 1996 (151 EX/10, Annex I) and the comments of states on that
report,
2. Taking note of 28 C/Resolution 3.13 inviting the Director-General to report back
to the twenty-ninth session in order to enable the General Conference at that
session to determine whether it is desirable for the matter to be dealt with on an
international basis and also which method should be adopted for this purpose,
3. Recommends that the General Conference request the Director-General to
prepare, in close co-operation with the United Nations division responsible for
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and taking account of the
comments of Member States, a first draft convention concerning the protection of
the underwater cultural heritage, and to convene a small group of governmental
experts representing all regions together with representatives of the competent
international organizations in order to consider this draft convention for
submission to the General Conference at its thirtieth session;
4. Urges Member States to take immediate measures, within their jurisdiction and
through international co-operation, to ensure that damage to the underwater
cultural heritage is limited until such time as a convention is adopted.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.3.3 Feasibility study on the establishment of an International Institute of
Comparative Civilization at Takshaschila (Taxila, Pakistan) (151 EX/11 and
151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Recalling 28 C/Resolution 3.7 in which the General Conference requests the
Director-General to help Pakistan undertake a feasibility study on the
establishment of an International Institute of Comparative Civilization at
Takshaschila (Taxila) and to submit the findings of that study to the Executive
Board,
2. Having examined document 151 EX/11,
3. Shares the conclusion of the study that the establishment of such an international
institute is both feasible and highly desirable;
4. Invites the Director-General to work out in greater detail the practical aspects
including the funding of this project and the precise details regarding the nature
of its collaboration with the International Institute for Central Asian Studies in
Samarkand and to submit them along with this study to the General Conference
at its twenty-ninth session;
5. Recommends that the General Conference examine this study and, in case of a
favourable recommendation, invite the Member States to contribute financially
and technically to the establishment of the institute.
151 EX/Decisions - page 14
3.3.4 Follow-up to the Report of the World Commission on Culture and Development
(151 EX/12 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Considering the debates in the Executive Board on the content and
implementation of the recommendations of the report `Our Creative Diversity',
2. Considering also the proposals contained in the Draft Programme and Budget
concerning the implementing of that report (29 C/5, para. 03028), particularly as
regards the drafting of UNESCO's biennial report on culture,
3. Recommends to the Director-General that the biennial UNESCO World Culture
Report should be drafted by a team of scientifically recognized experts set up
with due regard for equitable geographical distribution, and that the Member
States should be invited to participate actively in the preparation of the report, in
particular, if they so wish, by drawing up national reports, providing data and
information, developing cultural indicators and presenting the best local practices
in this field.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.3.5 Invitations to the Stockholm intergovernmental conference on cultural policies
for development (151 EX/13 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Considering that, at its 150th session, it invited the Director-General to convene,
in 1998, an international conference (category II) on cultural policies,
2. Having examined document 150 EX/13,
3. Decides that:
(a) invitations to participate in the intergovernmental conference on cultural
policies for development with the right to vote will be sent to all the
Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO;
(b) invitations to send observers to the conference will be sent to the states
referred to in paragraph 9 of document 151 EX/13;
(c) an invitation to send observers to the conference will be sent to Palestine,
as indicated in paragraph 10 of document 151 EX/13;
(d) invitations to send representatives to the conference will be sent to the
organizations of the United Nations system referred to in paragraph 11 of
document 151 EX/13;
(e) invitations to send observers to the conference will be sent to the
intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations listed
in paragraph 13 of document 151 EX/13;
151 EX/Decisions - page 15
(f) the Director-General is authorized to issue any other invitations to any
international non-governmental organization not listed in paragraph 13 of
the document whose participation he may deem conducive to the work of
the intergovernmental conference on cultural policies for development.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.3.6 Amendment of the Statutes of the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts
(151 EX/46 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/46,
2. Decides to continue the examination of the proposed amendments to the Statutes
of the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts at its 152nd session.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.4 Communication
3.4.1 Project to establish a film bank and database for the use of the public television
channels of developing countries (151 EX/14, 151 EX/INF.6 and 151 EX/51 and
Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/14 on the establishment of a film bank and
database for the use of the public television channels of developing countries,
2. Thanks the International Radio and Television University (URTI) and the author
of the study for the quality of their work;
3. Recognizing the importance of this initiative, which could result in an ambitious
cultural project, and conscious that its implementation would have significant
implications in terms of human and financial resources,
4. Stressing the importance of associating in this project not only professional media
organizations, but also governments, foundations and possible sponsors,
5. Thanks the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the
Development of Communication (IPDC) for its co-operation and appeals to it to
consider the possibility of contributing to the financing of the project;
6. Invites the Director-General to:
(a) specify the objectives and modalities for establishing such a bank and its
database;
(b) continue contacts with all possible partners;
(c) study the advisability of organizing a meeting with interested countries and
bodies;
151 EX/Decisions - page 16
(d) draw up detailed financial estimates and a financing plan;
(e) report on the results achieved to it at its 154th session.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.4.2 Regulations for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
(151 EX/15 and 151 EX/INF.12)
The Executive Board,
1. Recalling 150 EX/Decision 3.1, part IV, and 25 C/Resolution 104,
2. Having examined the Director-General's report on the institution of the
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize and the Regulations
proposed for this Prize (151 EX/15),
3. Approves the Regulations for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press
Freedom Prize contained in the Annex to this decision;
4. Invites the Director-General to take the necessary steps for the administration of
the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.
ANNEX
Regulations for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano
World Press Freedom Prize
Definition
UNESCO has established an annual World Press Freedom Prize, the
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Prize, in honour of the Colombian journalist who died in the
exercise of his profession.
Purpose
This Prize is intended to honour, each year, a person, organization or institution that
has made a notable contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom
anywhere in the world, especially if this involved risk.
Amount and financing
The prizewinner shall receive the sum of US $25,000, together with an object
symbolizing the award. The Cano Foundation undertakes to contribute annually
US $12,500 to a special account created for the Prize, which may also receive
voluntary contributions from public or private institutions, associations, foundations,
corporate entities or persons.
Nominations of candidates
Member States, and international and regional professional and non-governmental
organizations working in the field of journalism and freedom of expression may
151 EX/Decisions - page 17
nominate candidates for the Prize. They must explain their choice in writing, in English
or French. Nominations should be submitted to the Director-General. No Member
State or organization may submit more than three candidates in the same year.
The Jury
The Prize Jury shall be composed of two members from each of the six regions as
defined by UNESCO, in other words 12 persons appointed in their individual capacity
by the Director-General of UNESCO, and two representatives of the Cano Foundation.
In addition, the Director-General of UNESCO or his designated representative shall
serve as Secretary to the Jury. The Jury shall adopt its rules of procedure which may in
no way contravene the provisions of these Regulations. The Director-General shall
nominate the prize-winner on the recommendation of the Jury.
Schedule
Nominations shall reach the Director-General every year before 31 October. He shall
communicate them to the President of the Jury by 15 December at the latest. The Jury
shall meet on or about 15 February to vote and inform the Director-General of its
choice. The formal ceremony for the award of the Prize by the Director-General shall
take place on the following 3 May during the celebration of World Press Freedom Day,
to be organized at UNESCO in Paris or elsewhere.
Changes to the Regulations
The Director-General, after consulting the Jury, shall submit any changes to these
Regulations to the Executive Board.
(151 EX/SR.15)
3.4.3 Implementation of 150 EX/Decision 3.5.1 concerning the challenges of the
information highways: the role of UNESCO (151 EX/16 and Add. and 151 EX/51
and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/16 and Add.,
2. Expresses its appreciation to the Director-General for the efforts undertaken to
implement 150 EX/Decision 3.5.1 with a view to ensuring that UNESCO plays a
pioneering role in the use of the information highways for education, science,
culture, communication and information;
3. Takes note with interest of the strategy proposed for facing the challenge of the
information highways in the next biennium; and welcomes the Director-General's
proposals for action to implement this strategy, taking into account the views
expressed by the Members of the Executive Board at its 151st session;
4. Invites the Director-General:
(a) to continue his efforts to ensure inter-agency co-operation as well as
intersectorality and interdisciplinarity in the use of information and
151 EX/Decisions - page 18
communication technologies including information highways for education,
science, culture, communication and information; and
(b) to undertake, with regard to the envisaged new activities, in-depth
consultations with Member States, National Commissions and competent
organizations in order to establish priorities according to the needs of
Member States;
5. Also invites the Director-General to collect existing cyberspace codes of practice
through other international organizations, so that due account may be taken of
them in UNESCO's work;
6. Further invites the Director-General to report to it at its 154th session on the
activities carried out since the 151st session.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.5 Social and human sciences
3.5.1 Tuning in to youth: how to involve it in UNESCO's ideals (151 EX/17 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/17 and Corr.,
2. Taking into consideration the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year
2000 and Beyond adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in
1995, and stressing the important role incumbent upon UNESCO in its
implementation,
3. Reaffirms that youth is a permanent priority in all of UNESCO's actions;
4. Considers that, in the activities on the theme of youth, fuller use should be made
of the potential of the National Commissions, Associated Schools, Clubs and
Associations, and UNESCO Chairs;
5. Invites the Director-General to continue his activities in connection with the
implementation of the Programme of Action on the basis of a cohesive
conception of the Organization's activities for youth as one of its priority groups;
6. Also invites the Director-General to pursue his efforts for young people, with due
regard for their aspirations and for the research findings of the behavioural
sciences related to child, adolescent and young adult development.
(151 EX/SR.16)
3.5.2 Draft Declaration on the Safeguarding of Future Generations (151 EX/18 and
151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined the general lines of the draft Declaration on the Safeguarding of
Future Generations,
151 EX/Decisions - page 19
2. Taking into account the fundamental ethical mission of UNESCO,
3. Invites the Director-General to convene an open-ended working group composed
of governmental experts, representing all the electoral groups, to continue the
examination of the draft, duly taking into consideration the replies by the Member
States to the Director-General's letter of 16 January 1997, as well as
observations and suggestions communicated to the Executive Board during the
present session; the chairperson of the working group to report to the Board at
its 152nd session.
(151 EX/SR.13)
3.5.3 Restructuring of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and
Sport (CIGEPS) and the International Fund for the Development of Physical
Education and Sport (FIDEPS) (151 EX/19 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/19 regarding the proposed restructuring of
the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS)
and the International Fund for the Development of Physical Education and Sport
(FIDEPS),
2. Recalling that the General Conference wished FIDEPS to be restructured
(28 C/Resolution 2.11),
3. Considering that the proposals of the CIGEPS Bureau and the FIDEPS Board in
this regard are better adapted to the realities and current requirements of physical
education and sports activities,
4. Welcomes the measures taken in order to provide CIGEPS and FIDEPS with a
more flexible, revitalized and less costly structure designed to make their action
more effective and more relevant;
5. Invites the Director-General to submit to the General Conference at its twentyninth
session the proposals formulated by the CIGEPS Bureau and the FIDEPS
Board, for the restructuring of CIGEPS and FIDEPS and the revision of their
Statutes.
(151 EX/SR.13)
4 MATTERS RELATING TO NORMS, STATUTES AND REGULATIONS
4.1 Report by the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations: Examination
of the communications transmitted to the Committee in pursuance of
104 EX/Decision 3.3 (151 EX/CR/HR and Addenda and 151 EX/3 PRIV.)
The announcement appearing at the end of these decisions reports on the Board's
deliberations on this subject.
(151 EX/SR.12)
151 EX/Decisions - page 20
5 DRAFT PROGRAMME AND BUDGET FOR 1998-1999 (29 C/5)
5.1 Consideration of the Draft Programme and Budget for 1998-1999 (29 C/5, Corr.
(Technical Annex) and Corr. 2, 151 EX/FA/INF.2, 151 EX/INF.10, 151 EX/INF.11,
151 EX/50 and 151 EX/51 and Corr.)
A
Recommendations by the Executive Board on the
Draft Programme and Budget for 1998-1999
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined the Draft Programme and Budget for 1998-1999 (29 C/5),1
2. Bearing in mind the orientations set out in the Medium-Term Strategy for 1996-
2001 (28 C/4 Approved),
3. Recalling 150 EX/Decision 5.1 concerning the Draft Programme and Budget for
1998-1999,
4. Appreciating the efforts made to improve the readability of document 29 C/5 and
to present a considerable amount of information, including comparative data from
document 28 C/5, useful for understanding the proposals made,
5. Reaffirming the recommendations contained in paragraphs 71 and 72 of
150 EX/Decision 5.1, and considering that the efforts for improvement should be
continued, in particular with a view to defining more precisely the activities
geared to the objectives to be attained and the results expected during a given
biennial period, indicating the costs and the necessary resources, and, where
possible, the proposed duration of the projects; and specifying more clearly the
results expected from co-operation with major international, governmental and
non-governmental partners,
6. Stressing the need to establish and develop efficient systems for monitoring,
reporting and evaluation, with a view to guiding the adjustments to be made at
appropriate times and to facilitating the monitoring of programme execution by
the governing bodies; and consequently to reinforce the Central Evaluation Unit,
7. Submits to the General Conference the Draft Programme and Budget for 1998-
1999 (29 C/5), together with the following recommendations, for examination
and for decision on the programme and budget to be adopted;2
I
Major Programme I - Education for all throughout life
8. Welcomes the budget reinforcement proposed for this major programme;
1. Composed of three documents: Draft Programme and Budget for 1998-1999; Technical Annex and
Proposed Resolutions.
2. In conformity with Article IV.B, paragraph 2, and Article V.B, paragraph 6, of the Constitution.
151 EX/Decisions - page 21
9. Reaffirms that the highest priority should be given to basic education for all in
line with the Framework of Action adopted at the Jomtien World Conference on
Education for All (March 1990), and that special emphasis should be placed on
the educational needs of girls and women and of disadvantaged and marginalized
youth, including school drop-outs and street and working children;
10. Welcomes the importance given to the strengthening of the follow-up to the
Education-for-All Initiative of the nine high-population countries, and
recommends that efforts should be intensified to promote basic education for all
in these nine countries, in Africa and in the least-developed countries, particularly
as regards education of girls and women, literacy and teacher training;
11. Reaffirms the need to strengthen early childhood education, special needs
education and preventive education;
12. Recommends that innovative actions, employing, inter alia, distance education,
be undertaken to reinforce literacy, post-literacy and basic adult education as well
as skills training and continuing education, taking into account the conclusions
and recommendations of the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education
(Hamburg, July 1997);
13. Stresses the importance that should be attached to improving the quality and
relevance of basic education, putting emphasis on basic scientific literacy and
practical skills for daily life and employment, adapted to the specific needs and
language of the learners;
14. Reaffirms the importance of promoting reflection and debate in Member States
on the Report of the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first
Century with a view to fostering the reform of education systems to meet present
and future challenges;
15. Recommends that increased emphasis be placed on promoting science and
technology education, particularly at primary and secondary levels, and on
strengthening technical and vocational education, in particular through the
reinforcement of the UNEVOC project and of its regional approach; recommends
further, in this context, the development of a model for technical and vocational
education and training for the Asia-Pacific region;
16. Recognizing the vital role of teachers in ensuring the quality and relevance of
education, stresses the need to reinforce Member States' capacity to strengthen
teacher education and to improve their status as a follow-up to the conclusions
and recommendations of the 45th session of the International Conference on
Education;
17. Welcomes the emphasis placed on the renewal of universities and other higher
education institutions and recommends, to this end, the convening of a World
Conference on Higher Education in 1998;
18. Reaffirms the importance of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs programme in
fostering inter-university co-operation and the transfer of knowledge, and
stresses, in this regard, the need to develop further the concept and the criteria
for selecting appropriate institutions, in close collaboration with competent
151 EX/Decisions - page 22
international institutions and organizations such as the United Nations University,
paying particular attention to ensuring a better balance in the geographical
distribution of Chairs and in the subjects or themes covered by them;
19. Emphasizes the importance of encouraging Member States to mobilize the
various segments of civil society with a view to their participation in the
development of education;
20. Recommends that continued efforts be made to mobilize the support of
institutional partners of the United Nations system, intergovernmental
organizations, regional development banks as well as bilateral donors in attaining
the goal of basic education for all, to enhance inter-agency co-operation and, to
that end, to jointly prepare for a follow-up conference to the Jomtien World
Conference on Education for All;
21. Reiterates, in this connection, the appeal addressed by the International
Conference on Education at its 45th session(October 1996), to international
organizations and donors to support educational projects in developing countries,
particularly in Africa, the Education-for-All project and the E-9 initiative for
education without frontiers;
22. Considers that a more coherent approach should be achieved for the UNESCO
education institutes - including those whose establishment as UNESCO institutes
is proposed to the General Conference (the Institute for Information
Technologies in Education - Moscow) or is under consideration (the International
Research and Training Centre for Rural Education - Baoding, China and the
International Institute for Peace and Capacity-building - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) -
with a view to ensuring a clear division of tasks and avoiding duplication of
efforts among the institutes and vis-…-vis the Secretariat;
23. Underlines the need to allocate to all these institutes the necessary resources so
that they may discharge, with maximum efficiency, all the tasks assigned to them
by the General Conference;
Major Programme II - The sciences in the service of development
24. Reaffirms the importance that should be attached to improving university-level
teaching and research in basic and engineering sciences, to strengthening cooperation
with competent scientific networks and institutions, such as the Interregional
Network of Scientists of Latin America and the Caribbean, and to
supporting the development of new national, regional and international scientific
networks - both South-South and South-North;
25. Considers that the objectives of the World Science Conference to be held in 1999
should be more clearly defined, indicating the complementary roles of the natural
and the social and human sciences, in collaboration with the International Council
of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and with other partners (relevant institutions of the
United Nations system as well as competent intergovernmental and nongovernmental
organizations); recommends that a wide range of expertise drawn,
on a balanced basis, from all regions of the world be associated with the
preparation of this conference, including in the framework of the International
Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB); recommends also that collaboration with
151 EX/Decisions - page 23
partner institutions should be reinforced in preparing the conference and in
ensuring its follow-up;
26. Stresses the need to clarify further - before its establishment - the mandate of the
proposed World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and
Technology, in the light inter alia of the conclusions of the special session of the
United Nations General Assembly on sustainable development (June, 1997) and
of the expected outcome of the World Science Conference; recommends that this
Commission should have a flexible and transparent structure, enabling it to have
recourse to networking with corresponding members in the different regions, and
to associate with its work the International Council of Philosophy and Human
Sciences (ICPHS), the International Council of Social Sciences (ICSS) and the
International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), other competent scientific
institutions and the five intergovernmental scientific programmes of UNESCO,
with a view to avoiding duplication of efforts;
27. Recommends that efforts should be intensified to strengthen co-operation
between university and industry, especially in developing countries and the LDCs,
through the UNISPAR programme;
28. Welcomes the support envisaged for the maintenance of scientific equipment in
developing countries, particularly in Africa, and reiterates its recommendation to
encourage the Director-General to reinforce the involvement of all the Sectors,
with the Member States concerned, in the development and implementation of
activities and training related to the umbrella project `Culture of maintenance'
and to ensure appropriate interdisciplinary and intersectoral co-ordination;1
29. Reaffirms the importance that should be attached to the implementation of the
World Solar Programme 1996-2005 and recommends that efforts should be
strengthened to sensitize Member States and international financial institutions to
the importance of implementing the 300 projects proposed under the World Solar
Programme; recommends further that UNESCO collaborate more closely with
competent institutions of the United Nations system with a view to transforming
the programme into a joint United Nations endeavour and to ensuring funding
necessary for its implementation both from regular and extrabudgetary resources.
Particular attention should be paid to ensuring the successful launching of the
global renewable energy education and training programme and facilitating, in
liaison with its Chairman, the activation of the African Solar Council;
30. While reaffirming its adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
stresses the need for ensuring respect for pluralism and cultural diversity in the
implementation of the project on `universal ethics' which should contribute
towards reinforcing the dialogue between cultures, ensuring a deeper knowledge
and a better understanding of their most fundamental values;
31. Reaffirms the importance of philosophy education and recommends that the
activities aimed at improving philosophy curricula at all levels of education be
reinforced, as appropriate, through the creation of UNESCO Chairs in
philosophy, particularly in developing countries, and the development of
networks for philosophy education;
1. In line with 151 EX/Decision 10.4.
151 EX/Decisions - page 24
32. Reaffirms the need to develop transdisciplinary approaches to facilitate the
sustainable management of complex environmental issues and welcomes in this
connection the initiatives taken in the framework of the two intersectoral projects
(`Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands', and
`Cities: management of social transformations and the environment');
recommends that the use of such approaches be extended to other activities,
including those on behalf of population groups affected by natural hazards or
technological disasters, placing emphasis on the preventive dimension of such
activities; recommends the reinforcement of the activities relating to regions
prone to natural disasters, under Programme II.4.2, `Earth sciences, earth system
management and natural hazards'; and stresses the need in this context to take
into account the conclusions of the Rio +5 conference to be held in June 1997;
33. Stresses, in view of the growing scarcity of water resources worldwide, the
importance that should be attached in document 29 C/5 to developing an
integrated approach to the management of ground, surface and fresh water
resources, in both rural and urban areas, in order to enhance their sustainable use;
34. Stresses the importance of the activities under TEMA (Training, Education and
Mutual Assistance in the Marine Sciences) within the programme of the
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission;
35. Welcomes the recapitulatory table, as presented in the Technical Annex of
document 29 C/5 (paras. 284-293), as an instrument for enhancing the visibility
and coherence of all of UNESCO's activities in the social and human sciences,
including human rights and philosophy and ethics; in this context, the reestablishment
of a major programme in social and human sciences should not be
ruled out;
36. Notes with satisfaction the budgetary reinforcement proposed for the activities in
the field of social and human sciences, and in particular those under the MOST
programme;
37. Underlines the need to reorient UNESCO's activities so as to meet better the
interests, needs and aspirations of youth and to identify more effective ways of
associating closely young people and youth organizations from all regions of the
world in the design and implementation of activities in all of UNESCO's
programmes, especially those in favour of youth;
Major Programme III - Cultural development: the heritage and creativity
38. Stresses the importance of reinforcing intercultural dialogue as a factor of peace,
tolerance and mutual understanding among peoples;
39. Recommends that an evaluation be carried out of the World Decade for Cultural
Development, which comes to an end in 1997, with a view to identifying the most
appropriate means for continuing to foster the acknowledgement of the cultural
dimension of development;
40. Stresses the importance of encouraging the continuation of discussions and
reflection in Member States on the questions raised in the Report of the World
151 EX/Decisions - page 25
Commission on Culture and Development, `Our Creative Diversity', and of
making the results of such discussions and reflection available to Member States;
41. Recommends that measures be taken to ensure the appropriate follow-up to the
recommendations of the Conference on Cultural Life in Central and East
European countries (Budapest, 1997) and the Intergovernmental Conference on
Cultural Policies for Development (Stockholm, 1998);
42. Considers that the World Culture Report, which should take full account of
cultural and linguistic diversity, should contribute to the improvement of
international cultural statistics, to the elaboration of national and international
cultural indicators and to the development of innovative cultural policies;
43. Recommends that in the proposals concerning the safeguarding of the natural and
cultural heritage, care be taken to use terminology which clearly reflects the spirit
of international co-operation enshrined in UNESCO's Constitution;
44. Recommends that, in the framework of the action for the safeguarding and
revitalization of the intangible heritage, emphasis should be placed on the
preservation of oral traditions, and endangered languages and forms of cultural
expression, in particular those of minorities and indigenous peoples; recommends
also that the Harare Conference on Linguistic Policies in Africa (March, 1997) be
appropriately followed up;
45. Recommends further that support be given to the study of the impact of historical
gardens on societies in Central and South Asia and their role in modern times as
centres of cultural tourism, with a view to declaring one such garden as a regional
research centre;
46. Notes with satisfaction the new emphasis placed in document 29 C/5, under
Programme III.2, `Promotion of living cultures', on the role of traditional
cultures in fostering creativity, and in this context recommends the strengthening
of existing networks;
Major Programme IV - Communication, information and informatics
47. Reaffirms the importance of the two components of UNESCO's strategy in the
area of communication, information and informatics: to promote the free flow of
information and to broaden access to it; and to strengthen the capacities of
Member States, especially developing countries;
48. Recalls the priority to be given to the promotion of the freedom of expression and
the freedom of the press as well as the pluralism and the independence of the
media;
49. Stresses the importance of actions aimed at encouraging the reduction of violence
in the media, especially on the screen, and at identifying ways and means of
protecting children; and recommends that in close co-operation with Major
Programme I, these actions be further developed within a more encompassing
concept of media education;
151 EX/Decisions - page 26
50. Welcomes activities aimed at enhancing the role of women in the media,
particularly through the WOMMED/FEMMED network;
51. Welcomes the extended mandate of the General Information Programme (PGI),
which meets the new needs of Member States and stresses the necessity to
provide it with support through extrabudgetary resources;
52. Reaffirms the importance of the role of libraries and emphasizes the necessity to
provide support for the `Reading for All' initiative to enhance access to reading
for all classes of society, particularly in developing countries;
53. Stresses the importance of the Memory of the World Programme for ensuring the
preservation and diffusion of important and/or endangered works, which form
part of the heritage of humanity and which are held in museums, libraries and
audiovisual or print archives; stresses also the need to clarify further the criteria
for selection of such works and to address legal questions relating to the use of
documents placed on the Internet; and considers that this programme should be
further strengthened with support from extrabudgetary resources;
54. Emphasizes the priority that should be given to the development of archives in
Member States and expresses the wish, in this connection, that efforts be pursued
to improve the quality of the archival services of UNESCO;
55. Notes the importance attached to reflection on the ethical and socio-cultural
challenges of the information society and to the possibilities that the new
information and communication technologies offer for the development of
education, science and culture; and stresses the need for intersectoral
collaboration in the implementation of the proposed actions, as well as interagency
co-operation in this area;
56. Reaffirms that a high priority should continue to be given to strengthening the
capacities of Member States, particularly developing countries, in the fields of
communication, information and informatics, with emphasis on training, and
welcomes the budgetary reinforcement proposed for these activities;
recommends, in this connection, the organization of regional seminars for training
informatics professionals in the use of information highways for education,
training and research purposes;
57. Considers in particular that, while supporting the access of developing countries
to new information and communication technologies, the Organization should
continue its action to promote the development of print media, radio and
television, and underlines in this regard, the importance of training in the use and
maintenance of equipment;
Transdisciplinary projects and activities
Educating for a sustainable future (environment, population, development)
58. Reaffirms, while noting the recommendations of the external evaluation recently
carried out, that the transdisciplinary project `Educating for a sustainable future'
should be reoriented and focus its action primarily on education, and recommends
that the project should be based on intersectoral and inter-agency collaboration;
151 EX/Decisions - page 27
Towards a culture of peace
59. Reaffirms that all of UNESCO's activities ought to contribute to peace in
accordance with the constitutional mandate of the Organization and therefore
whilst expressing its agreement with the objectives of the transdisciplinary project
`Towards a culture of peace', considers that the conceptual basis of the project
needs to be further developed and that the `added value' it brings to UNESCO's
action for peace needs to be more clearly demonstrated; therefore proposes that
the General Conference invite the Director-General to submit a thorough
evaluation report on this project to the Executive Board at its 155th session;
60. Recommends that priority be given to concrete activities, such as the Associated
Schools Project;
61. Reaffirms that co-operation with armed forces should fall clearly within the fields
of UNESCO's competence and that initiatives in this regard should only be
undertaken in close co-operation with the Member States and through the usual
channels of communication;
62. Notes with satisfaction the proposal to concentrate efforts and resources on
action in the fields of education and training for peace, human rights, democracy,
tolerance and international understanding; underlines the importance of
elaborating teaching materials and pedagogical aids in these fields, and
recommends that priority be given to their translation into different languages as
well as to their dissemination in all regions;
63. Recommends also that support be given to the efforts of Member States aimed at
promoting linguistic diversity in education, in particular through teachers'
exchange programmes;
64. Stresses the importance of initiatives taken in Member States or through bilateral
or multilateral co-operation which aim at fostering research, the sharing of
knowledge and teaching in the fields of history and geography, including the
revision of textbooks and curricula - which deserve full support by UNESCO;
65. Considers that the activities that will be carried out by UNESCO on the occasion
of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should
focus on making better known the existing normative instruments relevant to
UNESCO's fields of competence, with particular attention to those relating to
women, and recommends that these activities be carried out in close co-operation
with the other institutions of the United Nations system;
66. Recommends that the activities relating to the struggle against all forms of
racism, intolerance and discrimination, as well as those aimed at promoting
intercultural and inter-faith dialogue be reinforced;
67. Stresses the importance of ensuring an appropriate follow-up to the
implementation of the Action Plan of the International Year for Tolerance,
including the celebration of the International Day for Tolerance (16 November),
in particular through the establishment and development of networks for
tolerance in different regions;
151 EX/Decisions - page 28
68. Recommends that a programme for the reconstruction of peace and democracy
for sustainable development in the Great Lakes region of Africa be developed
within UNESCO's fields of competence, and in partnership with the other
international organizations concerned and Member States;
69. Further recommends that, in close co-operation with the competent authorities of
the Republic of Albania and in close co-ordination with the other international
organizations concerned, a plan of action be implemented for the rehabilitation of
educational, cultural and scientific institutions and the restoration of the cultural
and architectural heritage of Albania;
70. Recommends, lastly, that, in the framework of the intercultural project on the
`Slave Route', support be given, in addition to that provided to the Gor‚e
Memorial, to other memorial sites, locations and institutions of historic
importance in all regions of the world, such as the Museum and the International
Centre for Studies and Research on the black Diaspora and its relations with
Africa, in Ouidah (Benin), the Museum of Matanzas (Cuba) and the Museum of
the Croix de Bosales (Haiti);
Fellowship and Equipment Services
71. Stresses the need, in the management of the fellowships as well as study and
travel grants provided under the regular programme and extrabudgetary
resources, to give priority to requests emanating from young people;
Priority Africa Department
72. Recommends:
(a) to assign to the Priority Africa Department, in addition to the tasks already
envisaged, a mission of forward and future-oriented thinking on the
development of the situation now prevailing in Africa, in order to make the
Organization's policies and activities correspond more closely to it;
(b) to entrust the Priority Africa Department with the implementation of a
limited number of specific projects, five at most, that should be identified in
the light of the priorities required by the new African context and whose
results should be measurable within a specified time;
(c) to envisage that the continuation of the Priority Africa Programme, in view
of its exceptional nature, should be limited in time (six years at most) so as
to enable a full evaluation to be carried out;
Participation Programme
73. Welcomes the establishment of a separate budget line for the Participation
Programme, as a measure which should lead to further improving the functioning
of this programme as a means of enhancing the participation of Member States
and their National Commissions in achieving UNESCO's objectives, and
recommends that the Participation Programme be presented under a separate
section of Part II.A of the Programme and Budget;
151 EX/Decisions - page 29
New Partnerships
74. Notes with satisfaction the emphasis placed, in document 29 C/5, on mobilizing
new partners within civil society, and reaffirms the need to ensure that such
partnerships are forged through co-operation with the National Commissions
which, as principal focal points for UNESCO's activities in Member States, are
essential actors in the decentralization process and have a vital role to play in
facilitating interactive relations among the Organization's various national
partners and in promoting public awareness of its ideals and activities;
II
75. Having examined the Draft Programme and Budget for 1998-1999 (29 C/5, Corr.
(Technical Annex) and Corr.2), prepared by the Director-General and submitted
to the Executive Board in accordance with Article VI.3(a) of the Constitution,
76. Submits, as provided for in Article V.6(a) of the Constitution, this draft with the
following recommendations to the General Conference for approval;
77. Noting that document 29 C/5 presented in three volumes contains additional
useful information and is more readable and transparent,
78. Further noting that most of the directives contained in 150 EX/Decision 5.1,
paragraph 83, have been applied by the Director-General,
79. Noting with regret the continuing presence of a large number of high-level posts
in the Secretariat and the new proposal in document 29 C/5 which would further
aggravate this situation,
80. Recalling its recommendation to the Director-General as contained in
150 EX/Decision 5.1, especially paragraphs 73 to 76, to prepare a Draft
Programme and Budget for 1998-1999 (29 C/5) of up to but not in any
circumstances exceeding $544,367,250,
81. Drawing the attention of the General Conference to the downward trend of
budgets of international organizations, in particular those of the United Nations
system, to nominal zero growth and even less, and to the desire of certain
Member States to maintain nominal zero growth for the budget of UNESCO,
82. Further drawing the attention of the General Conference to the similar trend in
national budgets of almost all Member States, caused by the severe financial
constraints they are facing,
83. Also drawing the attention of the General Conference to the strong wish of
Members of the Executive Board to restrict the budget for 1998-1999 to a level
reflecting the above considerations,
84. Recommends that the General Conference approve a budget ceiling which under
no circumstances exceeds $544,367,250 for the biennium 1998-1999;
85. Recommends that the General Conference examine different options within this
limit;
151 EX/Decisions - page 30
86. Considers that, in the appropriation resolution, it is necessary to stipulate the
number of established posts for the 1998-1999 biennium, including the staff
assigned to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the
World Heritage Centre (WHC);
87. Recommends that the same resolution should indicate the posts assigned to the
International Bureau of Education (IBE), the International Institute for
Educational Planning (IIEP) and the UNESCO Institute for Education (UIE);
88. Considers that the amounts earmarked for the operations of IOC and WHC
should not under any circumstances be modified by transferring funds to other
Parts of the budget;
89. Recommends that the General Conference should consider that all parts of
document 29 C/5 form an integral whole and, as such, should be subjected to
formal approval in accordance with Article IV, paragraph 2, and Article IX,
paragraph 2, of the Constitution;
90. Further recommends that the General Conference decide to publish the approved
29 C/5 documents in a one-volume format, which would be more user-friendly
for partners of the Organization in Member States;
91. Invites the General Conference to include within the budget ceiling the expenses
mentioned in paragraph 1804 of the Technical Annex of document 29 C/5;
recommends that it provide within the 29 C/5 budget ceiling a budgetary line of
$8.7 million for inside and outside structural repairs (for safety reasons), and not
for embellishments, and for the complete cabling of Headquarters; it being
understood that this amount could nevertheless be revised subsequently, in the
light of the Director-General's report on the progress of work;
92. Recommends that the General Conference invite the Director-General to execute
in an effective and rational manner the programme of work and budget approved
within funds available from assessed contributions and miscellaneous income and
to restrict the periods and amounts of external and internal borrowing to the strict
minimum with a view to phasing out external borrowing as soon as possible;
93. Recommends also that the General Conference invite the Director-General to
continue to fully participate in the common services of the Joint Machinery of the
United Nations system, including the Administrative Tribunal of the International
Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, and to continue his efforts to help
improve those services;
94. Further recommends to the General Conference that, except for Part VII, no
transfer modifying the amounts originally approved for each appropriation line by
more than 10 per cent may be made; recommends lastly that necessary rules for
budgetary transfers be established in the Financial Regulations.
(151 EX/SR.14, 15, 16 and 17)
151 EX/Decisions - page 31
B
Administrative Tribunal of the
International Labour Organization (ILOAT)
The Executive Board,
1. Recalling that UNESCO has recognized the jurisdiction of the Administrative
Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT) since 1953,
2. Taking note of the Director-General's explanations and comments concerning the
procedures of the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour
Organization (ILOAT) in Geneva, in particular those relating to the review of
judgements,
3. Taking into account the observations of the Members of the Executive Board
during the current session,
4. Requests the Director-General to submit to it at its 152nd session a report
enabling it to consider the matter in greater depth.
(151 EX/SR.17)
6 METHODS OF WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION
6.1 Study on possible ways of limiting the number of draft resolutions and
amendments to be submitted by a single Member State (151 EX/20 and
151 EX/48)
and
6.2 Conclusions of the ad hoc working group established to examine the structure
and function of the General Conference (151 EX/21 and 151 EX/48)
The Executive Board,
1. Having examined document 151 EX/20,
2. Having also examined the report of the ad hoc working group on the structure
and function of the General Conference (151 EX/21), set up and chaired by the
President of the twenty-eighth session of the General Conference in pursuance of
28 C/Resolution 37.2,
3. Thanking the President of the twenty-eighth session of the General Conference
and Chairperson of the ad hoc working group for his presentation of the report to
the Special Committee and for the explanations provided by him at the request of
its members,
4. Emphasizing with satisfaction the quality of the work accomplished by the
members of the group, whose conclusions suggest tangible ways in which the
General Conference could improve its functioning and its effectiveness as the
Organization's main decision-making body,
151 EX/Decisions - page 32
5. Considers that the working group, by addressing fully all the problems relating to
the structure and function of the General Conference, has fulfilled the mandate
entrusted to it by the latter;
6. Expresses appreciation of the report as a whole and recommends that the General
Conference adopt the recommendations contained therein, taking into
consideration the following observations and suggestions:
Unit I - Planning, programming and evaluation; the process of preparing
decisions
Recommendation No. 1
(a) The recommended consultations should continue through the second half of
the first year of each biennium.
(b) It would be desirable to update the Medium-Term Strategy every two years
(see page 13, paragraph 29, of the report).
Recommendation No. 6
`Questions of less importance which are usually placed on the agenda of the
Conference' should be defined clearly.
Unit II - Structure and presentation of the C/5 document, nature and scope
of the decisions of the General Conference
Recommendation No. 8
The document containing the Draft Programme and Budget should be concise,
transparent, functional and exhaustive.
Recommendation No. 9
A clear distinction should be drawn in the Draft Programme and Budget between
what is to be approved by the General Conference and is binding, and what is
merely an indication.
Recommendation No. 10
The measures referred to in this Recommendation should be in conformity with
the programme adopted by the General Conference.
Unit III - Processing of draft resolutions to amend the Draft Programme
and Budget
Recommendation No. 11
It is important to define clearly the criteria of admissibility concerning `the overall
direction and general strategy of the Organization' (Rule 78A, paragraph 3 of the
Rules of Procedure).
151 EX/Decisions - page 33
Recommendation No. 12
It would be preferable to appeal to Member States' sense of responsibility rather
than to self-discipline. Similarly, it may be better to implement the provisions of
Rule 78A rather than to adopt rules restricting Member States' freedom to submit
draft resolutions.
Recommendation No. 13
(a) Rather than imposing a minimum financial requirement for admissibility of
draft resolutions having budgetary implications, only draft resolutions
proposing regional or interregional activities should be considered
admissible.
(b) The General Conference should also decide whether to increase the
Reserve for Draft Resolutions, maintain it at its current level, or abolish it
and increase the Participation Programme funds by an equivalent amount.
Recommendation No. 14
The Board agrees that the preliminary screening for admissibility of draft
resolutions relating to the Draft Programme and Budget should be done by the
Director-General. The request of any Member State for a reconsideration of the
assessment made by the Director-General in the matter should be addressed to
the General Conference, which may instruct the Legal Committee or any other
body to look into that request.
Recommendation No. 16
(a) The proposed form (Annex II of the document) should not restrict Member
States' freedom to propose amendments, but should rather help them to
express their wishes in accordance with the rules in force.
(b) The footnote to the above-mentioned form should be deleted in view of
Recommendation No. 8.
Unit IV - Function and structure of the General Conference, role of its main
organs
Recommendation No. 18
During the general policy debate, the heads of delegation may inter alia wish to
focus on the basic thrust and orientation of the programme submitted to the
General Conference for adoption.
Recommendation No. 20
The exact role of the President of the General Conference in the preparation of
the following session should be clearly defined.
151 EX/Decisions - page 34
Recommendation No. 21
According to the Board, the proposed candidates already meet, by and large, the
criteria set forth in the recommendation.
Recommendation No. 22
The candidates should be designated by the Executive Board during its autumn
session in accordance with current practice.
Recommendation No. 24
The round tables and seminars held during General Conference sessions should
not take up too much time or interfere with the official proceedings.
Recommendation No. 26
The composition of delegations to the General Conference is the responsibility of
each Member State.
Unit V - Organization of sessions
Recommendations Nos. 29 and 32
|
