UNESCO Draft Resolution On Syria

This draft resolution was posted by UN Watch. 

Executive Board Paris,                                                                                                   5 March 2012

Hundred and eighty-ninth session                                                                          Original: English

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMISSION (FA) AND PROGRAMME AND 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMISSION (PX)

Item 24, RESPONSE OF UNESCO TO THE SITUATION IN THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

DRAFT DECISION

Submitted by: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 

"The Executive Board,

1. Mindful of the fundamental principles of UNESCO contained in the preamble to its Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and all other relevant human rights instruments,

2. Recalling that the purpose of the Organization is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order 

to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for human rights and race, gender, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations,

3. Reaffirming UNESCO’s essential role in ensuring education for all, in protecting the cultural, historical and natural heritage of humanity, and facilitating the free flows of ideas,

4. Recalling the United Nations General Assembly resolutions A/Res/66/176 and A/Res/66/253, also recalling Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1, S/18-1 and A/HRC/19/L. 1REV.1, also recalling Arab League resolution 7446 dated 12-2-2012,

5. Extremely concerned with the continuous deterioration of the situation in Syria and with the violent repression affecting civilians, including children, students and journalists,

6. Strongly condemns the continued widespread and systematic violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, in all UNESCO’s fields of competence;

7. Urges the Syrian authorities to immediately put an end to all  human rights violations and to protect their population, particularly children and students, to restore freedom of expression and communication and to protect heritage;

8. Invites the Director General to report on the implementation of the present decision and on the consequences of the current situation concerning UNESCO’s activities and tasks;

9. Further invites UNESCO, when the situation on the ground allows it, to take all possible measures within its fields of competence in order to resume its essential role particularly in education, freedom of expression, communication and protection of heritage.

Follow me on Twitter @NabilAbiSaab