hundred-and-seventeenth session 117 ex/37 …unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0005/000574/057405eo.pdf ·...

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board ex

Hundred-and-seventeenth Session

117 EX/37 PARIS, 27 October 1983 Original: French/English

REPORT OF THE PROGRAMME AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMISSION

117 EX/37

1. At its first meeting on Wednesday, 21 September 1983, the Executive Board

the following items : hadreferredtotheProgrammeandExternalRelationsConrmicsionfor examination of

Item 5.1.2

Item 5.1.4

Item 5.2.2

Item 5.4.1

Item 5.5.1

Item 5.5.2

Item 7.1

Item 7.2

Statement of major impacts, achievements, difficulties and shortfalls for each continuing programme activity in 1981-1983

Unesco's contribution to the improvement of the status of women: Report of the Director-General

United Nations University: Annual report of the University Council and report of the Director-General

Establishment of a Regional Office for Mediterranean Cultures

Protocol instituting a Concilation and Good Offices Commission to be responsible €or seeking the settlement of any disputes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention against Dis- crimination in Education: Transmission to the General Conference of the list of persons nominated to fill the seats that are to become vacant in 1983

Report of the Conciliation and Good Offices Commission responsible for seeking the settlement of any disputes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education on its activities since the twenty-first session of the General Conference

Recent decisions and activities of the organizations of the United Nations system of relevance to the work of Unesco

Operational activities for development

2. The Commission held eight meetings on the 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 September and 10 October 1983 under the chairmanship of Mr Erdal Inönü (Turkey).

3. Taking part in the meetings were the members of the Commission, their deputies, the Director-General's representatives; the United Nations and the

United Nations Development Programme were also represented.

4. Mr Soedjatmoko, Rector of the United Nations University, took the floor on

connection with the debate on item 5.2.2. 26 Septemberintheafternoontopresentthe reportoftheUniversitycouncilin

5. Mr T.S. Zoupanos, representative of the United Nations, took the floor on Tuesday, 27 September at the morning session inconnectionwiththedebate on

item 7.1.

6. Mr N. Desai, representative of the United Nations Development Programme,

session. spoke in connection with item 7.2 on Tuesday, 27 September at the afternoon

7. The present report was adopted by the Commission at its last meeting on Monday, 10 October 1983.

117 EX/37 - page 2

Item 5.1.2 - Statenent of major .-- impacts,achievements, difficulties and shortfalls for each continuing -mgrame actj-v-ity in 1981-1983 (i17 EX/ll)

8. The Assistant Director-General for Studies and Programing introduced docu- nent i17 EX/11 containing tne stateneot of major imsacts, achievements ,

difficulties snd shortfalls for each continuing progrme activity which wi3.1 also be subLttcd to thv General ConferenCa at its twenty-seccnd session as document 22 C/li. "hat docment, the fourth of its kind prepared in accordarcc vith 18 C/Resolution 10.1, was intended to prok5de information relcting to the execution of tke orograme during the first twenty-seven months of the 1981-1983 trien- niwr, with a view to shedding light on the proposals contained in the Draft Pro- g r m ami Budget, docmert 22 C/5.. Approved Progrme and Budget for 1981--1983 (21 C/5), with a chapter for each sector scbdivided into objectives and thmes. to devote individual chapters to culture and comunicaticn, as those sectors k&d been separated after the twenty-fbt session of the General Conference. each progranme theide, a stateuent concerriing iLpacts and achievements was followed by one on difficulties and shortfalls, with references to the relevmt paragraphs of d.ocurient 21 C/5. Three inCovations had been introduced: a statement on operational activities for each sector, not mly the educat?on sector cs before; a section er;titled 'Cecerai Ohservzitiom s m r y of the salient points energing frcni the Uocuient as a whole; and en annex setting oilt the approved budget provisions and the expenditure for the pcriod 1 January i981 to 31 March 1983, by chzpter and objective. After listen- ing to the Assistant Director-General for Studies and Programming, the Chairman invited. the members of the Commission to make observations and suggestions.

The docment follcwcd the structure of the

It had been considered eiivisable

Under

(pragraphs 8001- 8011) , giving a brief

.~ ~ -

g. The docment gave rise to a wide-ranging debate in which seventeen speakers expressed their views on aspects of presentation and preparatien, evaluation

methods and -publem o? substance ccxicerning varicus assects of the Organization's activities. Several speakers considered that the 22 C/11 document was one of the most important documents to come before the Conference, second only in importance to the 22 ~ / 5 .

10. Fost s-enkers welcoIn.ed the document as a step forward, in comparison with the previous documents in the series, ccnrnendin:: the richness cf its con-

tents and the frankness vith which bath achievenents and shcrtfalls were described, prcviding; an insight into tne type of problem facing the Orgznization in the implementation of its prcgramme.

11. The debate openec with cnments on the sresentation and structwe of tiie docu- ruent. One speaker, while we1colnin.g the refererices to relevant paragra@s of

21 C/5, asked whether the utilization of the 22 C/11 in cnnjunction with the forward-1cokin.g 22 C/5 might 5e fscilitated by a cross-referencing table indicating pragraphs of 22 C/5, where relevant. ness in the preseritcition, especially in the Gescriptiocs ÚZ difficulties ani shortfalls and suggested a more standardized kyout, witn a brief description of shorl- falls follow?d by a sunm~iry of their causes. Two other speakers were in favour cif nore dctailed indicc?tiolis of those c~usec. One speaker regretted that there was no s m m y of shcrtfalls accarding to type. The Cocmissioc on the whole corzxnded the general structure ofthe docment ana the Inclusion of the section entitle6 'General Qbservations', although several mwbers ccncidered that section too terse and were in favour of 8 more detziled sUmr.+try and anelysis ir.dicr,ti.ng for exmple possible uachinery fcr follow-up to the re&iond meetings nenticncd in SeragraFh 8002 or w8ys of increasing the nuriber of fellowships (paragraph 80~3:).

Another ssedrer detected e. certain uneven-

One speaker

117 EX/37 - page 3 thought that the inclusion of a presentation of activities by region and by country would be useful. One speaker felt that the 22 C/ll document should have been discussed simultaneously with the 22 C/5. The annex containing budget and expenditure data was felt to lack sufficient detail. One speaker asked for clarification as to the exact significance of the figures in comparison with the budgetary provisions in 21 C/5, and another asked why the expenditure figures showed unequal variations from one objective to another and whether that would cause difficulties in the final quarter of the budgetary period. She also stressed that the table in the next 12/11 document should contain comprehensive figures including staff costs and information on expenditure up to 30 June 1985, covering three-quarters of the budgetary period.

12. With regard to the use of the Programme Evaluation Monitoring System (PEMS), some speakers considered that the system had resulted in a clearer analysis of success or

failure and were in favour of its wider use, whereas others requested further clarification concerning the results of the experiment and asked whether it would be extended to the whole programme in the coming biennium. One speaker pointed out that the fact that only

ty themes had been the subject of an internal evaluation system indicated that a great ak' al more needed to be done towards more comprehensive evaluation of Unesco's activities, as had been pointed out by the External Auditor in his report on the annual accounts for 1982.

B Two speakers suggested the use of outside experts in the evaluation process, but another spoke against that view, as it would undoubtedly entail further expenditure

and in most cases those in the best position to evaluate results were those who had been involved in the implementation of the programme activities in question. One speaker called for a comparative study to show which areas had been most productive and which ones less productive.

14. A full discussion followed on the significance of the shortcomings and difficulties recorded in the document. One of the recurring problems had been lack of financial

or human resources, which had inevitably hampered programme implementation. This led several speakers to state that Unesco's programme was too ambitious and to stress that planning must be based on the resources available. One member felt that the programme was too diffuse and needed further concentration, with emphasis on priority issues. He advocated a detailed study of budget figures as a means of making a quantitative objective judgement of the effectiveness and importance of each programme activity. On that basis it would be possible to establish priorities. He drew attention to the Joint Inspection Unit study which strongly supported his view, and referred to decision 8.3 of the 4th session of the Executive Board. scussed from a methodological point of view in the Administrative Commission of the

General Conference, which might then make recommendations as to how the C/11 document could become an even more valuable guide to the Organization's activities. member disagreed with that suggestion on the grounds that fundamental policy issues were volved. A further speaker said that Unesco could not be run as a business concern, as rn e amount spent on a programme in a given year could not be considered a valid criterion

for the importance of that programme. Member States' aspirations and needs, adding that it should be borne in mind that it was the Member States themselves who were responsible for adopting the programe and that care should be taken in thus doing not to place an unbearable strain on the Secretariat, lack of personnel being in some cases a source of delays and difficulties. Several speakers urged rigorous selection of priorities to achieve effective concentration of the programme, taking care to provide continuing support for those programmes which had proved most usef u1 . 15. As semi-full budgeting had been recorded as having affected programme implementation,

one speaker pointed out that it only accounted for 3 per cent of the total budget and was not therefore in his opinion a major cause of lack of funds. Another speaker warned against regarding full budgeting and stepped up decentralization as a solution to all problems.

He suggested that document 22 C/11 might be best Y Another

Two members pointed out that the programme reflected

117 EX/37 - page 4 16. Another difficulty referred to was the apparent lack of support in Member

States for the implementation of certain programmes. One speaker wondered whether too much selection and decision-making was being done at Headquarters; another speaker felt that Unesco was sometimes over-optimistic concerning Member States' capacity to receive assistance--Member States had to fulfil certain requirements as to their infrastructure before they could participate usefully in Unesco's activities. Such difficulties derived not necessarily from lack of financial resources as from lack of planning based on the resources locally available. One member spoke of the need to be selective in choosing programmes adapted to the countries' needs--scientific and technological assistance, for example, should be based on a detailed survey of the natural resources of the country concerned.

17. One of the areas in which insufficient co-operation on the part of Member States was mentioned was that of publications. Four members called for a

co-ordinated effort in improving the distribution of high quality publications such as 'Prospe'cts', 'Impacts' and 'Culture'. Such co-ordination could well be conducted through the National Commissions, with which Unesco's links were not always satisfactory. One member emphasized that the attention of Member States should be drawn to the importance of developing the National Commissions.

18. Three speakers referred to the need to step up regional co-operation, for

and through co-operation with international non-governmental organizations. example through the information agencies and networks quoted in paragraph 8005

19. With regard to the participation programme, one speaker asked whether the new proposals €or administration of the participation programme referred to

in paragraph 7044 of 22 C/11 were the same as those described in the recently published practical guide to the participation programme. a number of difficulties concerned communication and delays in delivery and maintenance of equipment.

It was also noted that

20. The importance of training at all levels, especially high-level training, was emphasized and a number of speakers called for the increasing use of

fellowships as one of the main ways of transferring knowledge and technology. One speaker felt that training in key fields such as informatics, biotechnology and renewable energy had aroused much discussion but little action and he emphasized the training of scientists rather than scientific administrators. He also expressed the view that the number of Unesco fellowships, only one thousand, worldwide, was very low. Another member agreed that an increase in fellowships was a main priority, which could be solved by stepping up bilateral and multilateral arrangements.

21. The Assistant Director-General for Studies and Programming, replying to

the possibility of producing a cross-referencing system between documents 22 C/11 and 22 C/5, for continuing programme activities. another increase in General Conference documentation. He explained that the annex showed no staff costs, only programme costs, which were felt to give clearer data of the status of programme implementation. The data were, of course, only partial, covering a twenty-seven month period, i.e. three-quarters of the triennium. Differences in the rateofexpenditurebetween thevariousobjectives couldbe due to funds being advanced at the beginning of the triennium to, for example, the Internat'onal Bureau of Education for Objective 10.1, or for subventions to major

questions raised in the debate, said that the Secretariat would look into

That would of course mean yet

?

117 EX/37 - page 5

non-go-remmental orqmizations in the field of culture for Objective 3.6 activities were to be implemented late in the budgetmy period (e.g. meetings or seminars) which explained the 13w rzte of exsenditurc in some cases. Such discrepancies did not therefore necessarily reflect difficulties of implementation. Concerning unevenness of presentation, he pointed out that an effort had been made to avoid iu!posin,q over-rigid structural directives, in order to preserve the dyr..amic quality of the docuqent.

Other

22.

to provide the Generz.1 Conference with fresn informetion conccrnirig the in$lementation of the ~mgramme. time and further extensions would involve a complets alteration of the timetable. 'Similarly, if the C/11 were to be discussed simultaneously with the C/5 document, the period covered by the C!ll ciocment would.h.aveto be chorteneo.

Replying to those in favour of a much more detailed section on General Observations, he stressedthat the main purpose of the C/11 document was

It had therefore to be prepared in a very short space of

23. With regard to the ProgrErnie Evaluztion Monitoring System, he stressed that this was escentiaîly an instrument intended for use by those responsible

for propamme inplementation and designed to encourage and facilitate continuous evalrration of' results throwhout the imslementakion process. The Iritersectoral Comaittee for Eveluation, which was shorily to be established, would have to examine the question of the possible extension and improvement of the system.

24. Concerning the question of the use nf outside experts, he said that in some specific cases Uncscc ¿lid ask outside ccnsultants to give an in-depth

evalruttion of certain parts of the programme (e.g. the evaluation of the SPINES Programe, document 22 C/83) but in view of' the amount of work and resources involved it woiild be impossible to do so for each prcgramme activity. As for the Regional Offices, it was intended that they should be further involved in the evaluation activities.

25.

in exceptional climatic conditions was bcing sought through meetings with technical experts.

The solution to practical difficu?.t%c concerning the purchase of equipent , due tc yroblems of t echnologiccl changes, standardization azd naintennnce

26. Ne pcinted out that althmgh semi-full budgctina might represent only 3 per scentofthe totalbudget, one of its sideeffectswastohampersmallcpecific

activities which in turn affected larger programmes. diff icdt to achieve concentration of the programme simply by eliminating certain activities .) through the application of purely quantitative criteria. shoiild sin to hci-ertse the relevance of i>rogr.anmes to recognizee! needs. sidered that the 22 C/S was 8 step in that äirection, as it was based directly on the Medium-Term Plan for 1984-1989 (4 XC/h), which itself had been prepared in the light of detailed consi.J.tations with Member States.

in the same way, it was

Efforts Xe con-

27. The Deputy Assistant Director-General for Co-operation and External Relations, replying to the question concernins the participatim, profframe

the speaker that no new chmqes in administrative procedure were >lamed: it was simply E question of securirig the formcl er_dorsement by the Genere1 Cmf'erence of those chances of proceCiure indicated in the Practical Guide. Kith reqrtrd to the problem of meeting partic i p t ion propanme requests , he strated that some. .projects which were judged valid but could not be financed on account.of the high cost hvolved, were being irxreasinflly set %side for financing throixrrh multi- and bilateral arrangercents hith donor countries.

reassured

An increasing number of projects were

117 EX/37 - page 6

also bein? financed from a number of different sources, as for exnmFle the West Mrica pyoject referred to in pragraph 2036 of 22 Cili.

28.

for the next bi?nnim, for which consultations had cnlrei?dy be,-.n. Draft Trcgrariime and Buàget (22 C/?) contained a nmber of rrferences to actions aimed at elaborating global traininx policies and encouraging trainhg at regional and subrecional levels, with particular emphasis on trainees requirements on return to their ccuntyy. the sixty fellovshiss for the trainhg of young Latin American resesrchers in economics, anthropology and political science in a course organized by the Latin American Social Science Council (CLACSO) in Brazil (referred to in paragraph 3263 of 22 C/li) which were not necessari>-y referred to e,s Unesco Fellowship.

Concerning the question of training and fellowships, he recalled that a considerable reorientation and extension of the fellowshj-p proqramme was nlanned

Moreover, the

He pointcd out that many fellowships existed-es f'm example

29.

establish ?.JI exact descriptive Tist &s Member States themselves were not always clear as to ,wkt equipment WRS required. kreover, as a resu1.t cf diminishing resources @.g. from UNDP, Unesco had Seen obliged to movc away frcm erxploying full time resident experts towards an increasing use of consultanbs, who often had difficulty in assessinin exact equipment needs in the short space of time o.vc3able during their missions.

Delays if1 the srocuremnt or" equi2ment were tending to increase, as projects required more sorhisticated equipment. It was often therefcre difficult to

30. The Commission recomuended that the Execiitive Board adopt the following draft decision :

The Executive bard,

1. --..L---- HavinFr examkied document 117 EX/ll (22 C/11) 'Statement of major im?aTts achievements diff icalties and shortfdls for each continuing programme cctivity 'during the firsk twenty-seven months cf the 1981- 1983 buùzetary period,

2. Considers. thc,t dociment 117 EX/11 (22 C/11), in its presentation and content, shows considerable impmvcment in com2arison with the previous dcjcuments in ths same series;

3. Ewhasizes ----.. the hyortance OP th& substantial document which contnins much veluable informtion an the imylementation of the current programe and which 112s given riseto a constructive and far-rcaching debate in the Propramme and Externo.1 Relations Commission;

h. DeciSes to trnnsmit t:, the Geizmal Conference the report of the Pro- grame and External Relai;ions Commission relating to the exarcinntion of document 117 EX/11 (22 C/ll);

5. Recornmencis that the Geqeral. Conference take the necessary steps to cnsble the Comlssions ïesp3nsiSle for exanining tkie Dreft Prcgrarune and Buäget for 1984-1985 (22 C/S), including the Administrative Com- missicn, to make full use of the information contained in this docu- -ment which, through its analysis of the implementation of the current

117 EX/37 - page 7

prcgrame, check light on tke propsals for the followinF; biennium, and to make recammmdations , as appcpriate , concernhg its future structure and presentation;

6. Invites the Dirxtor-Generel, vhen pz-epariri@: future documents relatinp to 'major Imsacts, achievemcnts difficulties and shcrtfo-ïls for exh continuin3 promarme activity9, to tuke into account the comments and sugpestbns mitde by merrbers of the Executive Board at the 117th session of the Bozrd, during the discussions of' tlie Proprame and External Relations Cimission, and to cmtinue to m k c every effcrt to inTlment the recommendations made by the Board at its previous sessions, paï-ticu- larly in 114 EX/Decision 8.3 which in paragraph 8 (d) invites the Director-General to provide 'in the EX/11 and C/ll, at the most appropriate time, a budget and expenditure summary . . . . . . indicating on the theme level, funds allocated, disbursed, obligated, unobligated and transferred' .

117 EX/37 - page 8

Item 5.1.4 - Unesco's contribution towards irprovin6r; the status of women: Report - of the Director-General ( 117 EX/?) ---

31. Presenting document 117 EX!7, the Assistant Director-General .?or Studies and Programing reminded the meeting that the document had been prepared in

pursuance of the directives of thc General conference, which had invited the Director-General, in 19 C/Resolution 16.1, 20 C/Resolutions 13.1 and 13.2 and 21 C/Resolution 13.2, adopted at its nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first sessions ressectively, to submit r e m a r reports to the Executive Board and the GenerLll Conference on the Organization's efforts to improve the status of wocien. Document 117 Eiir/7, which is being sutrnittetl to the General Cocference under reference number 22 C/17, reports on activities undertaken during the 1981-1983 period, Out of concern to reflect the continuity of the action carried on by Unesco throughout the First Medium-Term Plan, which largely coincides with that ofthe United Nations Decade for Womec, the structure of the document had been modelled on that of the two previous reports on that theme, documents 20 C/17 and 21 c/16.

32.

well orgari-ized and to provide useful information on Unesco's efforts to improve the status of women in the past three years.

Seventeen members of the Comission took part in the debate following the introduction of document 117 EX/7, which most considered to be clear and

33.

One soerzker, however, warned against over-sinplification. Women's status had varied' mrkefl-y from one time and ?lace to another: there were societies, for instance, h which they had 1Gng played an active role in ecocomic, socid ana- cultural life. In that connection, several qeakers stressed the prominent role Dlayed by women in struggles for national independence.

Almost all those who spoke reeffirmed the importance they attached to the matter and stressed the urgency of the tasks to be carried out in that field.

34.

context, as was shown by the different points of view expressed during the discussion about the analysis of women's situation and identification of their needs ~ n d priorities. For instance, one spedcer felt that less emphasis should be placed on equality between neri a d women than on improving wonen's status, --- inter alia through education. Most cf those who spoke, however, considered th& the principle of equality of the sexes coiild not be called in question. Several referred in that context to efforts that had been made in their own countries to increase women's involvement in education et all levels, and to give them access to positions of responsibility. 2ut most uiecbers of the Comuission felt thrt there wes still a marked discrepancy between equaI?-ty that was increasingly widely reco.fnize0 fror? a legal point of view, and a de facto-situation wnich, for most women, vas still fraught with injustice and discrimination. Several speakers drew attention to the role played by cultural factors, especially the stereotypes and prejudices underlying much discrimication against wonen. One member Gf the Ccmmis- cion said that, in his view, the solution to the problems of women's status lzy in the estaSlishment of an equitable social and political system.

One Eembcr of the Cow-ission pointed out that even peorle's perception of problems connected with women's status varied according to the cultural

35.

with men, would enrble them to make their own specific contribution to society. One speaker pcinted out that equality did not imgly sameness, and that it was izportant, in such a discussion, to avoid any attempt by men to 'co-opt' women's arguments. In that speaker's view, the problem was not one of admitting women toa world thzt had. been entirely designed by men to suit their wishes, but rather one

The main problem seemed to Oe that of p-ornoting a new definition of wonen's role which, in addition to guarmteeing equality of rights end opportunities

117 EX/37 - page 9

of creating conditions of equality in which women could decide for themselves what kind of role they intended to play in society, on the bash of their own values and aspirations, in that connection, several speakers referre3 to the difficulties encountered by many women in combining an active social and professional life with their specific role as mothers. One member of the Commission su9:gested that Unesco study the matter in.depth, with a view to shedding light on how women might horxoniously reconcile those different roles which often, today, coexisted with difficulty.

36. On the subject of the action to be taken, the members of the Commission were unanimous in their view that respolsibility devolved primarily upon Member

States themelves; however, several felt thct Unesco should broaden and strengthen its activities in that field. A number of speakers described the Orgmization's role as essentially 'educational': fostering awmeness among the general public and in governments, particularly on International Women's Day (8 Mcrch); helping to aclvpmce current thinking OE the problems; highlighting various forms of discrimination against women and devising ways of eradicating them; and, above all, giving women the opportunity to express t h e h views and describe the role that they felt they should play in a world in which they would have the same rights as men.

37. One member of the Board, however, commenting on document 117 EX/7, regretted that Unesco was not concentrating more on operclti.onal activities aimed at

solving women's practical problems throughout the world. While he did not question the validity of the Orgmizationfs studies and resecrch work in that field, he thought that research should be more action-oriented, or at least should not inhibit action. In that connection, he wished to be informed about the findings of a number of studies or consultations (mentioned, for example, in parwraphs 16, 19, 23, 26 and 31 of document, 117 EX/7) m d the follow-up action that had been taken on them. Two members of the Cosnaission, on the other hmd, expressed satisfaction at the results of two of the regional seminars mentioned in paragraph 19, one in Tunisia and the other in Brazil, dealing with the development of research on women in the Ar5b world and in Latin America and the Caribbean.

38. The importance of Unesco's standard-setting activities designed to counter discrimination based on sex, arad to promote women's participation in

society and in action to strengthen pesce and international Co-oTeration, was also stressed. One member of the Commission felt that more attention shmld be paid to implementation of the various international instruments adopted in that sphere, both by different sectors of the Secretaria3 and within the Cornittee on Conventions and Recommendat ions.

39.

said in that connection that steps should be taken ta involve the greatest possible number of women in the training activities organized by Unesco. While recommending that the Organization make even more determined efforts to that end, he noted that responsibility lay primarily with Member Stetes; it was therefore to be hoped that the appeal in paragraph 38 of document 117 EX/7, calling on governments to nominate more women as candidates for the training courses, seminars and exchange prcgrammes organized or administerea by Unesco, would meet with the widest possible response. Another speaker drew the Commission's attention to the questionnaire to be distributed to Member States with 8 view to assessing how much progress had been made in education and training during the United Nations Decade for Women. The report to be drawn up on the besis of replies to that questionnaire should bring to light any obstacles or sctbacks encountered by Member States in their efforts to further the education of girls and women,

Severa3 of those who took the floor also emphasized the vital importance of education in the process of improving women's status. One member of the Board

117 EX/37 - page 10

together with possible ways of avoiding such setbacks, so that the international community,'s action in the years ahead might be based on an objective evalmtion of the present situation. Another speaker referred to the role that National Commissions Lor Unesco and non-governnental organizations vere expected to glny in preparing for the World Conference tc Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women (1985).

40.

the strengthening of world peace'. The entire history of peoples and cultures, he said, bore witness to woaen's outstanding contribution to the defence of Feme; wc,menrs efforts in that direction should therefore be supported, for exanìple by giving them a greater share in the education of children and young people.

One Ioerdber of the Commission also stressed the im2ortance of the activities mentioned in part III of document 117 EX/7, entitled 'The role of women in

41. With regard to the situetion of women in the Secretariat, the majority of Conmission members expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved, but

requested the Director-General to continue his efforts aimed at increasing the number of' wonen recruited, especially from developing countries, to fill posts in the Professional and higher categories, and at irnnroving women's working conditions in the Organization. They approved the s;?ecid measures adopted by the Director-General to that end, as described in paragraphs 120-128 cf document 117 EX/7, and welcomed the idea of relaxing restrictions on the employment of staff members' spouses. One member of the Commission suggested that systematic stcps t?e taken to encourage National Commissions for Unesco to encour8ge more women candidates to apgly for posts in the Secretariat.

42.

Term Plan regardhg the status of women was somewhnt perfunctory emcl did not do justice to the full scope of the activities envisGged in document 22 C/5.

Tintally, a number of Commission members considered that the account given at the end of document 117 EX/7 of the provisions of the Second Medium-

43.

account of the activities carried out &wing 1981-1983. It did not therefwe seem useful to dwell at length on the min lines of emphasis of the Second Medium-Term Plan--which hed been approved by the General Conference at its fourth extraordinary session--any Iliore than it sceme8 useful tr> describe document 22 C/5 concerning the Organization's future activities.

In his reply to the c?ebate, the Assistant Director-General for Studies and Programming recalled thct the Fuqose of document 117 EX/7 was to give an

44.

pesce, themes which moreover corresponded kc hhe thrcefeld thrust of Unesco's action under Objective 6B of the First Weciium-Term Plan. The first of these tnemes, the promotion of equality between men and women, was an imperative reluirement set forth alike in the Organization's own Constitution and in many international instruments of e standard-setting nature, m d reaffirmed in many of its resolutions by the Gzneral Conference,

T'ne structure of document 117 EX/7, he stated, was based on the three themes of Lhe United Nations Decade for Women, namely, equality, development and

45. Returning to the question of a balance between action and reflection, he stated that the study activities for whi.ch the Organization povid.ed suFFort

all shared a comon objective: to renew the theoretical framework of research so as to enable women themselves to identify their ssecif'ic problems, to express their needs and expectations ana to make their OW^ points of view heard. Worsen's problems hed hitherto been perceived mainly through the conceptual systems constructed by men. The Organization's aim must therefore be to foster the development of facilities for research on wornen, to help women researchers to

117 EX/37 - page 11

continue their work and to contribute to a change in the way male and female roles were desicted, the latter being frequently at the root of the various forms of discriminetiun to which wanen were subjected.

46. The structure of document 117 EX/7 itself, which dealt under each of the three theines--equality, develoi3ment and pesce--with studies endl research,

ouerational activities and training, shcwcd clearly that these were three insepexable strmCs of a single line of action. In reply to the questions that had been put to him, the Assistant Director-General for Studies and Programming quoted, among other exmuples, that of the consultative panels referred to in Faragraph 31. Those paneis, which had- been convened to continue the task of identifying the inequalities besetting girls and women in education, had lcd to expericeutal projects, the provision of equipment and the organization of training activities in Member States.

47. Finally, with regard to staff questims, it m s rccrzlled that the Director- Generai neglected na o~~icrtunity to spee2 up progress in ensuring that

women were better represented within the Secretariat. For example, the post descriptions cmmnicated to Member States explicitly caJ-led for the submission of caridifia%ures from women.

48. The Commission recommended to tne Executive Board that it adopt the following draft decision:

The Executive Board,

1. Having examined document 1 17 EX/7

2. Takes note of its content.

117 EX/37 - page 12

Item 5.2.2 - Ur?ited Nations University: Annual report of the University Council and report of the Director-General ( 117

49. The Assistant Director-General for Education introduced document 117 EX/g, On behalf of the Director-General and

on his own behalf, he welcomed the presence of the Rector acd his colleagues of the University. He then summed up briefly the contents of the annual report of the University Council indicating a number of activities undertaken by the University. prticipation of the representative of the Director-General at the two Council sessions as well as the appointment of new members of the Council. This report contained comments and rem8rks on various sections of the Council's report, and particularly on the University programe and its relationship with those of Unesco. of the Second Medium-Term Plan of Unesco (1984-1989) and those of the Mediu-Term Perspective (1982-1987) of the University were convergent andas such sffereäcon- siderable poscFbilities of co-operation between the two institutions. Director-General considered that these possibilities should 5e further explored. His report indicated and identified specific areas and subprogrames of the Draft Programe and Budget of Unesco for 7984-1985 which would sllow for the sursuit and the development of such co-operation. satisfaction at the reduced number of meetings oremized by the ünfversity during the period covered pznd at the emphasis Laid on the qaestion of the training of research workers, notably from the developing countries, expressing the wish that the University further increase resources for this purpose. Noting the progress made in the pre-,aration of the University statutes, the Director-General's reT0t-t underlined the need for the University to have amilable as soon as possible the complete statutes. the Government of Japan and to the authorities of Tokyo for the efforts made for providing the permanent headquarters for the University. to governments a d other bodies which povided cirpport in verious w%ys to the University. "he Director-General welcomed the newly appointed members of the Council while expressing his gratitude to the outgoing members for having dis- charged their responsibility with devotion and efficiency.

50.

stage into the first year of actual programe work under its Hedium-Term Perspec- tive. was attempting to develop actively a global perspective on human problems in accordance with the mandate laid down in the Charter. was much encouraged by Unesco's Medium-Term Plan for 1984-1989 and welcomed the opportunities that opened up for major programmatic collaboration between UNU and Unesc.,. Referring to the steteménts made by the representative of the Director- General in the University Council, he agreed with the major Ereas identified for co-operation between the two institutions and supported the proposal to establish contacts at an operational level. relations with the United Nations family 9,s 'complementary and synerqistic' in nature. Referring to the continuing drift townrilssnarchynnd chaos in toby's worldandthemalfunctioningoftheinternationaleconomic system,he citedexamplesof the UNü's activities andalludedtothe UNUproposalstoestablish the World Institution for Development Economic Research (WIDER), and the Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (IXfLA). developing with MGûs concerned with university education.

the report of the Director-Genersl.

The report of the Director-General srovided information on %he

It stated the view held by the Director-General that certain orientations

The

This report also expressed

The Director-General renewed expression of his gratitude to

He expressed his thanks

Presenting the report of the University Council, the Rector of the University considered that it showeü how the University had moved beyond t'ne planning

In view of the coqlex and interlinked concerns of the world, the University

He stated that the University

He regarded the role of the üiW and inter-

He underlked the programtic relations which the UNU was Alluding to several

117 EX/37 - page 13

exploratory activities, the Rector mentioned the possibility of reiaAionships being developed with several countries, such as Spain, InCia, Canada c.nd China. He also referred to a growing interaction with Eastern European countries with a view to examininc potential opportunities for their participation in the UNü's Programe ar-d Institutioncl Development. Ee thanked the Government of Japan for the progress being made regarding the penmnent headquarters of the University. The Rectcr referred to the growinp co-operative ties between the UNU a d the Universitlec RS well as the United Nations family m d notzbly Unesco and UNITAR. He declareü thct the emerging profile oi the Univarsity was becorniiig clearly defined.

51.

prehensive report before them and congratulated the Assistant Director-General for Education and the Rector for their respective presentations. Many agreed with the Director-General in expressins satisfaction at the procress -de by the University during the period under review, E few adding that they were really impressed on this account. Directa-General's coments and supported several OP them.

Thirteen members of the Commission partici2ated in thc ensuinc discussion. Several of them conveyed their thanks to the Director-General for the com-

Many members exnressed their agreement with the

52. A numbcr of mem%ers intervened in connection with the Provamme of the University. One member wcnderei! if it would be possible fcr it to undertake

studies on problems like the brain àrain, a subject of great inpor"vce for both the developing and the developed countries, the threatening population explosion, and the relemnce o9 science and yoga to health of the mind. gested that the University might consider subjects like the status of women and the role of youth, the latter particularly in connection with the Internatiónal Year of the Youth ( 1985). University's successful efforts, QS mentimed by the Director-General, at the verticrcl i d horizontal integration of its Programe. projects being developed in Africa, although his part of the world did not know much about this sropanme of the University, particularly at the projects relating to food and nutrition, he pleaded that the University should find ways and neans by which more food could be produced and energy sources could be better and more economically util.ized. Another member commented on the project relating to food-energy nexus and on bioconversion of lynocellulose and emphasized that theuniversity should undertcke fundamental in- depthexplorationofre1evantconcepts;henotedthattheme fiveoftheMedium-TermFerspec- tive of the University (science end technolo=, and their spcial and ethical implications) was of importance for the University. emphasis laid on the plobal study of development economics. faction at the idea of the establishment of the Institute for Natural Resources in Africa, another member asked for &re' inf@rnatim on .the project of $he University relating to military research and development in Asian countries. This member- supported the idea that the UnTversity should explore the possibility of initiating research on the problems ef 'brain drzin' , which created intractable problems, to developmental efforts of the developing countries. the Director-General about the number of meetings and on the need for the University Council to be given mere informtion on projects, a member adcled that these comments echo concerns felt by some Executive hart? members and Member States about Unesco it self.

This ne&er sug-

&.other member expressed his appreciation of the

One member welcomed the

While expressing satisfaction

A mernber appreciated the Expressing his catis-

Supporting the comments of

117 EX/37 - page 14

53.

this purpose be augmented. the developing countries themselves and that more attention should be paid to the least developed countries in the matter. Another member was impressed by the Univcrsityvs research ari-d training pogratme on managenent of arid zones and stated that students from his country should benefit from the training programe in this field. short cqurse of training lasting three months for senior officials of Member States; in various fields of the activity of the Universita-.

Several members agreed with the Director-General that higher priority be given to the training programme by the University and that allocations for

One member added that training should be provided in

One mem5er reconmended strongly that the University undertake a

he also su2ported the îuture training programe for nid-career leaders

54.

the University and other bodies within the United Nations system and international scientific and university institutions. remarkable convergence of orientations between the Cecona Medium-Term Flan of Unesco and the Medium-Term Perspective of the University offering possibilities for further co-operation. those of the Regional and Global Studies Division of thc Univrrsity would share concerns with Kajor Programme VI11 on Levelopnent of the Unesco Medim-Tem Plan, and that many activities under Themes I to V of the UNU Medium-Term Perspective could contribute to Major Progranme I of the Unesco Medium-Term Plan. endorsed the Director-General's recomendatiori for close co-orzination between Unesco and UNü. Some members, however, stated the necessity to avoid du2licztion of efforts, a few of them posing the question about the delbitation of boundaries between complementsrity and duplication. WCIS a delicate one, as it concerned fields of research undertaken by the Univer- sity and other academic and university institutions, and the objectives of developing endogenous creativity, as well as the application of science and technology for the transformation of the world aimed forbyail of them. He viched to under- stand how corqlementarity worked under such circumstmces between the UNU on the one hand and the universities and Unesco on. the other. A fcw menbers observed that some duplication was necessary and inevitable though ulrlu' s nethoAological approach could be different from that of Unesco and other institutions; according to two of them, by their very nature, the University and Unesco were different. of co-operation between the UNU and other institutions and Member States. expressed the wish that the Rector visit Member States regdarly to identify the institutions there which could co-operate with the University: member, he Selieved that the existence and the vork of the University was not known to several countries including the least developed countries.

Like the Director-General a majority of members agpeciated indications of increased co-operation between the University and Unesco as well as between

Several menbers observed the

One member pointed out thut m n y activities such as

He strongly

Accordine to one member this question

Another member posed the question about the methodology acd the mechanics He

like another

55.

and training institutions of its own. a change in the original concept of the United Nations University as operating primarily through a network of existing institutions. institutions couìd soon beconze a financial drag on the University if adequate endowment funCs werc not obtaineC. She raised the question as to why the Director-General did not wish to commit himself at this stage in regard <o the specific case of a pssible International Centre for Distance Learning. member raised the question as to why the nuniber of associated institutions of the University could not be increased5 increase' their number particularly in the developing countries.

Referring to the institutional development of the United Nations University, a member observed that the University was to set up a number of research

She considered that this seemed to reflect

She urged caution as such

Another

He proposed that the University should

117 EX/37 - page 15

56.

all organizations, the University must consider the question of d i n g its oubli- cations accessible and aveiïable to key institutions in Member States. member hoped that the Rector would take due note of tLe reservations expressed by the Director-General on the Uoiversity's role in the publication of the 'Develop- ment Forum'. 57. Another member, though aware of the statutory requirement for an annual

report, raised a question about the periodicity of the report, suggesting that it might appear less frequently.

58. Several members reiterated their gratitude to the Government of Japan and to the administration Gf the Metropolitan Tokyo, for their generosity and offer

of land for the p e m e n t headquarters of the University. their appreciation to governments which have given their support to the Univer- sity, some of them expressing the hope that contributions from other governments would be forthcoming to help the United Natiocs University achieve its objectives. Certain makers hopcd that the University's activities would attract more funding. However, one member expressed her concern that income from their present ìhdow- ment Fund might not cover slanned expenditures for the next few years. She recog- nized that an act of faith in t'rie United Nations UniversFty was needed. Agreeing with this need for an act of faith in the UMJ, another member poizted out that it had been difficult until recently to define the specificity of the University.

One maber pointed out that disseninztion m s an essential part of the Uni- versity's activities; he observed that as this was a great problem facing

Another

A few members expressed

59. The Assistant Director-General noted that the discussion had been substan-

sity and the develo,Y>ment of its activities demonstrated by members of the Commis- sion. Uriited Kations Uiiiversi-ty, that no other organization within the United Nations system was as close to the University as was Unesco, whether in relation to the areas of actions or to the audience which it addresses. imperative to ensure a close linking between Unesco and the United Slations Uni- versity. A comparison of the Medium-Term Plan of Unesco and the Medium-Term Perspec- tive of the United Nations University would suffice to show that the co-operation between these twa institutions 1s needed, with a view to ensuring com&ementarity. That is the reason why the Director-General had alwdys insisted on a continuing, close and constant consultation and co-operation between Unesco and the United itations University. ingclearer, andfrequentconsultationsatthelevelofprogrammeswasnotonlydesirable but necessary in spite of the difference 'between the nature of the two institutions. Replyin& to the question asked by GR^ naber on the integrated institutions, he referred to thc Charter of the University which provided for then as part of the University; as to the question from the sane member as to why the Director-General did not wish to cornit himself on the possible International Centre for Distance Learning. He stated that the Director-General was awaiting the detailed proposals concerning the objectives of this Centre, and would examine them in the light of the provisions of the United Nations University's Charter before committing himself.

tial and constructive. He was gratifieà with tne interest in the Univer-

Xe stated that there was a cornunity of interest between Unesco and the

It was consequently

The specificity of the University was in a process of becoa-

60.

tive appoach and support to the University. oper2tions as regcrds the ways of establishing co-operation between the Univer- sity and the institutions in Member States stating that it would not be possible to cover all interested countries as travel set physical and other limitations for the University, and as the University ha6 to maintsin a geographical balance morg countries. that even if it was undertaken in some countries only, it could be useful to many others.

For his part, before commenting on the discussion and replying to the questions, the Rector thanked the menîbers of the Comnission for their construc-

He explained the methodology of

He added that Lhe work of the University was of such a nature

Be stated that the problem of 'brain drain' was part of a larger question

117 EX/37 - page 16

relating to international figrations which were the subi ects of the University's preoccupations; a University project on 'arcnives of traditional knowledge'; microsociological problens being examined by the University covered the role of the farily and women, but he thought i+, would be difficult for the University to develop its ssecificity in this regard; the University was exmining the ?robla of youth as a resource lor the future. were being extended further to developing countries as the University poposed to hold then in Sri Lanka end Colonbia. research and development in Asia was concerned with the general appoach 'do pesce and conflict research, and attemptea to analyse the dynamics of social processes leading countries to get caught in the a r m race. -tct of faith in the United Nztions University wcs necessary if it were to become a reelity; a d that the world needed a new generation of institutions like the United Kations University to help seople and governnents face tne challenges of the modern world.

as regards studies on Yoga he indicated that this was related to

He informed the Comnission that training progranmes

He stated that the project on Alitary

He concluded by saying that the

61.

decision. that the Board adopt the following decision:

P! few nernbcrs endorsed t k draft decision prososed in the do-cment 117 EX/g; one member, however, proposed an menduezit to paragraph 5 of the drafi;

At the conclusion of the debate, the CoaniSSion unanimously recornended


1.

2.

3.

i;.

C /*

6.

7.

Notes with interest the fuinual Report of the United Nations Univer- sity Council and the relevant rezprt of the Director-General (117 EX/9);

Co,agratulaies the kiversity Council on the dedicated and efficient way in which it has carried out its duties;

?Totes with satisfaction the progress mhievee! by the UEiversity in t1:e developnent of its p o g r m e arid the strengthening of national capacities tnrough training, including that of young researchers from developing countries ;

Is pleased with the collaboration that has developed between the University and the agencies and institutions of the United Nations system, inclu6ing Unesco, and scientific and academic bodies;

Encourages the University to increzsc the number of associated institutions, particulsrly in the developing countries, and to pursue its efforts to secure greater cultural anu geograshicol diversity in the choice of institutions ani! countries co-operating with it;

Hopes that the new structures of .the United Rations University will allow of constnnt interaction between the differerit divisions and will SroDote an interdisciplinrry appoach in the cerrying out of the University's pogramme;

Encourages the University Council to complete the preparation of the Statctes of the University as soon as possible in order to pursue the ap2lication of the Idedium-Tem Perssective with even greater efficiency;

117 E W 3 7 - page 17

8. Joins with the University Council in pzying tribute to its outgoing menbers for the dedicated and efficient way in which they carried out their work;

9. Thenkc the Member States and the various organizations that arc ccntrlbuting to the Endowment F m d and the Operating.Wd, an2 to the üniversityss activities and projects;

10. Hopes that nev contributions from Meraber St&tcs and var~ous interested 'Loüies will be added to those already received;

11. EGresses its gratitude to the Government of Japn ond the A&nis- tration of Metropolitan Tokyo for their continuing support for the United Nations University

12. Invites the Director-General to transmit the record of the Ekecutive Board's discussion of this agenda item at its 117th session, together with the relevant documents and the text of the Board's decision, to the Chniman ofthe United Nations University Council and to the Rector.

117 EX/37 - page 18 Item 5.4.1 - Establishment of a liaison office for Mediterranean cultures

(117 m/15 and Corr.)

62. Mr InÖnÜ, who was chairing the Commission, asked to be relieved of his duties for the duration of the discussion on item 5.4.1, included at his

request in the agenda of the Xxecutive Board, so that he might make his pososai regarding the establishment of a liaison office for Mediterranean csiltures. The Commission was informed that the Bureau of the Executive Board had agreed to this procedure, and, after a short debate, it also gave its approval. Mr Dumont then replaced Elr InÖnÜ as Chaiman of the Commission.

63. The Chairman gave the floor to Mr E. InÖnE, wno began by stating the reasons which had led him to make the proposal:

tained in both the Second Medium-Term Plan and the Draft Programne and 3udget for 1984-1985 had been the pronotion of intercultual studies and activities; more, the Worlu Conference on Cultural Policies held in Kexico City in 1982 liad requested the Director-General, in Recommendation No. 169 , substantially to expand the Meäiterranean cultures programme and to study the possibility of setting up 8 Regional Office for those cultures; regularly expressed the desire for Airther decentralization.

one ofthe policy objectives con-

further-

lastly, the Organization's governing bodies

64.

borne out by several scientific studies.

Thecpeakeralsostressedthe specialimportance of the Mediterranean as a place of interactior? anone: the cultures which had developed there, as was

65.

ing Member States to set up national centres of regional scope, specializing in a particular aspect of Mediterranean cuitures (crafts, architecture and town- planning, etc.). He mentioned as examples two centres which were in the process of being established, one for Mediterranean crafts (in France) and the other for architecture and town-planning (in Turkey). those centres could be assisted and co-ordinated by the liaison office.

He then proceeded to describe the objectives that might be assigned to such a liaison office: for instance, it might be given responsibility for hclp-

As soon as they were operational

66. Fourteen speakers took part in the ensuing discussion. keen interest in the proposal and asreed with the principle benind it.

They all expressed

67. Several speakers stressed the potential of the Mediterranean region for intercultural studies and activities.

68. One speaker comented on the innovative nature ofthe proposal, noting that the liaison office, if it were established, would constitute an original

venture in that it would focus its attention on the interlinking and interactions of several cultures. caqe from a different part of the world. He outlined possibilities for further development of the activities of the office in the field of comparative studies encornpassing Mediterranean cuitures, the ancient cultures of India and, on a broader scale, the cultures of Asia.

Another speaker said that he supported the idea, although he

69. A speaker, also from another part of the world, expressed the view thst Mediterranean cultures were the roots from which the cultures of the New

World had sprung, and that the liaison office might serve as a model for other regions.

117 EX/37 - page 19

70. Another s~caker drew attention to the links bctweco the Mediterrenean region and neiGhbouring regions such as those bordering on the Black Sea. The

speakers gave the proposai under áiscussion tntir unanimous approval, but stressed the need, in view of the scale of the project, to stucQv all aspects of it in depth: possible sites, etc. 71. On the last-mentioned aspect, the Italian member of the Board announced that

liaison office and to make the necessary effort to facilitate its establishment. He requested the Director-General to approach the Italian Government with a view to making a joint study of the administrative and budgetary aspects of the project. Other speakers supported this request.

72. Three speakers swgested that the meeting of experts referred to in para- gr-h 11277 of the Draft Pr0C;r-e an6 Budget for 1984-1985 devote a substan-

t:al p r t of its srocecdingc to 3 study of conditioxs and ways and mesus of establishing the liaison office for idediterranean cultures.

programme content, asscssment of administrative and bud2etar.y in?lications,

his country had stated in writing that it was prepared to accomodate the

73.

the Director-General to initiate the necessary studies in consultation with the Member States, orgenizations and institutions concerned.

In conclusion, the Assistant Director-General for Culture said that the views exchanged ir, tie debate had been rewarding and instructive arid would ecable

74. The Commission ärcided to recommend to the Executive Board that it adopt the followiog drsf‘t decision:

The Zxccutive Board,

1.

2.

3.

TskinF: into consideration KOI’DIACULT Recornendation Eo. 169 and t3e relevant 2rovisions of tke Second Mediu-Term Plan (4 XC/4) and of the Draft Programme ana Budget for 1984-1985 (22 C/5),

Greatly cgprcciating E. Inönü’s proycsal conceriiing the estzblish- ment of a liaison olfice for Mediterranean cultures, contained in document 117 EX/l5 and CorriEendum, and approving the principle.underlying it,

Requests the Director-General to examine the matter fram all points of view ( p r o ~ ~ e , administrative and budgetary implications), to approach the Xeaber States, orgacizat ions ani! Institutions concerned, and to rcport on the subject to the Ekecutive Boarù at its 119th session.

117 EX/37 - page 20 I t a 5. I - Protocol institutino a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission

to be res3onsible for seeking the settlement of any disrutes which may arise between States Parties to the Convention -qainct Discrimination in Education: Transmission to the General Conference of the list of persons nonincited to fill the seats that are to becme vacant in 1983 (117 ~x/16 and Add.)

75. The Director of the Office of International Standards and Legal Affairs, in presenting docment 117 m/16 and Add. to the Commission, explained that

the tern of office of three members of the Conciliation and Good Offices Commis- sion having expired and one seat having fallen vacant due to the death of the incumbent, it was necessary for the General Conference to fill these four seats at its fourth session. stipulated that it was for the Executive Board to transnit the list of candidates presented by the States Parties to the Protocol to the General Conference, with such suggestions as it nay consider useful.

He further explained that Article 3 of the Protocol

76. No one having any suggestions to nake, the Commission decided to reconsend that the Executive Boazd adopt the following drcft decision:

The Executive Bocrd,

1.

2.

3.

Recallixthe provisions of Article 3 of the Protocol instituting a Conciliation m d Good Offices Comission to be responsible for seeking the settlenent of' any disputes which nay arise between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education,

Havirq studied the list OP sersons nominated by the States Parties to the eforaentioned Protocol for the purpose of the election of four members of the Conmissioii, which the Director-General has submitted to it in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 2, of the said Protocol ( 117 =/i6 and Add. ) ,

Transmits this list to the Generai Conference.

I t a 5.5.2 - Report of the Conciliation and Good Offices Commission responsible - for seeking the settlement of any disputes which ney mise 'Uetveen States Pari,ies to the Convention against Discrinination in Educeticn on its activities since the twenty-first session of the General conference ( 117 EX/17)

77.

nent was due to the fact that the Conciliation snd Good Offices Cormission had not yet been called upon to perforn its dispute-settling role.

The Director of the Office of Internaticnal Standards and Legal Affairs introduced dccment 11'1 EX/l7 a d pointed out that the brevity of the docu-

78. He recalled that the Ccmission had only met once so fw, i.e. at the

conmented that the Commission's inactivity could give rise to a certain beginning of its existence in order to a.dopt its Rules of Procedure. He

117 EX/37 - page 21

contradiction in feelings. a body of eminent experts was not being utilized by the States Parties; on the other hand, on& could fincl satisfaction in the f,c+ that no disputes had in fact arisen between states conccrrhg the Cofivention in questicm and that the Comuis-

On the one hand one might regret the fact that such

sion could a ~ y event, or without

79. Eight While

be seen perhaps to be having a deterrent-effect on such disputes. In he went on to say, it was for the Executive Board to transmit, with comments, the report in document 117 EX/17 to the General Conference.

speakers tock part in the discussion of this iten of the agenda. nost of them expressed certain doubts about the usefulness of the

Commission, they differed in their opinions es to what attitude should be taken tmards the Comission.

80. Two speakers wondered whether one could not simply do away with this Conmission and use the eventual savings for other purposes.

81. Other speakers stetcd that, altliough they also had some doubts about the usefulness of the Canmission, they feit that hasty decisions should be avoided.

It was pointed out by one speaker that, in m y event, it was not for the Executive Board to decide whether the Commission should be abolished or not.

82. Another spe&ker indicated that the matter meritcil careful reflection, the appropriate forum being the General Conference, and that the possibility

existea for the General Conference to transfer the contingency sum in Unesco's budGet of roughly $10,000 fcr the Commission to other, more useful activities.

83.

possibility of meeting if it were ever called upon to fulfil its role, which eventuality cou16 not be excluded.

It was the view of another speaker that it would be unQise to deprive the Commission of its contingency funds since it would thus be deprived of the

84.

have any operating expenses other than the few pcstcge stamps required to elect its,officers and to mbpt its report by mail, the Cornmission were abolished, he pointed out. national Court of Justice, which was established by the United Nations at a SiGificant expense, during the nineteen sixties Cid not hsve a case before it for a'pericjd of over ten years. Even today the Court was underutilized and yet no one iscruld think of.asking for it to be abolished.

In response to the questions raised, the Director of the Office of Interna- tional Standards and Legal Affairs explained that the Commission did not

Thus there would be no savings if He also recalled that the Inter-

85.

POW= to abolish the Comission in question. F'rotocol which had an indeoendant legal existence. thattreaty,acting manbously in denouncirig the Protoccl, could decide to abclish the Conciliation Carrniissicn.

The important m d perhaps conclusive point which needed to be mcrde, he said, I was that neither the Executive Board nor the Genere1 Conferencc had the

The CGmission was created by a Only the States Parties to

86. After this brief discussion, the Commission decided to recommend that the Executive Board adopt the following draft.decision:

117 EX/37 - page 22


1. Recalling the provisicns of Article 19 of the Protocol instituting a Ccnciliation and Giiod Offices Ccmnission to be responsible for seeking the settlement of any disputes which may arise between States ï'arties to the Convention against Discrimination in Eüucat ion

2. Transmits to the General Conference the Cumission's repcrt on its activities since the twenty-first cession of the General Conference,

117 EX/37 - page 23

Item 7.1 - Recent decisions cad activities of the organizations of -the United Kations system OP relevance to the work of Unesco (117 M/21 and Add.)

87. The Acting Assistat Director-Genera1 for Co-operehion for Development and External Relations introduced this item, recalling thet, in accordance

withdecisions 6.1-6.2 adopted by the Board at its 103rd session, the Board was to discuss and adopt a decision, under this item, only on those questions which are pirt on the agenda of the session at the initiative of the Director-General or of a member @f tke Board. of the Board was required with regard to the issues reported in documents 117 EX/21 and 117 EX/21 Add.; issue be put on the agenda. Board for information only.

In the opinion of tht? Director-General no decision

no member of the Board had requested that any The documents were therefore submitted to the

88. Seven speakers took part in the discussion on this item.

89. One member of the Commission inquired why Eccnomic and Social Council resolution 1983/78 was not brought to the attenti.cn of the Commission as a

separate item. The issue of 'Cross-organizational review of selected major sectors in the medium-term plans of the organizations of the United Nations system' deserved to be discussed by the Commission and a decision of the Board thereon might be desirable.

go.

General?s oral report.

Several other members supported this view and recplled that remarks on this subject had already been made in the plenary in the debate on the Director-

91.

Commission.

One speaker expressed the desire that this resolution, as well as decision 1983/173 of the Economic and Socid Council be made available to the

92.

why some of these communications should be of a confidential nature. stated that the problem of the status of w m e n should be resolved on the aaticnal level.

Two members of the Commission referred to paragraphs 14 a d 15 of document 117 M/21 concerning cornmications on the status of women. They wondered

One member

93.

concerning 'Development and international econmic co-operation' he felt that the response of the agencies of the United Nations system to United Nations decisions wes not prom& enough. 117 M/21 Add. which summarizes resolutinn 1983/50, he wondered why no regiond and subregional bodies of the United Rations cysten were mentione6 es playing a role in the implementation of the International Development Strategy of the Third United IJations Development Decode. the International Development Strategy and wondered whether these deiays were due to slow administrative procedures in the countries ccncerned as well as within the United Nations system or to lack of political will of Men3er States to impie- ment resolutions of the United Nations.

One speaker expressed a general concern over the cantents of the two documents. Quoting several pussagés of the docments before the Board, mainly

Referring to paragraph 22 of document

He referred to delays in implementíng

117 EX/37 - page 24

94.

ture of the existing co-crdination machinery cn the national and internationcl level. k e d agencies, pointing out that the United Hations and each agency have their own governing bodies. level to co-ordinate governments' positions on siailer issues to be adopted in t'ne various bodies of the United Natioiis system.

Another menber of the Commission expressed a similar concern on the lack of implementation but recqpizecl that, in part, this is due to the very struc-

He referred to the agreements betwesn the United Nations and the specid-

He felt that more efforts should be made on the national

95. In his reply the Assistant Director-General a.i., Co-operation for Develop- ment and External Relations Sector, recalled that the Director-General had

mentioned resolutiocs 1983/50 a d 1383/78 in his oral report. Resolution 1983/78 was not put before the Board as a separate item since the Director-General wanted to consult with the Secretary-General and executive hea& ,>f' Specialized Aeencies before informing the Board more ccnpletely on this question. Boar& felt that it should express PA opinion on this subject, this might be done in the decision which tne Board will no doubt wish to sdopt as an outccnie of its debate on the Director-General's oral report, during which the subject was referred to by e number of speakers.

If the

96. The Assistant Director-General a.i. also informed the Commission that the Director-General would undoubtedly report to the Board at one of its future

sessions on the hpcrtant subject of ecmonic and technical co-operation among developing countries (resolution 1983/50).

97.

the qu2stion of alleged violations of humar_ rights end must be treated by the kited ìiations Secretariat as confidential.

With regard to the question cn confidential communications on problems concerning the status of warnen, he stated that these communic8tions relate to

98. The Commission decided to recommend to the Board that it take note of documents 117 EX/21 and 117 M/21 Add.

117 EX/37 - page 25

Item 7.2 - Operational activities for development (1 17 EX/22j 99.

on providing the Commission with additional information on events that had occurred or trends that had emerged since the preparation of document 117 F3[/22. In that connection, he (Yew attention to the emphasis placed on the concept of technicd co-operation monk3 developing countries (TCDC) in the report of the Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation which ECOSOC had just transhtted for exmination to the United Nations General Assembly; the General Assembly on the matter. subject of recommenda2;ions at the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Follow- up and Co-ordination Codttee of the Group of 77 (Tunis, 5-10 Se2tember 19831, at whi'ch Unesco had Seen represented; the Secretariat was currently studying these with close attention. He alao'pointed out that the Director-General had mentioned in his oral report that the Secretariat had been instructed to explore in greater depth in the coming months the conceptual and practical hplications of TCDC for Unesco's activities.

Introducing this iten of the agenda, the Assistant Director-General a.i., Co-operation for Development and External Relations Sector, concentrated

the Board would be informed in due course of the conclusions of The same concept of TCDC had been the

100. With respect to the main trends in multilateral technical co-operation, the Assistant Director-General a.i., Co-operation for Development and External

Relations Sector, indicated that funds for what were temed 'technical assistance' activities availa5le from the World Bank and under funds-in-trust arrangements had come to represent üouble the resources allocated by üYDP; this was a change involving, among other things, greater control by the financing sources over the selection of recipient countries and types of'projects supported.

101. Another important characteristic to be noted, the fissistant Director-General a.i. went on, was the trend for financing bodies to execute more projects

themselves, more and more often without making use of the technical competence of the Sgecialized Agencies, He indicated that the Director-General had already drawn the et-kention of the Executive Board to this problem at the 115th session. Subsequent developments had only confirmed that trend, especially in the case of the World Bank, which now entrusted only three per cent of its technical assist- m c e resources to Unesco. Unesco/World Bank review would make it possible to rectify that situation by comon consent.

It was to be hoped, he said, th8t the current joint

102. The representative of the Director-General also provided information on co-

operation was not yet based on a formal agreement. substantial sums which the Bank was preparing to devote to projects inter alia in the field of educatTon, co-operation with the institution in question was likely to grow. did.

operation with the Asian Development Bank. He pointed out that that CO- However, judging from the

He said the Secretariat would apply itself to ensuring that it

103. Similar remarks on closer co-operation might be made about the Inter-America Development Bank, w;,th which there should be more effective co-operation, in

view of the fact that in that instance there was 8 formal agreement between the two institutions concerned and in view of the interest that had been demonstrated by the Bank in projects in Unesco's field of competence (in quantitative t e m , IDB had put $173,000,000 into such projects as of the end of' August 1983).

117 EX/37 - page 26

104. The Assistant Director-General s.f.., Co-operation for Development and Ex- ternal Relations Sector, gave the Conmission further informztion on how the

funds-in-trust programme worked, emphasiziiig that evaluation criteria and opera- ti0n.d procedures varied consiãerably from one funding source to another. Secretariat shod6 therefore take this diversity into account and adjust its own actiun accordingly.

The

105. To concluCe his remarks, the representetive of the Director-General pointed out how importarit Major Programme VI11 would be in the years ahead, as it

would provide an appropriate conceptual G-d methodological framework for the operational tasks that the Secretariat was carrying out.

106. Fourteen speakers, including the Representative of the UNDP, took the f h o r in the ensuine discussion on this item.

quality and usefulness of document 117 Ec/22, 5ut felt thzt the trends described in it, particularly with regard to the confusion of roles between technical and financial agencies of the United Nations system, carried a risk or" upsetting the ccherence of United Na.tio;ls cperatlonal. action, and provoke8. 8 chaqed apra- tima1 enviruuent for Unesco. governin8 bodies was warranted. In this connection, several speakers propcsed amendments to the draft decision contained in pararyraFh 5b of 117 EX/22, that wouli! (a) riot lhit the Secretariat's res3onse to these chellenges solely to Programne VI11 of 22 C/5, anci (b) request an early re-exar&ation of these issues by the Board. There was a sense of urgency about the need to ensure appropriate responses so that technical co-operation modalities would remin a central element within the range of services Unesco could Frovide to Meaber States. Eight speakers expresset! the view that the erosion of t'rie distinction between technical/specialized agencies m d financial bodies of the United Nations system should be curtailed. Several of them were concerned about the duFlicnticn of specid-ized staffs that was inherent iii the growth of direct sroj'ect bplemerz- tation by such funding bodies as uNT)P and the Worid Bank. to have summet.. up the opinions e,upressed cn this issue when he asserted that each of the parties concerned ought to revert to its original role and functions; the system should 'counter a strategy of usurpations with a strategy of co- ordination'. Several speakers, seeking an explmation for the direct execution of projects 'ay U", asketi whether a sort of 'crisis of ccnfidence< hed not arisen between Unesco and U3iF. T..To speakers sought information on the likely outcome of the Governing Council's decision to allow WDP to provide 'nana~e- nent and other supAiort services' 3n behalf of bilateral ai3 programes. Sub- contracting-the i-lementation node generally employed under 'direct execution'-- was deemed too costly by three speakers, one of whom asked the UIJDP representative for an explitnatlon for UTNDP's frequent recr)urse to such an alternative.

A majority of them praised the

Thus more frequent scrctiny by the Org&.zation's

One speaker apseared

107. Two speakers stressed the need for increased regdar buwet resources to enable the Secretariat to stay apace with the changing requirements of

what was frequently referred to 3s 'the new reality'. A nenber of the Coin- mission inquired cibout the effects of that 'new reality' on the operational work of the Secretariat. autonomous Unesco development su>port fund.

Gne of them sug<ested the need for the creation of an

117 EX/37 - page 27

108. Several speakers mised the issue of overall geo-political allocations of multilateral developnent support, accentuating the special needs of least

developed countries; decline of universal Indicative Plmning Figure (IPF) funding. Another speaker noted that multi-bilateral trust fYmd arrangements. provided the ?pportunity for donor countries, such 6s his own, to redress such distributive anomalies as the prevalence of 'prestige projects' in countries where externcal aid was not reach- ing the poorest.

one of them regretted the distortion inherent in the

109. Still on the issue of priorities within ovt7.~..ll allocations, several speakers noted the salutary effect which resource constraints could have on discipline

in selecting the uses to be made of external resources. In this connection, two speakers insisted on the precedence that should be given to support in the field of science and technolo,v.

110. Self-reliance vas freauently invoked as the central goal of development, with many speakers underlining the advantages of increased ~.eeourse to

national expertise which would, f'urthermore, reduce casts. The related issue of 'collective self-reliance' was raised by several speakers who agrezd that TCDC/L"CDC nust be an integral part of overall developnent strategies and programmes, and underlined the added benefit accruin3 from intra-regional sharing of ex-perience and expertise. Report of the Director-General, 1ookeC forwar6 to the analysis of specific TCDC acticuis undertaken by Unesco. 117 EX/22, which would seem to suggest that the results of promotional nctivities for TCDC by the United Nations system are not well developed as yet. Two Speakers praised the Secretarkt's continued close collcboratiori wtth W C C W them asked when the Joint UNICEF-Unesco document cm certain projects would be available.

One of these speakers, referring to the Oral

Reference was made %o paragraph 23 of d o c m a t

One of

111. Mr. N. Desai, Chief ofthe External Relations Division of the European Office

thanked Unesco for its concern about the effect which declining resources m y have upon the concept of central IPF funding, and hoped that this trend W0d.a be short-lived. He reiterated the remarks he had made at the 115th session of the Executive Boesrc?, namely, that the A¿ministrator held Unesco's competence in hi& esteem and highly valued Unesco's role in UNDP programmes. his emlier statement to the effect that UND? did not intend to expand its use of 'direct earecutriDo';noting that current forecasts s b w Unesco and the UNDP Office of Project Ekecution each holding Q sevez per cent share of the overall prograsme for 1982-1986. & mne the less recalled that g;avï?2mmf?Zlts--not mJDP--d9S%Pate the Executing Agencies for pojects. tion. modalities, the UNI)P representative nated that (a) the role of Regionel Economic &missions was increzsing owing to the Genercl Assembly Resolution on the restructuring of the üevelopment system, (b) iapieinentation by United Nations volunteers was rising 'because of the cost-effecti-reness of that modality, and (c) World Bank execution of UTJDP projects was often sought because of the loan- linkage advantage to recipient countries. contracting, he stated that he had no available data that could ched li@ht 0-fi the question of relative costs.

of UNDP, &dressed the Commission on behalf of the üTDP Adtninistrator. He

He also recalled

As for queries about the use of other implementa-

As for the high cost of sub-

117 EX/37 - page 28

112. One men3er of the Commission eqressed concern that the decision to open the capital of the African Development Bank to non-African industrialized

states might adversely affect the authentically regional character of that Bank.

113. Another speaker soué;ht e@anations for the apparent lack of interest dis- played by the Asian Development Bank with respect to co-cperation with

Unesco.

114. A question was raised concerning co-operation with organizations of the United Nctions system such as the Office of the United Nations i6gh

Comnissiorier fcr Refugees which, while their activities were not strictly speaking of the same tyge as the operational activities dealt with in Oocumcnt 117 M/22, nevertheless had an impact on development.

115. Before replying to the questions raised during the discussion, the Assist- a t Director-General a.i., Co-operation for Development and Ekternal Rela-

tions Sector, expressed gratification thet the d.iscussion had been so rich, showing the interCs-!! that the members of the Commission took in o;,erational Gctivities. the Organization operational axtivities had cons£ituted only a minute "proportion of Vnesco's work, they h8d now come to assum a preponderant yosition, both in terns of the rcsources allocated to then--one spaker had pointec?. out that those resources would exceed the re,@ar budget by forty million dollars in %;he 1984-1985 biennium--and in terns of the efforts devoted to their imclemeritation. In point of fact, this was as it should be in an Organization dedicated to securing human rights, which could not but suffer in conditions OP want, dis- criaination and injustice. development were in all respects insenarable.

Tlisi; interest was indeed justified, for while in the early d q s of

Unesco's regitiar progrme and its action for

116. Answering specific a-uestions put by members of the Commission, the Assist- ant' Director-General a.i., Co-operation for Development mrl External

Relations Sector, st&.ted that the percentege of fellows sturdyinz in &?velo;?ing countries had iricreased from twenty-two per cent in 1979 to twen-by-seven per cent in 1982: suj?sort of thz developing countries themselves. The decrease of the nuni'Ser of experts is due inter d i a to the fact that Unesco has been training for many years national personnel, which were now a'ble to replace international exsertise. The need remains, however, in some caces, fcr expatriate experts and, more importantly, for high-level shor*t-tem consultants: each programme sector has established a roster of possible consultants for their ressective fields of specialization. The ADG/CPX a.i. in this connec6lon referred to-reslrzrks made by one uem5er on -bh? Ltqortance of TCDC, end stressed that there was increasiq exchange of expertise amcng developing countries. As to the question concerning the relative lack cf infomation about the results achieved in promoting TCDC, he referred to the general conclusions reached by the third sessicn of the Hip&- k v e l Cornittee on the Review of TCDC, outlined in paragraph 25 of document 11'7 EX/22, an3 vhich larqeïy explain that situation. by UNDP of mmagement and other support services on behalf of donors, the ADG/CPX a.i. noted that the Governing Council iiad approved this initiative for an experi- mental period of two years, and that Unesco was prepared to co-operate in its implementation. Y'urninp then to a question concerning the functions of resident co-ordinators, he informed the Cormission that ACC would review the natter again when more eqeriance with the system of resident. co-ordinators hac been gained. He agreed with the remrk made by a meiuber that IJnesco's action in the field

efforts in that direction Will be pursued with the expected

As concerns the provision

17 EX/37 - page 29

was not sufficiently known by the wide public, albeit emphasizing the mapitude of the resources and efforts which a complete information of the world's public qinion on this subject would require. bers concerning UNDP's increasing role in project execution, the ADG/CPX a.i. reminded the Commission of the debate which had taken place on that matter at the 115th session, and of the decision that the Board had adooted on that occesion. given to the fact that UKDP continues to develop direct execution, the resre- sentative of the Director-General said that the question should in fact be directed to UNDP itself and reminded the Commission th8t this Fhenomenon is not solely a Unesco concern, but that it affects the other Specialized Agencies as well. Given the good quality of the relationship betwee2 Unesco and UWDP, that phenomenon remains unexplained. volunteers, he acknowledged their usenilness but stressed that there were caces where Unesco could not agree to the replacement of highly-qualified experts by United Nations volunteers. He assured a member of' the Coimilission that the Organizetion was doing its test to utilize non-convertible currencies. the consequences of the 'new reality' which the shift between the respective weights of UNDP and other resources may have on the work of the Secretariat, he state2 that this new situction certainly entails, during a transitional period, an additional work-load and =ore complex administrative approaches for the Secretariat, but thst the latter was so far meeting that challenge successfully.

As to the question put by several men-

As regards the questions raised concerning the explanation to be

Speaking about the utilization of United Nations

As to

117.

fund should be created, considered this suggestion as e-utremely positive. Would the directing bodies of the Organization decide to establish such a fund, it would enable Unesco to play fully its role in assisth6 the development efforts of its Member Stztes in all its fields of competence, insteai! of being sometimes replaced in that Function by other entities, as has been only too often the case.

The reFrecentative of the Director-General, referring to the suggestion made by a member cf the Commission that an autonomous Unesco development

118.

the Director-General, after recalling, as the speaker had Gone, that this was not, strictly speaking, a form of operational activity, stated that the Secretariat WRS well 8 w m e of the seriousness and scale of the problem of ref'u- gees, and was endeavouring to co-operate closely with UTTHCE. example of Unesco's contribution, by means of consultants, to the preparation of a plan of action for refugees in an Asian country; he emphasized that after the preparation of such a plan of action extraordinary resources, which Unesco did not possess, would be required in order to implement it.

In reply to R question about co-operation between Unesco and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the representative of

Re cited the

at the same time, however,

119.

PU the United Nations Specidized Agencies with which the BQnk co-operated. This should not be seen os a problem in relations between the Bank and the other organizations, but rather a result of' the dwindling of the resources at the dis- posai of, in particular, the International Development Association (IDA).

120.

Bank did not wish to establish formai relations with the institutions of the United Nations system, and consequently Unesco was not being treated any differ- ently. Nevertheless, the Secretariat w o d d continue its efforts to develop more active co-operation with the Bank.

The number of posts funded at Unesco by the World E m k group under the co- operative programme had in fact declined., but the sanie was the case with

The relatively low level of co-operation with the Asim Development Bank was due essentially to that institution's o m policy; apparently the

117 EX/37 - page 30

12 1.

117 M/22 would be available by the end of 7983.

The represeRtcAive of the Pirector-Gencrcl infomed the Ccdssj-on th& the joint Unesco-UXICET report referred to in paragrqh 34 of Cocument

122.

PresideEt would resain African in any cese. 'non-regional' countries hcd long been Froviding the 3ulk of the resources cf the African Development Fund, which was managed >y the Bank, without affecting the latter's re5iond character.

The new status of non-African ccuctrics within the African Development Bank would not alter its reFional charocter in any respect, m d its

F1IITthemore, what were temed

123.

117 EX/22, ai=ended cm2 sq@eIiientcd to r e d as follms:

In conclusisn, the Commission deciCe8 to recornend to the kecutive Boazd that it adopt the draft decision appearing in paragraph 54 01' document

The Executive 3ocrC?,

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Having considered the Director-General's report on 'Oj?er- aTiond activities for devclcpznent (fiocurnent 117 EX/22) ,

-- Takes - note of the observations of the Director-Generd. of Umsco TeYerdin.3 the report of the Director-General for T k ~ e l ~ p e ~ t and 1ntcrna:ionnl Economic Co-operatiog j

- Congratulates the Director-General on the modest yet res- lar increese thet he has maneged tc? mhieve over the pnst foui- years in the extra-bud@ay rcscurces devctcd tj activities reiating to development, Cespite the dii'ficui- ties nerrticm? in drsciment 117 EX/22;

Invites Member States once again to increase their c m - tributions to oyerational activities for üevelopment and' in pe?-ticillar to the general UrJDP fu_rlcls, which D.re distributed acccräing to the Indicative Planning Figures;

Fully supscrts Vie Director-General's efforts to strengthen Co-cperation with the Development Banks ,

Th'mks the Member Stztes whose contribctims to firnds-in- trust m a g e d by Unesco hme su5stmtially assisted its opera-kioncil cction and the developing countries that Sene- fit from this action, and --- invites the Director-General to ccntinue his efforts to incresse still further the resources ~ ~ a d 2 available to thz 3rgmizction on this >asis;

Xxpresses its conviction that the activities planned in the Draft Prcgramme m d Budget for 1984-1985 (document 22 C/5) under progrmes 2 and 3 of Major Programne VI11 (Frinciples, !.lethods an3 Strategies of Action for Develop- ment) in yarticular can provide a solid basis for stren$h- ening the Orqanization's action to further the development of its !lember States;

- Invites the Director-General to inform the Executive Board at its lîgth session of developments relating to the questions dealt with in document 117 EX/22.

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