UNESCO: 181ST EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVES LAUNCHING OF A

UNCLAS PARIS FR 000718

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - SEE PARA 2 ADDITION OF F

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM UNESCO
SUBJECT: UNESCO: 181ST EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVES LAUNCHING OF A
NETWORK OF NATIONAL AGAINST RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND OTHER FORMS OF
INTOLERANCE

Ref: A) 08 PARIS FR 002114 B) 09 PARIS FR 000707


1. Uruguay first proposed a network of national authorities against
racism and xenophobia modeled on an existing network of city
authorities during the Spring 2007 Executive Board, depicting it as
an offshoot of UNESCO's "Integrated strategy to combat racism,
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," (adopted by
UNESCO's General Conference in 2003). However, the initial
explanation and supporting documentation for the "network of
national authorities" initiative (as presented at that time and then
again at the Spring 2008 Executive Board) were flawed in several
respects, and resulted in the Board sending the proposal back for
further work and clarification. The Board decided in 2008 to defer
consideration of this proposal in part because it focused primarily
on racism, xenophobia and intolerance problems faced by migrant
populations, an issue that many delegations considered as not within
the scope of UNESCO's core mandate. Moreover, it was not clear
whether this initiative would duplicate work already being done by
the existing "Coalition of Cities against Racism." A number of
Executive Board delegations (the U.S. included) were also reluctant
to see this initiative launched on a global basis, and urged that it
first be tested on an experimental basis within the Latin American
region, where it had its most avid support. The funding
implications of such an initiative were also a matter of concern.


2. The feasibility study for this initiative presented at the 181st
Board session (April 2009),however, overcame many of these
drawbacks and enabled easy, consensus adoption of this initiative on
a scaled-back basis. An important attribute of the "network"
initiative, as approved, is that it will now be initiated on a
"pilot project" basis limited to the Latin America and the Caribbean
region. States in that region may participate, or not, on an
optional basis. The network will aim to complement rather than
duplicate the work already being done by the Coalition of Cities
Against Racism and, importantly, will conform to the other key
understandings set forth in the feasibility study presented at the
181st Board session. Among these understandings are the following:
(a) the initiative would operate under the auspices of UNESCO (b)
UNESCO would provide a modest, one-time sum of $45,000.00 to help
the project get started; (c) the remaining costs will be covered by
the network's members and from other (non-UNESCO) outside sources;
(d) States joining the network will decide which national entities
are to participate in it; and (e) it will promote best practices and
facilitate the exchange of information; and (f) thanks to effective
advocacy by the U.S. delegation, the network concept no longer seeks
to focus also on migrants and migration. It is important to
underline that, in approving this network the Board also implicitly
approved its extension, in principle, to an eventual global reach.
However, the Board has adopted a step-by-step approach toward global
scope and has asked the Director-General to "monitor the functioning
of the network and to keep the Executive Board informed periodically
on the progress achieved."


3. Comment: U.S. persistence in holding this project to strict
scrutiny, while at the same time working constructively with the
Uruguayan delegation to secure their agreement to improvements we
sought, resulted in a potentially troublesome proposal being
significantly scaled back. This "network of national authorities"
concept bears continued close monitoring, particularly at future
sessions when reports on its progress are being made. If the
project remains operationally faithful to the key understandings
reached (as described above),the network should not pose any major
problems. That said, we must still remain vigilant to ensure it
does not seek to become inappropriate or intrusive in the domestic
affairs of UNESCO Member States.
ENGELKEN