RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS SUMMARY

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1 1 Executive Board Hundred and eighty-first session 181 EX/44 PARIS, 13 March 2009 Original: English/French Item 44 of the provisional agenda RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, FOUNDATIONS AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS SUMMARY The Director-General submits this document to the Executive Board pursuant to 174 EX/Decision 31, 177 EX/Decision 57, 178 EX/Decision 13 and 34 C/Resolution 59, and in accordance with the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and those governing UNESCO s relations with foundations and similar institutions. There are no additional policy implications of a financial or administrative nature. Action expected of the Executive Board: proposed decision in paragraph 13.

2 181 EX/44 INTRODUCTION 1. Pursuing its revitalization process and strengthening its dialogue and cooperation with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the Committee on International NGOs will again convene a two-day meeting at the 181st session of the Executive Board (16-17 April 2009). Two thematic debates will be held during this session: a round table on the role of NGOs in the normative process in the field of culture, and an open forum on the role and possible actions of development actors, including NGOs and civil society, in the present context of a multifaceted global crisis. The Committee will examine statutory matters concerning admissions, reclassification and renewals of NGOs and foundations. The present document also informs of various other issues relating to NGOs. I. THEMATIC DEBATES 2. On the first day, a round table will be held on the role of NGOs in the normative process in the field of culture. UNESCO is the only organization in the United Nations system to have a specific mandate in the field of culture, which it strives to fulfil inter alia through its standard-setting action, one of its main functions for almost 60 years now. In this way, numerous international instruments conventions, recommendations, declarations have been adopted by the General Conference of the Organization in the main areas of culture: cultural and natural heritage, movable cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage and contemporary creativity. They constitute a coherent set of complementary texts. It is interesting to note that while the acts of approval are the responsibility of the Member States, civil society, more particularly through the NGOs representing it, has always played an important role during the different stages of sensitization, reflection, even elaboration and, of course, support for implementation. It is this role that will be examined in its different forms and evolution over time. 3. On the second day, an Open Forum will be organized for discussions in the current context of the global crisis. The world has entered into a multifaceted crisis which looks set to last: financial crisis, food crisis, energy crisis, crisis linked to climate change, crisis of the growth in inequality. This crisis threatens, in addition to social cohesion and global stability, the still fragile progress made in the field of development. The poorest and the most vulnerable risk being worst affected. All the development actors, including the NGOs and civil society, should join forces to work out common responses to what some people are calling the perfect storm. The role played by the United Nations, and by UNESCO in particular, seems to be more relevant than ever. International commitments must be respected and the social sectors protected: the world has to invest in its future. This session will provide an opportunity to have an open discussion among different stakeholders, NGOs, Member States and the Secretariat, on this critical issue and reflect upon the role and future of NGOs in the context of globalization. II. ADMISSION, RECLASSIFICATION AND RENEWAL OF NGOs AND FOUNDATIONS 4. Pursuant to the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with non-governmental organizations and those governing UNESCO s relations with foundations and similar institutions, the following points will be called to the attention of the Executive Board. A. Admissions to operational relations 5. The Executive Board is informed of decisions by the Director-General on admissions to operational relations with respect to the following 11 organizations (corresponding fact sheets are provided in Part I of document 181 EX/ONG.2): Academy for Educational Development New Humanity International Working Party for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement (Docomomo International)

3 181 EX/44 page 2 Communauté Africaine de Culture OJEP International European Dyslexia Association Friendship Ambassadors Foundation International Association for Political Science Students International Conference Volunteers Stichting eifl.net World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations B. Admission to formal associate relations 6. Following the recommendation of the Director-General, the Executive Board is invited to decide on reclassification to formal associate relations with UNESCO of the International Scientific Council for Island Development (INSULA) (corresponding fact sheet on this NGO is provided in Part II of document 181 EX/ONG.2). 7. In 1994, encouraged by UNESCO, the International Union of Technical Associations and Organizations (UATI) and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) founded the International Council of Engineering and Technology (ICET), in order to form a large umbrella NGO whose mission was to gather the whole of the world of the Engineers and Technology by the federation of the professional organizations dealing with these sciences. In accordance with the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with NGOs, ICET was reclassified to formal associate relations in However, it appeared throughout the years, that the two founding partners still continued to maintain separate working relations with UNESCO s Natural Sciences Sector and that the best option for both NGOs and UNESCO was to dissolve ICET. Consequently, taking into consideration both NGOs long-standing and fruitful official cooperation with UNESCO and the fact that they have maintained formal associate relations with UNESCO through ICET over 13 years, the request of the following two NGOs to be separately admitted to formal associate relations has been supported by the Science Sector. The Director-General thus recommends to the Executive Board the admission to formal associate relations with UNESCO of the following two NGOs (corresponding fact sheets are provided in Part II of document 181 EX/ONG.2): International Union of Technical Associations and Organizations World Federation of Engineering Organizations C. Renewals 8. In accordance with Article I.1.1 of the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), formal relations that NGOs maintain with UNESCO shall be established for renewable periods of six years. The Executive Board is therefore invited to decide upon the renewal of formal relations with the following 48 NGOs and networks for another six-year period. The individual fact sheets for these organizations are provided in Part III of document 181 EX/ONG.2. NGOs in formal associate relations International Association of Universities World Association of Newspapers Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service International Federation of Journalists Education International

4 181 EX/44 page 3 NGOs in formal consultative relations Agency of Francophonie Universities Amnesty International Association of Asian Social Science Research Councils Association of African Universities Association of Commonwealth Universities European University Association Inter-American Press Association International Association of Broadcasting International Association for Media and Communication Research International Society of City and Regional Planners International Reading Association World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters World Islamic Call Society Asian Media Information and Communication Centre Club of Rome World Press Freedom Committee Committee to Protect Journalists Community of Mediterranean Universities International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers World Conference of Religions for Peace Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences International Council for Adult Education International Council for Traditional Music International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art French-Speaking Radio and Television International Council International Council for Open and Distance Education World Crafts Council International Federation of Film Archives International Federation of University Women International Federation for Human Rights International Federation for Information Processing World Federation of Teacher s Unions International Press Institute International Coordination Council of Educational Institutions Alumni (Ex Corporation Incorvuz) Catholic International Education Office World Organization of the Scout Movement Inter-American Organization for Higher Education Reporters sans Frontières International International Union of Architects International Publishers Association International Radio and Television University 9. In accordance with Article II.3 of the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with foundations and similar institutions, official relations that foundations and similar institutions maintain with UNESCO shall be established for renewable periods of six years. The Executive Board is therefore invited to take note of the Director-General s decision to renew official relations with the following two foundations for another six-year period. The individual fact sheets for these foundations are provided in Part IV of document 181 EX/ONG.2.

5 181 EX/44 page 4 Foundations Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation Foundation for UNESCO Education for Children in Need III. OTHER ISSUES RELATING TO COOPERATION WITH NGOS 10. The sexennial report by the Executive Board to the General Conference on the contributions made to UNESCO s activities by non-governmental organizations ( ) (34 C/27) recommended, among other things, the improvement of the functionalities of the NGO database and identification of members or branches of international NGOs maintaining official relations with UNESCO and active at the national and/or regional levels. The Section for Non-Governmental Organizations has initiated, in cooperation with the Union of International Associations (UIA) (NGOs in formal associate relations), the development of this new interface for UNESCO and all its stakeholders. This will lead to the improvement of the cooperation between UNESCO and the NGOs that maintain official relations, at the regional and national levels. In order to ensure that the new database is fully comprehensive, the UIA will contact all the NGOs in relations and, if necessary, consult field offices and National Commissions for UNESCO. The database, which will be updated on a regular basis, should be installed and become operational by the fourth quarter of Further to the adoption by the General Conference at its 34th session of the Directives concerning the use of the name, acronym, logo and Internet domain names of UNESCO (ref. 34/Resolution 86), NGOs may no longer use the name or acronym of UNESCO for Internet domain names of their websites or addresses. Consequently, in order to comply with the above-mentioned Directives, UNESCO will discontinue the hosting of such websites and accounts. NGOs concerned were thus invited to take all necessary measures to comply with these new Directives. In this respect, it has been decided to grant NGOs the same deadline as the one provided to Permanent Delegations. 12. In order to ensure the more effective application of section I.8.3(b)(iii) of the Directives concerning UNESCO s relations with non-governmental organizations, which states that, as far as is possible, office accommodation may be provided for the NGOs enjoying formal associate relations with UNESCO, draft contracts will be signed shortly with the NGOs concerned that have offices in NGO House (Building VI Bis). The specific provisions of these contracts will be adapted to the different existing situations and the NGOs that are not in formal associate relations will no longer be able to use these facilities free of charge. Action expected of the Executive Board 13. After examining the present document, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: The Executive Board, 1. Recalling 174 EX/Decision 31, 177 EX/Decision 57, 178 EX/Decision 13 and 34 C/Resolution 59, 2. Having examined documents 181 EX/44 and 181 EX/ONG.2, 3. Appreciates the continued efforts made by the Committee on International Non- Governmental Organizations to strengthen the cooperation with NGOs in the various fields of UNESCO s competence and at international, regional and national levels; Paragraph to be completed in the light of the Committee s various thematic debates.

6 181 EX/44 page 5 5. Takes note of the Director-General s decisions concerning the admission to operational relations of the organizations listed in Part II.A of document 181 EX/44; 6. Decides to admit to formal associate relations the non-governmental organizations listed in Part II.B of document 181 EX/44; 7. Further decides to renew formal associate relations and formal consultative relations with the non-governmental organizations and networks listed in Part II.C of document 181 EX/44; 8. Takes note of the Director-General s decisions concerning the renewal of official relations with the foundations listed in Part II.C of document 181 EX/44. Printed on recycled paper