Hundred and sixty-seventh Session REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN IRAQ SUMMARY

Transcription

1 ex United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Executive Board Hundred and sixty-seventh Session 167 EX/45 PARIS, 14 August 2003 Original: English Item 9.2 of the provisional agenda REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN IRAQ SUMMARY This document is presented in compliance with decision 166 EX/3.1.1 (III) taken by the Executive Board at its 166th session by which the Director-General was requested to report on progress made regarding the cultural and educational institutions in Iraq. Decision proposed: paragraph 56.

2 167 EX/45 page 3 INTRODUCTION 1. The question of Iraq was an important item during the last session of the Executive Board in view of the preoccupations and concerns expressed regarding the possible repercussions of the conflict, and given the desire of Member States to see UNESCO engaged actively in the reconstruction of the country. Since then, very important developments have followed which have led, among other things, to the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1483, which provides a definition of the role that the United Nations system is due to play in Iraq in terms of not only humanitarian assistance but also reconstruction and the nomination of the Secretary General s Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2. In his recent report to the Security Council (S/2003/715), requested by resolution 1483, the United Nations Secretary-General points out that: The challenge for the United Nations in Iraq is to find meaningful and effective ways to assist the Iraqi people in achieving their goals, and that he endorses the approach taken by his Special Representative, which is based on the twin principles of inclusiveness and empowerment of the Iraqi people, and has capacity-building as its natural corollary. 3. These tasks require considerable efforts from all United Nations institutions, including UNESCO. A clear responsibility is incumbent upon UNESCO even if it is obviously shared with others: namely, to oversee the improvement of the condition of educational and cultural institutions in Iraq, as requested in 166 EX/Decision 3.1.1, to which request this report responds. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN IRAQ A brief overall situation analysis of education in Iraq 4. During the past two years, UNESCO has given special attention to the education needs of Iraq due to the critical conditions to which the country was subjected as well as the recent conflict and the ensuing disruption of the education system. UNESCO has endeavoured throughout to ensure that the right to education and equitable access to educational opportunities, as recommended under EFA, were respected. 5. Although it was one of the most advanced in the Arab region prior to 1990, the education system of Iraq faces enormous problems at the present time. Under the impact of war, sanctions, neglect and isolation, the system fell into a serious decline. Primary education continued to grow, reaching a total of four million nationally, but levels of participation declined, with an estimated 24% of children aged 6 to 11 years in the Centre and South of the country being out-of-school. At secondary level, enrolment in the Centre and South remained stagnant over the last decade. The situation has been exacerbated by the destruction, looting and disruption that has occurred since March of this year. 6. Even under the Oil-for-Food Programme, which was essentially procurement-oriented, UNESCO has placed emphasis on capacity-building, and has continued to stress the need to restore normal functioning of the education system within a process of rehabilitation, reconstruction and renewal. 7. Given the acute shortage of reliable data on the education system in Iraq, UNESCO has prepared a Situation Analysis of Education in Iraq, published in April This has been widely distributed to other agencies and partners, who have expressed their appreciation. It is available also on the UNESCO website.

3 167 EX/45 page 4 Oil-for-Food Programme UNESCO s involvement in humanitarian assistance for Iraq 8. Much of UNESCO s recent work in Iraq has taken place under the umbrella of the Oil-for- Food Programme. In the Centre/South, our role was limited to monitoring the distribution by the Iraqi authorities of supplies to secondary and tertiary education institutions, benefitting some one million students at secondary level, 62,000 students in vocational schools, 57,000 students enrolled in teacher training institutions and almost 300,000 students attending institutions of higher education. Together with UNICEF, UNESCO monitored the importation and use of some $251 million worth of educational supplies imported by the Ministry of Education. In addition, UNESCO was responsible for monitoring all of the $309 million worth of educational supplies imported by the Ministry of Higher Education. UNESCO also facilitated the in-service training of supervisors and secondary-school subject teachers, utilizing extrabudgetary funding. 9. In Northern Iraq, UNESCO s work has been more substantive. It has been directly responsible for programme implementation at the secondary and tertiary levels on behalf of the Government of Iraq. The education system caters to some 200,000 students at the secondary level, 4,000 in vocational schools, 7,000 in teacher-training institutions and 22,000 in institutions of higher education. To date, education programme implementation in Northern Iraq using Oil-for- Food financing has totalled some $76 million, covering education supplies, infrastructure development and training. Under the management of UNESCO, programme outcomes include the following: Rehabilitation/construction of 157 secondary schools and 89 higher education facilities; Transportation of approximately 20,000 rural students to schools and distribution of over $6 million worth of vehicles to educational institutions; Training of 11,000 secondary-school teachers and 1,800 faculty members in higher education; Distribution of 152,000 school desks; Distribution of $1.5 million worth of textbooks for secondary schools and provision of materials to enable the printing of over 2 million textbooks; Labour-market survey to establish current employment needs and trends; School mapping project for secondary education; Support for policy development and the elaboration of a three-year strategic plan; Three multimedia resource centres providing documentation/material in the fields of education, science, culture and other areas of UNESCO s mandate. Further details about UNESCO s participation in the Oil-for-Food Programme can be found in UNESCO s Situation Analysis of Education in Iraq (April 2003). 10. In view of the forthcoming phasing out of the Oil-for-Food Programme in November 2003, as instructed by the Security Council in May 2003, UNESCO is expediting the implementation of its outstanding commitments of $22 million for Northern Iraq. Since May 2003, the Organization has also been given responsibilities for implementing additional projects worth $20 million in Northern Iraq.

4 167 EX/45 page Furthermore, UNESCO has responded positively to the request of the Oil-for-Food Secretariat to implement in South and Central Iraq some $40 million of contracts in secondary and higher education, which were left pending following the demise of the previous government. 12. In order to achieve these extensive implementation targets, UNESCO has been allocated funding for some 41 international staff to complete the phasing out operation by the end of the year. A core staff of five staff will be retained for the closing of the operation at the end of March The services of national staff on the Programme have also been budgeted for the same time periods. The modalities regarding the handing over of the equipment and other materials to national authorities will be determined by the Oil-for-Food Secretariat in New York. Needs assessment and restoration of normalcy 13. UNESCO is presently able to draw upon the services of its national and international staff to facilitate the elaboration of the Organization s strategy for assisting the renewal of the education system in Iraq. These specialists have been collaborating with members of other agencies and organizations when they were based in Larnaka and Amman as well as with those in Baghdad and Northern Iraq, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator s office in Baghdad and NGOs. UNESCO s personnel were amongst the last to be evacuated before the conflict. Over the period May-June 2003, two UNESCO education specialists were based within the Humanitarian Coordinator s Office in Larnaka, to ensure effective liaison with sister agencies. 14. Following the conflict, UNESCO strongly advocated the speedy reactivation of educational institutions and the completion of the current academic year (September 2002-June 2003), interrupted by the conflict in mid-march, in order to restore a sense of normalcy and hope for the future. In this connection, UNESCO facilitated the holding of the end-of-year examinations in Northern Iraq, through logistics and other support, and provided the paper and stationery needed for the holding of the end-of-year school examinations in the Centre and the South. 15. UNESCO has also provided emergency assistance to the Ministries of Education and Higher Education in Baghdad, in the form of some basic materials and equipment. 16. Within the framework of the inter-agency Flash Appeal process, UNESCO has cooperated closely with OCHA and other partners in the area of education. The initial appeal prepared prior to the conflict was revised and launched on 23 June 2003 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. UNESCO activities in the Appeal focus on secondary and post-secondary education while UNICEF s focus is upon primary education. 17. During the various United Nations inter-agency discussions, it was decided that each agency would carry out needs assessment in its area of competence, with a view to responding to the reconstruction needs of Iraq. Since UNESCO puts emphasis on national capacity-building, it wanted to use this exercise to improve the management and needs identification skills of national education managers. In June 2003, the Government of Japan agreed to fund UNESCO s project of Capacity-Building for Rapid Needs Assessment in the Education Sector in Iraq, covering secondary education, teacher training, and vocational, technical and higher education. UNICEF would cover the primary education level. This exercise is anticipated to take about three to four months and will involve UNESCO s international team in Iraq, local staff and specialists. Data are expected to be collected through national and governorate education authorities and entered into databases for the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. On-the-job training will be pursued throughout the exercise.

5 167 EX/45 page 6 Provision of textbooks 18. Given the acute shortage of textbooks in Iraq, and the need to ensure a smooth opening of the new school year in September 2003, UNESCO is making 5 million science and mathematics textbooks available to Iraqi primary-and secondary-school students. This US $10 million textbook quality improvement programme is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and will involve close cooperation with Iraq s Ministry of Education, Iraqi education specialists, the private sector (especially for book production), other United Nations organizations and agencies, and various other partners. 19. The textbook quality improvement programme has three phases: Phase I covers the assessment of existing science and mathematics textbooks and the establishment of an Iraqi Textbook Advisory Council and an International Textbook Advisory Team; Phase II deals with the editing, revision and preparation of textbooks for printing, including the commencement of capacity-building activities; and Phase III covers the printing and distribution of textbooks. Following a slow start due to the difficult situation prevailing in Baghdad, the pace of progress picked up considerably so that Phases I and II were completed before the end of July The Iraqi Textbook Advisory Council, comprising a team of 30 Iraqi experts, and assisted by a team of three international experts, met in Baghdad from 5 July to 14 July 2003 to review relevant textbooks covering grades 1 to 12. The UNESCO Guidebook on Textbook Research and Textbook Revision, translated into Arabic, along with additional parameters provided by USAID, served as guidelines for the review process. The aim is that the Iraqi textbooks will be gender appropriate, politically neutral and free from bias. By the end of the review process, which was completed on 14 July, 48 textbooks had been reviewed and 26 selected titles were awaiting approval for printing. A similar review process concerning science and mathematics textbooks in Kurdish was completed by 27 July. Phase III began with visits by the UNESCO team to printing houses in Baghdad, Northern Iraq and Amman to make arrangements for printing and distribution. It is anticipated that printing and distribution will be a two-stage process that will see the delivery of certain textbooks by September 2003 and the delivery of others no later than March These initial activities in the area of textbook production and distribution represent a first step towards the reinforcement of a quality education system in Iraq and its renewal in line with the learning needs of students at primary and secondary levels. Following this stage, the country will, no doubt, wish to take responsibility for updating its curriculum, textbooks, and other learning materials, and UNESCO stands ready to assist in this more comprehensive, long-term process in support of the Iraqi education system. Reconstruction of higher education 21. UNESCO is in discussion with several partners regarding the renewal of higher education in Iraq. Most notably, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misnad of Qatar, UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, has generously offered support for the recovery of higher education in Iraq. A Memorandum of Understanding to establish an International Fund for the Restoration of Education in Iraq was signed by Her Highness and the Director-General of UNESCO on 23 June 2003, with an initial donation of $15 million from the Government of Qatar. A Comprehensive Agreement between UNESCO and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, regarding the structure and functioning of the Fund, is in preparation. The Fund will be open to other donors. The Director-General and Her Highness have received felicitations from the United Nations Secretary General for this initiative.

6 167 EX/45 page UNESCO has been in discussions with the United States Institute of Peace and the Centre for International Conflict Resolution at Columbia University regarding programmes aimed at consensus-building and qualitative improvements in the field of higher education in Iraq. Cooperation under the UNDG framework 23. UNESCO has been participating in the UNDG Task Force on Iraq and has attended its various meetings, notably that of 24 June 2003 in New York, where the representatives of the CPA, Iraqi authorities, United Nations agencies, financial institutions, NGOs and donors exchanged information on the reconstruction needs of Iraq. It was proposed at the meeting to mobilize donor support in order to respond adequately to the budgetary constraints confronting the reconstruction programmes of the country, particularly for the next year. The situation is serious in view of the fact that the Oil-for-Food Programme, on which the majority of the population depended for its food baskets and other services, will be phased out in November A donor conference was thus proposed for mid-october In order to prepare the project documents required for the proposed donor conference, UNESCO is participating in the UNDG-led inter-agency sectoral needs assessment process for Iraq, aimed at identifying the major constraints and resource requirements, essentially for the financial year UNDG has identified 14 sectors requiring priority attention, including the education sector. The Bretton Woods institutions are being encouraged to take an active part in this process. The World Bank has thus been requested to coordinate the report for the education sector, with UNESCO covering the input for secondary, vocational, technical and tertiary education, and UNICEF for primary education. During his initial mission both in Baghdad and Paris, the World Bank coordinator held technical discussions with UNESCO staff for preparing their common strategy. UNESCO also takes part in the inter-agency teleconferences organized by UNDG, so as to ensure the full participation of the agencies not based in New York. The inter-agency needs assessment document will serve for mobilizing resources at the donors conference anticipated for mid-october Towards a framework for educational reconstruction 25. In the framework of its education strategy, UNESCO s main efforts regarding educational reconstruction and renewal focus on capacity-building. The guiding principle of UNESCO s interventions is to accompany and assist the national education authorities in achieving EFA goals, respecting international norms and standards regarding the preparation of young people to assume their role as responsible citizens in a democratic society. The Organization emphasizes national coherence and a sector-wide approach to education, formal and non-formal, so that it can contribute to consolidating national unity and the reconciliation process. Intersectorality will constitute a key ingredient in addressing education sector issues holistically, taking fully into consideration important dimensions such as the rich Iraqi cultural, historical and scientific heritage. 26. UNESCO is preparing project proposals for provision of technical assistance and training for Iraqi specialists, teachers and administrators in key areas such as: policy formulation, sector review and system renewal; educational planning and management; curriculum reform, renewal and development; revision and renewal of textbooks and teaching/learning materials;

7 167 EX/45 page 8 initial and in-service teacher training; ICTs in support of education, including open and distance learning. 27. Girls education is a key dimension of the drive to achieve all of the EFA goals. UNESCO is completing the construction of a model secondary school for girls in Baghdad, to be provided with modern furniture and equipment. The school could play a role in the development of the country s new education programmes and curriculum. 28. Educational renewal is indispensable for making Iraq a thriving, prosperous and peaceful country. An Iraq of this kind modern, developed, open and engaged actively with the worlds of science, technology, communication, and culture will be a boon to its region and the wider world. The potential of Iraq to become a powerhouse of economic development and scientific-intellectual vitality is enormous. Given its vast natural resources, Iraq has an opportunity to invest in education, science, culture and communication and, through the enrichment of its human resources, to make a new start. CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN IRAQ UNESCO s call to protect and preserve Iraqi cultural heritage 29. Iraq, situated in an important junction between East and West, is generally referred to as the cradle of civilizations. Its unique cultural heritage is distinguished by major contributions from a series of kingdoms from the fourth millennium B.C. onwards notably the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Achaemenids and Abbasids. 30. Since the 1991 Gulf War, Iraqi cultural heritage has suffered considerably from a long period of looting and neglect. In line with its constitutional mandate, UNESCO has been cooperating closely with the Iraqi authorities in safeguarding and preserving Iraqi cultural heritage. Since 1976, UNESCO has been involved in training programmes, the delivery of equipment and technical material to the Iraqi Museum and the National Centre for the Restoration of Manuscripts in Baghdad, the provision of technical assistance in preventive conservation and conservation plans for movable and immovable property, and the preparation of management plans for archaeological sites and historic buildings. In particular, UNESCO s assistance contributed to the restoration of the archaeological site of Babylon and of the Abbasid Palace and Bayt al-hikma (Madrasa Alà iya) in Baghdad, to the plan of renovation of the historic city of Basra and, with the assistance of ICCROM, to the setting up of the Baghdad Regional Training Centre for the restoration of cultural heritage. UNESCO s active role led to the reopening of the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad in April The harsh conditions facing Iraqi cultural heritage have been exacerbated by the recent conflict and by looting in the country, in particular of the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad. The latter housed many unique and outstanding examples of Iraqi cultural heritage. Pillage and vandalism of cultural property, historic buildings and archaeological sites have been the most immediate consequences, causing irreversible damage and loss for humanity in general and for the memory of the Iraqi people in particular. The extensive pillage of the archaeological sites in the South of the country such as Isin, Tell Bismaya (the ancient Adab), Umma and Umm al Aqarib caused incalculable damage to these important vestiges of the culture which flourished in Iraq during the third and second millennia B.C.

8 167 EX/45 page 9 Building UNESCO s initial response to the situation facing Iraqi cultural heritage 32. Even before the start of the looting of the Iraqi Museum of Baghdad in April 2003, UNESCO strengthened its efforts to alert the international community to the need to protect Iraqi cultural heritage and about the risk of damage in case of armed conflict. Following the looting of the Iraqi Museum of Baghdad on 11 April 2003, several measures were taken. On learning of the pillage at the Iraqi Museum, UNESCO immediately alerted the Governments of countries neighbouring Iraq, as well as the American and British authorities, to request their assistance in enforcing the control of borders to prevent the illicit traffic of Iraqi cultural property. 33. Three experts meetings on Iraqi cultural heritage have been organized by UNESCO (two in April 2003 and one in July/August 2003) to assess the situation and define the main lines of its coordination and emergency plan of action. The first meeting was convened by the Director- General of UNESCO at Paris Headquarters on 17 April 2003, a week after the looting of the Iraqi Museum. Some 30 international experts, as well as representatives of relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as ICCROM, ICOM, ICOMOS and ALECSO, attended this meeting. The second meeting, held in London on 29 April 2003, was organized in cooperation with the British Museum and focused on the urgent needs for the rehabilitation of the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad. 34. The first two meetings resulted in a number of recommendations establishing urgent measures to protect Iraqi cultural heritage in general, fight against the illicit traffic of cultural property, prohibit the export of all artefacts of historical value from Iraq, and ban the international trade in objects of Iraqi cultural heritage. Moreover, the experts convened at the meetings recommended the urgent dispatch of an assessment mission to Baghdad, under UNESCO s coordination. 35. Meanwhile, UNESCO was also invited to co-chair a meeting held on 5 and 6 May 2003 at INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon. The meeting, attended by some 70 experts, dealers, representatives of museums and customs agents, focused on Iraqi stolen properties and ways to recover them. It emphasized the need for worldwide cooperation in tracking down stolen cultural property and the importance of having synchronized and interlinked databases about stolen objects. It recognized the need to urgently set up a database of Iraqi stolen cultural properties, to be developed in cooperation with INTERPOL. The construction of the Iraqi stolen property database, undertaken in close consultation with INTERPOL and under the scientific leadership of UNESCO, was launched following the signing of a special agreement between the two institutions in Paris on 8 July 2003, within the existing UNESCO-INTERPOL Framework Agreement. This collaboration will also seek in the long-term to establish international standards in cataloguing collections. Networking among scientific institutions which have already published their data on Iraqi cultural heritage is under way. 36. A first expert mission under UNESCO coordination visited Baghdad from 15 to 20 May 2003, in order to carry out a preliminary assessment of the extent of damage and loss to cultural property in Iraq and in particular of the Iraqi Museum, the Baghdad National Library, Bayt al Hikma and the Abbasid Palace, as well as elaborate a first report on the state of Iraqi cultural heritage in Baghdad. The mission focused on questions related to the theft of cultural objects, the preparation of an inventory for the Iraqi Museum and the fine-tuning of an action plan aimed at restoring the principal cultural institutions of the city. The immediate measures identified aimed in particular at enabling the employees of the museums to resume their activities. The mission had the opportunity to extensively assess the damage in the Iraqi Museum and establish a list of priority actions in coordination with the Director of the Museum, Ms Nawala Mutawalli, the Director of Research, Mr Donny George, and the Director-General of the Iraqi Antiquities Department,

9 167 EX/45 page 10 Mr Jaber Khalil, and under the supervision of Ambassador Piero Cordone, the Advisor for Culture designated by the Coalition Provisional Authority. 37. On 23 May 2003, the United Nations Security Council issued resolution 1483, article 7 of which calls upon UNESCO to assist in the implementation of the decision that all Member States shall take appropriate steps to facilitate the safe return to Iraqi institutions of Iraqi cultural property and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific, and religious importance illegally removed from the Iraq National Museum, the National Library, and other locations in Iraq since the adoption of resolution 661 (1990) of 6 August 1990, including by establishing a prohibition on trade in or transfer of such items and items with respect to which reasonable suspicion exists that they have been illegally removed. 38. A second UNESCO expert mission visited Iraq from 28 June to 6 July The aim of the mission was to provide an extensive assessment of the situation of the major monuments, archaeological sites and cultural institutions around the country in order to ensure an international coordination of efforts in the overall process for the rehabilitation of the cultural heritage of Iraq. The conditions of museums, historic buildings, archives and libraries, and archaeological sites in the North and South of the country have been assessed. 39. In view of the prospective opening of a UNESCO Office in Iraq, a liaison expert has been recently appointed in Baghdad by the Director-General of UNESCO to ensure coordination between UNESCO, the Coalition Provisional Authority, and the authorities responsible for Iraqi cultural heritage, in particular the Iraqi Department of Antiquities. 40. It should be noted that, on 2 July 2003, the site of Ashur was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and on the World Heritage List in Danger. It is the second Iraqi site, after Hatra (1985), to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Developing and consolidating UNESCO s strategic response to the situation facing Iraqi cultural heritage 41. On the basis of UNESCO s long experience in coordinating international efforts for the protection and rehabilitation of cultural heritage in post-conflict situations, UNESCO organized on 16 July 2003 in Paris a coordination meeting of all its Member States aimed at channelling the offers of assistance towards the priority needs and scheduling them within a feasible time frame. The meeting was based on the assessments provided by the first two UNESCO expert missions which enabled UNESCO to identify short- and long-term needs and define, according to priorities indicated by the Iraqi authorities for cultural heritage, a consolidated strategy for the rehabilitation and preservation of the Iraqi cultural heritage. 42. Within the framework of the UNESCO Action Plan for the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage, priority domains where financial assistance is sought have been earmarked as follows: (i) Museums, libraries, archives and collections: rehabilitate the buildings and envisage suitable relocation of collections, if needed; ensure appropriate environmental storage conditions; sustain institutional reform and capacity-building for local staff; provide materials and equipment for conservation work as well as furniture; secure the buildings and their collections; ensure conservation, consolidation and restoration of the most threatened objects in situ or outside the country, if urgently needed; establish computerized inventories of collections; rehabilitate displays and public areas; and devise museological programmes.

10 167 EX/45 page 11 (ii) Archaeological sites and historic buildings: secure sites and monuments in order to fight looting; encourage capacity-building; devise targeted emergency conservation measures on sites and monuments at risk to prevent collapse and significant deterioration; document sites and monuments at risk; set standards in documentation procedures and documenting techniques; devise conservation and management plans as well as rescue excavations for endangered sites. 43. The Third UNESCO Experts Meeting was jointly organized by UNESCO and the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in Tokyo from 31 July to 2 August 2003 and gathered 30 international experts to focus on the outcomes of the two UNESCO assessment missions to Iraq, with particular regard to issues concerning the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad. The third meeting recommended in particular to the Director-General of UNESCO that an International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of Iraqi Cultural Heritage be established under UNESCO auspices based on its long experience acquired in Cambodia, Bosnia and, most recently, in Afghanistan. The establishment of an International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of Iraqi Cultural Heritage is proposed in the draft decision of the present document and the draft Statutes of such a Committee are contained in the Annex. 44. The proposed Committee would consist of representatives of the future Iraqi government, donor countries and institutions, as well as outstanding specialists in Iraqi cultural heritage. 45. Regular reviews by this Committee would allow the Director-General to ensure that assistance is carried out to the highest internationally recognized standards and to avoid duplication of effort or divergence of opinion of any kind. The International Coordinating Committee would also constitute an efficient fund-raising tool in the field of cultural heritage protection, as interested donor countries and institutions would be invited to sessions of the Committee as non-voting participants. 46. The Director-General therefore submits to the Executive Board for its approval the Draft Statutes of such a Committee in the Annex. International support 47. Since the looting of the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad, the Governments of Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Flanders and Turkey, generously offered their financial support for the implementation of field projects. Moreover, Italy contributed to the preparation of the UNESCO first experts meeting in Paris in April 2003 and Japan financed the second UNESCO expert mission to Iraq as well as the third UNESCO experts meeting in Tokyo on 31 July 2 August Switzerland s support enabled UNESCO to start the construction of the international database of Iraqi stolen cultural property under the UNESCO-INTERPOL Agreement. So far, other UNESCO Member States, such as Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Norway, Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom also expressed their willingness to contribute to the protection of the Iraqi cultural heritage, offering their financial support and/or technical assistance. 48. A special account for the Iraqi cultural heritage has been opened at UNESCO aimed at funding projects for the rehabilitation of Iraqi cultural institutions, historic buildings and sites. FREE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA 49. Support for media development was identified by the United Nations Secretary-General as a priority area of intervention in his recent report to the Security Council, where it is stated that: The

11 167 EX/45 page 12 development of free and independent media will assist in the creation of an environment conducive to free elections and fair elections, and in promoting a pluralistic society and a culture of respect for human rights. Currently, however, Iraqis feel that there is a lack of information, particularly from independent broadcast media sources. After decades of suppression, there is a thirst for information originating in Iraq. In his reports to the United Nations, Mr Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, has also stressed the crucial importance of media development in Iraq. 50. At present there is a rich output of print media in post-war Iraq, some of it due to the entrepreneurial and professional skills of returned Iraqis, some produced by Iraqi journalists who have lost their former jobs. The broadcast sector is mainly organized by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), which has launched and run radio and television programming as well as two newspapers. 51. Most of the media outlets, however, have very politicized backgrounds and some titles are far from providing fair and accurate reporting. There are few experienced media professionals within Iraq. Most journalists have been working for the Ba ath Party or they have just recently come back to Iraq. On the management and technical side of the media, there is also a lack of experienced staff to take Iraqi media further. The absence of relevant media legislation, not to mention the rule of law and a broader democratic culture, impede the free flow of information and debate so essential to professional media. 52. A coordinated and comprehensive strategy for media assistance is much needed. UNESCO is in a privileged position to provide such a comprehensive strategy and to ensure coordination. This strategy must comprise both the establishment of resourceful structures that will ensure the urgent provision of quality, impartial information and middle- and long-term capacity-building that can ensure the transformation of state media into public service media and the development of a true market for free and independent media in Iraq. 53. The immediate need is, first of all, to secure good quality and fair information in the Iraqi broadcast media. The development of a truly independent radio station to broadcast both news and entertainment should be considered. Secondly, in his reports to the United Nations, the Special Representative has suggested the immediate establishment of an Iraqi Media Centre to serve as a coordinating and facilitating body for both humanitarian information and media development. 54. UNESCO supports these two immediate initiatives and, furthermore, points to the necessity of engaging in a comprehensive media development programme in Iraq. In this light, UNESCO warmly welcomed the request of UNDG in late July that it undertake the needs assessment concerning media development and press freedom in Iraq. Preparation of the media-related input for the needs assessment is scheduled for completion during August ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNESCO OFFICE IN BAGHDAD 55. In order to perform the activities necessary for the fulfilment of its responsibilities in Iraq in the period ahead, especially in terms of addressing the immediate humanitarian assistance situation as well as medium- and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction needs arising within the Organization s fields of competence, it is desirable that UNESCO establishes a strong and enduring presence in the country. To this end, the approval of the Executive Board is hereby sought for the immediate establishment of a UNESCO Office in Baghdad.

12 167 EX/45 page 13 PROPOSED DRAFT DECISION 56. In the light of the above, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: The Executive Board, 1. Having examined document 167 EX/45, 2. Recognizing the importance of Iraqi cultural heritage and the need to assist the Iraqi people to recover their national identity through the reappropriation of the legacy of shared history and values, 3. Thanks the Director-General for the prompt action undertaken by UNESCO for the improvement of educational and cultural institutions in Iraq, 4. Bearing in mind the major responsibility entrusted to UNESCO by United Nations Security Council resolution 1483, article 7, for the overall coordination of efforts aimed at the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage, 5. Noting the outcomes of the Third UNESCO Experts Meeting on the Safeguarding of Iraqi Cultural Heritage jointly organized by UNESCO and the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan (BUNKACHO) in Tokyo on 31 July-2 August 2003, 6. Approves the proposal submitted by the Director-General for the establishment of an International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of Iraqi Cultural Heritage and its Statutes, as annexed to this decision; 7. Authorizes the Director-General to open a UNESCO Office in Baghdad as soon as possible; 8. Appeals to Member States, intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental agencies and foundations to continue to assist UNESCO in its efforts to contribute to processes of reconstruction and capacity-building in its fields of competence for the benefit of Iraq and its people.

13 167 EX/45 Annex Article 1 ANNEX STATUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE FOR THE SAFEGUARDING OF IRAQI CULTURAL HERITAGE An International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding of Iraqi Cultural Heritage is hereby established (hereinafter referred to as the Committee ). Article 2 The Committee shall advise the Director-General who will inform the Iraqi authorities, Member States and other partners on measures to improve and reinforce international cooperation for the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage, and more precisely on: (a) (b) (c) a policy framework for immediate and long-term heritage protection and the definition of priorities and practical standards according to the funds and technical assistance available or forthcoming in the near future; concrete programmes and international assistance of the highest international standards; the progress of the various activities in support of the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage in order to avoid duplication or conflicts of any kind; (d) the exchange of knowledge on cultural sites, museums and cultural traditions throughout the country; (e) identification of the funds available from the donor countries and other partners in order to ensure their proper coordination, as well as identification of possible supplementary funding and technical assistance for the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage; Article 3 (f) assistance to the Iraqi authorities in implementing or elaborating the necessary legislative action to protect their cultural heritage and in preparing nominations of potential world heritage properties for inscription on the World Heritage List. 1. The Committee shall be composed of experts who shall be appointed in their personal capacities by the Director-General from a list of experts submitted by Member States, foundations, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations funding or implementing activities for the safeguarding of Iraqi cultural heritage. At least three members of the Committee shall be from Iraq. 2. The normal term of office of members of the Committee shall be four years. Members of the Committee shall be eligible for reappointment. In the event of the resignation, incapacity or death of a member of the Committee, the Director-General shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of his or her term.

14 167 EX/45 Annex page 2 3. In addition to the members of the Committee, and the observers mentioned in Article 8, the Director-General may invite to sessions of the Committee, as non-voting participants, the following: (a) persons who by reason of their special knowledge and experience can assist the Committee in its work; (b) representatives of funding/aid agencies which are active in Iraq in the relevant areas of cultural heritage and which, in the judgement of the Director-General, have experience that can contribute to the work of the Committee; Article 4 (c) representatives of international and regional non-governmental organizations which may be involved in the activities implemented in Iraq in the relevant areas of cultural heritage, in accordance with the directives concerning UNESCO s relations with nongovernmental organizations. 1. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be appointed by the Director-General for a period of four (4) years. The Committee shall elect its Vice-Chairpersons and Rapporteur for the same term. 2. The Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and the Rapporteur will form the Bureau of the Committee. They shall be eligible for further terms, and in any event shall remain in office until the election/appointment of the new members of the Bureau. 3. The Director-General shall convene the Bureau and shall be represented at its meetings. 4. In the interval between sessions, the Bureau shall ensure the execution of tasks entrusted to it by the Committee. Article 5 1. The Director-General shall designate members of the UNESCO Secretariat to represent him or her on the Committee and the Bureau without the right to vote. 2. The secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by the UNESCO Secretariat. Article 6 The Director-General shall convene sessions of the Committee, Bureau meetings or small working meetings on certain aspects of the activities of the Committee as and when he or she deems it necessary. Article 7 The travel and subsistence expenses of Committee members and of persons referred to in Article 3, subparagraph 3(a), may be borne by UNESCO in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations of the Organization.

15 167 EX/45 Annex page 3 Article 8 1. Member States and Associate Members of UNESCO may send observers to sessions of the Committee. 2. The United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has concluded mutual representation agreements may send representatives to sessions of the Committee. 3. The Director-General may extend invitations to send observers to sessions of the Committee, to: (a) (b) organizations of the United Nations system with which UNESCO has not concluded mutual representation agreements; intergovernmental or international non-governmental organizations. Article 9 1. At its first session, the Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure which shall be submitted to the Director-General for approval. 2. Each member of the Committee shall have one vote. 3. The agenda of the sessions of the Committee shall be drawn up by the Director-General. 4. After each session and at least once a year, the Committee shall present a report on its work and recommendations to the Director-General. The Director-General shall inform the Executive Board of the results of the work of the Committee. Article 10 These Statutes may be amended by the Executive Board, on its own initiative or following proposals of the Director-General. Article 11 The Committee s mandate shall expire upon the decision of the Director-General after consultation with the Executive Board.