General Conference Twenty-ninth Session, Paris 1997

Transcription

1 General Conference Twenty-ninth Session, Paris C 29 C/61 25 October 1997 Original: French Item 4.16 of the agenda REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE SITUATION OF THE CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, ON THAT OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND ON PROGRESS IN EXECUTING THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WOMEN IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Source: 152 EX/Decision OUTLINE Background: In 28 C/Resolution 5.14 the General Conference requested the Director-General to submit to it, at its twenty-ninth session, through the Executive Board, a report on the activities conducted by UNESCO in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Executive Board, in 152 EX/Decision 10.4, decided to submit to the twentyninth session of the General Conference the document appended hereto and invited the Director-General to pursue and strengthen activities in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to initiate dialogue with the main parties involved in the Bosnian conflict with a view to preparing a new plan of action within the fields of competence of UNESCO. Purpose: The document presents all the activities undertaken since the beginning of co-operation by UNESCO in Bosnia and Herzegovina (document 152 EX/53 annexed). Decision required: paragraph 2.

2 - page 2 1. The Executive Board, at its 152nd session, adopted 152 EX/Decision 10.4 as follows: The Executive Board, 1. Having considered document 152 EX/53, 2. Notes with satisfaction the activities conducted by the Director-General in Bosnia and Herzegovina and appreciates the financial contribution from Member States, international and voluntary organizations; 3. Encourages the Director-General to pursue further activities in support of educational and cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the victims of violence and sexual aggression; 4. Invites the Director-General to initiate dialogue with all parties involved in the conflict and prepare a new plan of action for addressing the issues falling within the fields of competence of UNESCO; 5. Appeals to Member States for contributions to ongoing and future activities in the areas of competence of UNESCO; 6. Decides to submit this document to the General Conference at its twenty-ninth session. 2. The General Conference may wish to adopt the following resolution: The General Conference, 1. Having taken note of the Report by the Director-General on the situation of the cultural and architectural heritage, on that of educational and cultural institutions, and on progress in executing the action plan for the rehabilitation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina (29 C/61), 2. Requests the Director-General to continue to implement activities in support of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with 152 EX/Decision 10.4 of the Executive Board.

3 Annex ANNEX REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE SITUATION OF THE CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE, ON THAT OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, AND ON PROGRESS IN EXECUTING THE ACTION PLAN FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WOMEN IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA SUMMARY This document is submitted to the Executive Board by way of follow-up to 28 C/Resolution 5.14 of the General Conference and 151 EX/Decision 9.7 of the Executive Board. Decision required: paragraph At its twenty-eighth session, the General Conference adopted 28 C/Resolution 5.14, requesting the Director-General to submit to it, at its twenty-ninth session, through the Executive Board, a report on the results of the activities envisaged in the plan of activities for Bosnia and Herzegovina and to initiate the establishment of a fund-in-trust of US $3 million. 2. At its 151st session, the Executive Board adopted 151 EX/Decision 9.7, inviting the Director-General to submit to it at its next session a progress report on the implementation of the plan for the rehabilitation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 3. In the framework of resolution 5.14 adopted by the General Conference at its twenty-eighth session and of the Memorandum of Co-operation signed with the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 13 December 1995, UNESCO is engaged in setting up activities in the fields of education, culture and communication. Further to the decision adopted by the Executive Board at its 150th session on the rehabilitation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the action plan drawn up, the Organization is pursuing its activities to assist women who have been victims of violence and sexual aggression. 4. To date, the Organization has received extrabudgetary contributions - in cash, equipment and material - in a total amount of some US $7,400,000 to set up the activities mentioned in this document. 5. An additional contribution of US $1 million will be made on the basis of the agreement signed by the Saudi Arabia High Commission for Relief for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Director-General and in accordance with the agreements concluded in relation to specific projects on the occasion of the visit of the Permanent Delegate of Saudi Arabia to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 26 June The projects concern the reconstruction of schools and the cultural heritage. 6. Within the framework of its programme of co-operation with the OPEC Fund, the Organization has participated, with the Bosnian Government, in the preparation and evaluation

4 Annex - page 2 of a project for the rehabilitation and refitting of secondary or technical schools, which has been granted a loan of US $10 million by the OPEC Fund. UNESCO will also ensure followup through regular evaluation and technical support missions. 7. On the occasion of his visit to Sarajevo on 30 and 31 March 1996 the Director-General chaired the first meeting of the joint UNESCO/Bosnia and Herzegovina Committee, which produced an agreement on 39 projects in communication, culture, cultural heritage, education, and libraries and archives, and in connection with the culture of peace programme. These projects have been reviewed by the Secretariat in order to provide more closely for the needs identified. During his visit the Director-General attended the concert for tolerance given by the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, which was preceded by the hoisting of the flags of tolerance. 8. The Director-General also officially established the Commission to Preserve National Monuments provided for in Annex 8 of the Dayton Peace Agreements. UNESCO took part in the two follow-up conferences to the Dayton Agreements held in Florence (13-14 June 1996) and in London (4-5 December 1996). 9. On the occasion of a concert conducted by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, sponsored by UNESCO, the Director-General visited Sarajevo on 12 and 13 October 1996 at the invitation of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs. 10. The Secretariat participated in the Donors Conferences for Bosnia and Herzegovina organized in Brussels by the World Bank and the European Union and, at the request of the World Bank, chaired the Task Force on educational and cultural infrastructures at the Conference held on 9 and 10 January The staff in the Sarajevo Office was increased by the recruitment of two National Project Officers (NPOs), one for the cultural heritage and one for education, an associate expert in the field of education funded by Sweden, a communication assistant funded by Finland and an assistant project officer for the programmes of UNESCO s Associated Schools Project, who was funded by the Council of Europe. Education 12. A sectoral analysis of the education system in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been undertaken by UNESCO with the financial participation of UNDP, to evaluate and identify short- and medium-term activities in support of the reconstruction and reform of the education system. A first report for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Review of the Education System in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ), defining the areas of action for rehabilitation and reconstruction and for international assistance, was published in May 1996 and submitted to potential donors. On the basis of the missions carried out by the Education Sector from 27 November 1996 to mid-march 1997, a similar report has been prepared for the Republika Srpska and is currently being printed. 13. An International Conference on Co-operation and Support for Higher Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina was organized by UNESCO in Barcelona in April 1996, at the close of which a set of recommendations was adopted (149 EX/28 Add.). 14. With UNDP funding and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Federation and the Ministry of Education of the Travnik district, UNESCO is carrying out a project entitled Support for the Improvement of Management Capacities in the Education

5 Annex - page 3 Sector Building, in the education sector and in particular in Middle Bosnia. A similar project is contemplated for the Republika Srpska, where an evaluation resulting in the compilation of a priority list of 13 schools to be reconstructed was undertaken in January 1997 in co-operation with the national authorities and the International Management Assessment Group (IMG). 15. By means of a sum of approximately US $3.8 million, composed of funds collected by Ms Ute-Henriette Ohoven, UNESCO s Goodwill Ambassador, and provided through the German National Commission, and funds granted by UNDP, UNESCO has undertaken several projects in the educational field. It has, for instance, converted a former military barracks in Eastern Mostar into a technical secondary school providing training in the textile industry (1996) and is undertaking the reconstruction of five primary schools in the Federation. The first three phases of the UNESCO/HOPE for Sarajevo project aimed at providing, in an institutional framework, training opportunities and long-term support for the disabled and warwounded have been completed and the fourth phase has been started. 16. These funds have also been contributed for the reconstruction and renovation of the school for the blind in Sarajevo, for the project for the Pazaric clinic designed to develop the physical and mental aptitudes of the patients, and the project for renovating and fitting out the KTK nursery school. 17. Under the Associated Schools Project, UNESCO has set up a network of 23 Associated Schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and teachers from all these schools have been sent on training courses at Associated Schools in Germany, Norway and Spain (1995 and 1996). In addition, 13 schools in Sarajevo and two in Mostar were also re-equipped in 1995 and Two training workshops for teachers on new teaching methods were organized in Neum (January 1996) and in Sarajevo (August 1996) through the network of German Associated Schools and the German National Commission. In co-operation with the Council of Europe, the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the German National Commission, the network of German Associated Schools and the International Consortium of Civics Educators (CIVITAS), UNESCO is organizing a series of training seminars on human rights and civic education. Two seminars were organized by CIVITAS and the Council of Europe (May and August 1997). 18. UNESCO is undertaking a project to facilitate dialogue and co-ordination between the various partners with a view to laying down educational guidelines for children and young people with special educational needs. In this connection, following the preparatory mission in July 1996, UNESCO organized a reflection meeting on policy guidelines concerning special educational needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina entitled Days of Reflection (10-12 December 1996 in Sarajevo). In co-operation with the Sarajevo Teaching Academy, UNESCO also helped set up a workshop on Special educational needs in the classroom for primary- and secondary-school teachers (June 1997). Cultural heritage 19. In accordance with Annex 8 of the Dayton Peace Agreements, the Commission to Preserve National Monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, established by UNESCO, is responsible for drawing up a classification of property of cultural, historic, religious and ethnic interest as national monuments. Two of the five members of the Commission, including the Chairperson, were appointed by the Director-General. The other three were appointed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (two members) and the Republika Srpska (one member). This Commission, for which UNESCO provides the scientific and administrative

6 Annex - page 4 secretariat, has already held five sessions in Sarajevo. Having adopted its rules of procedure and forms for the listing of cultural property and defined its methodology, the concept of a national monument and the selection criteria, the Commission proceeded at its two most recent sessions to place the first 42 items of property on the list of national monuments. 20. The Secretariat is making preparations for the Commission s next session, which will be held at UNESCO Headquarters on the occasion of the 152nd session of the Executive Board. 21. Pursuant to the provisions of the Memorandum of Co-operation, several projects for the restoration of the cultural heritage have been drawn up by the Secretariat and have been submitted to the Member States and potential donors for funding. The contributions obtained amount to US $268,000 (Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden). The plan for safeguarding the historic centre of Mostar, financed by Italian funds-in-trust, was finalized and was presented at a seminar held in Mostar in July A publication on the subject will, in fact, be available in the autumn. 22. The technical project for the restoration of the Kriva Cuprija bridge, which has been the subject of a publication, has been drawn up through funding by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The budget for the restoration stage has been submitted to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is currently being discussed. 23. In co-operation with the national authorities, the first stage of restoration of the Sarajevo Museum has been completed. The Secretariat has mounted a mission by three museum specialists to draw up a project for submission to donors. 24. UNESCO is pursuing its technical assistance to the country s cultural institutions. A financial contribution has been made to the Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historic and Natural Heritage for computer equipment, and an international seminar on the protection and restoration of the cultural heritage was organized, with a financial contribution from Sweden and the Soros Foundation, in October 1996 in Sarajevo. A documentary film (Mostar 1996) was produced and the travelling exhibition of historic photographs entitled Bosnia and Herzegovina: from peace to renaissance is currently circulating in Europe (Rome, Luxembourg, Oslo and other towns in Norway) after its initial display at Headquarters. 25. UNESCO is also helping to prepare the files for the proposed inclusion of the historic centres of Sarajevo and Mostar on the World Heritage List. Artistic heritage 26. The Organization is providing its support to the cultural institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular through the repair and purchase of musical instruments and equipment. A mission visited the country in March and October 1996 to evaluate projects for the rehabilitation of cultural activities under the patronage of Lord Yehudi Menuhin, UNESCO s Goodwill Ambassador. The programme gives priority to the strengthening of human capacities through study fellowships, the provision of teachers, training courses for young artists and the repair and purchase of equipment and musical instruments. In this context, Austria has contributed a sum of US $8, A concert for tolerance with the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra was held on the occasion of the Director-General s visit to Sarajevo on 30 March By way of support for the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra, on 28 May 1997 UNESCO organized a concert at

7 Annex - page 5 Headquarters which was attended by a large delegation from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two concerts by the La Scala Orchestra conducted by Ricardo Muti were held in Ravenna and Sarajevo on 13 and 14 July 1997 respectively. These artistic events were part of the fund-raising campaign to benefit musical institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is co-ordinated by the Organization. 28. UNESCO is continuing to support several cultural events in favour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the Sarajevo Winter Festival. Libraries and archives 29. In May 1996 UNESCO conducted a mission to evaluate the situation of archives and libraries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and national meetings of directors of libraries and archives were held with the participation of experts from UNESCO. An evaluation report was prepared and should, among other things, provide the basis for a survey of governmental institutions creating archival documents. 30. UNESCO is pursuing its programme of assistance to the National and University Library of Sarajevo. In July 1997, contracts were concluded with local companies for refitting the main building of a former barracks in the centre of Sarajevo to house the library. Work is expected to be completed by the end of Shelving for the books, offered by the Deutsche Bibliothek, the German National Library, was provided for the collections of the National and University Library by funding amounting to DM 25,000 from the German National Commission, which also made the transport arrangements. The financial contributions obtained amount to US $290,000. Communication 31. UNESCO is continuing its assistance to the independent media, in particular through the television programme data bank supplied by 14 European television channels. This bank was set up in September 1996 and provides Bosnian television stations with more than 300 hours of high-quality programming, either dubbed or subtitled, in an amount of US $1,050,000; it contains programmes dealing with human rights, citizenship and intercultural and inter-ethnic understanding. Recent partnerships have enabled the support through the data bank to be extended to local productions in order to assist in their national broadcasting. Moreover, thanks to the supply of equipment by the Organization, the Bosnian company for audiovisual production for children, TV Cicak, is currently self-financing through joint productions with European channels. Total contributions in cash, programmes and equipment amount to approximately US $3 million (Switzerland, Norway, United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Austria, the European Union and other public and private donors). 32. In connection with the second phase of the NTV 99 project, the Organization provides support for increasing its professionalism and for capacity-building. Thanks to UNESCO, NTV 99 can currently provide up to 12 hours of broadcasting every day and develop selffinancing sources. Training courses in the different European television stations have also been organized for television journalists of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Organization also provides support for the publication of newspapers in the Republika Srpska and has made it possible to produce the special election service of the ONASA news agency in Sarajevo.

8 Annex - page With a view to ensuring the free circulation of information at the regional level, UNESCO has set up, in co-operation with Worldwide Television News (WTN), a satellite programme exchange network between three independent television channels (NTV 99 in Sarajevo, Studio B in Belgrade and Kanal A1 in Skopje). Given the success record of the past two years, the extension of this network to other television channels and production companies of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is being considered. With UNESCO s support, a video-conference was set up between Sarajevo and Belgrade and broadcast by channels in both countries. Execution of the action plan for the rehabilitation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina 34. On the basis of 151 EX/Decision 9.7, which takes account of the Director-General s report on the execution of the action plan for the rehabilitation of women in Bosnia and Herzegovina (151 EX/36), UNESCO is pursuing its activities to assist women who are victims of violence and sexual aggression, in particular for the establishment in Gorañde of a centre for the development of rehabilitation activities for the women of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The centre is expected to provide psychological and social assistance for women war victims and to develop teaching activities for women, children and elderly persons. An information network with the other associations will also be established. 35. This centre, the initial budget for which amounts to $50,000, will seek first to rehabilitate premises, train a permanent team of specialists, establish appropriate operational administrative structures and implement specific programmes. The funds will come from the regular programme. In addition, extrabudgetary contributions will be sought for activities to be subsequently developed. 36. In the same decision, the Executive Board recommended that the General Conference include the execution of the action plan in the regular programme for the forthcoming biennium (29 C/5). 37. In co-operation with the World Bank and UNHCR and in connection with a project to train refugee women in Bosnia and Herzegovina in income-generating activities, UNESCO will be staging at Headquarters, from 1 to 5 December 1997, an event entitled Knitting Together Nations - Fashion and Crafts from Women from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will take the form of a round table, an exhibition of craft products produced by the women of Bosnia and Herzegovina and an artistic and cultural evening. Serious violations of international human rights instruments 38. Close co-operation has been established with the International Tribunal set up to try war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia and, earlier, with the United Nations Commission of Experts set up to examine information relating to serious violations of the Geneva Convention and other international instruments for the protection of human rights committed in the former Yugoslavia. UNESCO has begun proceedings to secure acknowledgement of violations of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (the Hague Convention, 1954). It has also provided all the information it has gathered on the destruction of the cultural heritage. This determination to establish individual and collective responsibilities for the destruction of the heritage is now reflected in the regulations of the International Tribunal set up to try war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia, which now has jurisdiction to rule on action against the cultural heritage protected by the

9 Annex - page 7 Hague Convention (1954), the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) and the Protocols to the Geneva Convention (1949) adopted in The Executive Board may wish to adopt the following decision: The Executive Board, 1. Having considered document 152 EX/53, 2. Notes with satisfaction the activities conducted by the Director-General in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 3. Encourages the Director-General to pursue these activities in support of educational and cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the victims of violence and sexual aggression; 4. Appeals to Member States for contributions to ongoing and future activities; 5. Decides to submit this document to the General Conference.