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01 March 2007

The General Conference of UNESCO Presentation to the Inter-regional Training Seminar for new Secretaries-General of National Commissions. 01 March 2007. The General Conference. UNESCO’s supreme policy making body Determines policies and main lines of work All Member States are members (192)

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01 March 2007

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  1. The General Conference of UNESCOPresentation to the Inter-regional Training Seminar for new Secretaries-General of National Commissions 01 March 2007

  2. The General Conference • UNESCO’s supreme policy making body • Determines policies and main lines of work • All Member States are members (192) • Meets once every two years in ordinary session • Three weeks (used to be six) • Some 3,000 delegates, NGOs, IGOs, press… • $ 5 m budget • Celebration of diversity D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  3. Diversity through national flags- Room I Plenary hall D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  4. Structure • Plenary (all Member States) • Programme Commissions (all Member States) • Programme Support and External Relations Commission (all Member States) – often attended by NatComs • Administrative Commission (all Member States) • General Committee (President, Vice-Presidents, Chairpersons of Commissions and Committees) • Credentials Committee (9 members) • Legal Committee (24 members) • Nominations Committee (all Member States) • (Headquarters Committee) D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  5. Main functions • General policy debate • Consideration and adoption of UNESCO’s medium-term strategy (C/4) and programme and budget (C/5) • Consideration and adoption of draft resolutions (DRs) • Consideration and adoption of legal instruments • Various other items • Elections D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  6. Draft resolutions • General provisions: Rule 79 of the Rules of Procedure; must relate to an agenda item • DRs related to the C/5 : Rules 80 and 81: must be submitted to the Director-General at last 45 days before the General Conference, and must relate to the proposed resolutions contained in 33C/5 • DRs judged inadmissible may appeal to the Legal Committee D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  7. Voting rights • Governed by Constitution Article IV, part C and Rule 83 • Credentials must be in order (Rule 23) • If Member State is in arrears reasons given and/or payment plans can be approved by the Conference allowing voting D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  8. Reform of governance • Main functions of three organs laid down in the Constitution (articles III, IV, V and VI) • BUT reform efforts have been on UNESCO’s agenda since the first General Conference in 1946 D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  9. 33 C/Res. 92 on the “three organs” • Adopted after work of a working group established by previous session and chaired by its President • Lengthy and detailed provisions • Follow-up by President, Ex Bd and DG • Some provisions in course of implementation • Others require amendments to Rules of Procedure • Consolidated report to the 34th GC D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  10. General policy debate • Heads of delegations speak • Usually 8 minutes • Visits of Heads of State/Gvt • Delegations usually Ministerial level • Main themes • Ex Bd Chairman introduces, DG responds D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  11. Other items • General policy and programme questions (often around 20 items, many proposed by Member States) • required to reduce agenda • methods of work of the Organization • constitutional and legal questions • administrative and financial questions D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  12. Elections • Executive Board • Governing bodies of intergovernmental programmes • Headquarters Committee • Legal Committee • [Director-General (November 2005-2009)] • [External auditor (2006-2011)] D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  13. Information for Delegates • Delegates’ Information Bureau • daily e-journal/“webzine” • Media updates • Guide • Compendium of “Basic texts” – CD-Rom • Website • Secretariat hot-line D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  14. 34th session • Dates: • Tuesday 16 October to Saturday 3 November 2007 (lunchtime) NB: 1 November normal working day Rugby World Cup : hotels full! D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  15. Organizational constraints • 33 C/Res 92 : • more flexible • more interesting • more interactive • more lively sessions • more interdisciplinary • and…. D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  16. Organizational constraints /2 • ……. less costly D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  17. 34th session • Takes place in Paris • Draft agenda • issued first for Ex Bd (176 EX/34) • then circulated to Member States as 34 C/1 in July (90 days before opening) • Revised by Ex Bd in September • States may inscribe new items (until 100 days before) • Organization of the work • issued first for Ex Bd (176 EX/35) • then issued as 34 C/2 D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  18. 34th session • Will be opened by the President of the 33rd session (H.E. Amb. Musa Hasan, Oman) on 16 October 2007 am • Will elect its own President on 16 October 2005 pm D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  19. Medium term strategy, programme and budget • 34 C/4 (2008-2013) • 35 C/5 (2010-2011) • 34 C/5 (2008-2009) • 34 C/6 Comments by the ExBd on the C/5 • 34C/11 Board comments on the C/4 • 34 C/8 DRs on 34 C/5 D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  20. Medium-strategy and programme and budget • Innovation: • Interdisciplinary meeting (Commission level) for 1 ½ days in Week One to discuss: • 34 C/4 (before drafting group); • 34 C/5 (intersectoral/interdisciplinary programme matters and DRs) • 35 C/5 D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  21. Agenda • Annotated • Grouping of items • “Without debate/take note” • Draft resolutions recommended by Board transmitted to General Conference without corresponding document D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  22. Documents • Enhanced use of INF and REP • More electronic distribution • Reduction of hard copies D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  23. Ministerial Round Tables • Two ( as 33 C)  : • - Education and economic development – preceding ED Commission • (19 – 20 October) • - S&T for development – following SC Commission (26 – 27 October) D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  24. Exhibition • single theme • « Planet Earth » • opener for 2008 International Year of Planet Earth D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  25. Youth Forum • Two-day Youth Forum to precede opening (Friday 12 and Saturday 13 October) • Integral part of General Conference • Lead: SHS • Specific theme (to be announced) D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  26. Other activities • Civil society Forum – 25 October • Participatory interactive sessions in context of Exhibition • Programme Commission activities D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

  27. Role of National Commissions • Advise Government on policy positions • Assist in composing delegations (specialists from different fields of competence; youth; parliamentarians, etc; if possible) • Alert Government on voting rights, credentials (payment arrears) well in advance • Propose requests for agenda items/DRs if any • Visibility at home on main issues and discussions D/SCG – Presentation Gen Conf

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