UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

2.7 Delegates also underscored the importance of signing the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting
and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and of the activities of
the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its
Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation. The Commission took note of the report of this Committee
(30 C/REP.14) as amended. Support was also given to the promotion of the 1972 Convention concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the World Heritage Centre was commended for its
work. However, numerous delegates expressed concern that the World Heritage List was not yet sufficiently
representative of the diversity of the world’s cultural and natural heritage and expressed the need for an improved
geographical balance.
2.8 The observer for Palestine asked that this report reflect his satisfaction with regard to the large-scale
programme, carried out by the Secretariat since the peace agreement and the installation of the Palestinian
National Authority, in favour of the Palestinian people in the field of the protection and promotion of the physical
and non-physical cultural heritage. He recommended, in the implementation of the programme for 2000-2001,
meeting the needs, as far as possible, of the two Ministries concerned, the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism
and the Ministry of Culture, and paying particular attention to the promotion of legislation and regulations in this
field.
2.9 With the view to enhancing the protection of creative artists, delegates requested the Secretariat to step
up promotion and particularly training efforts to ensure the universality of the legal instruments protecting
copyright and neighbouring rights, including the Universal Copyright Convention and the Recommendation
concerning the Status of the Artist. Several speakers also expressed the need to carry out a preliminary study on
the advisability of a new standard-setting instrument for the protection of traditional culture and folklore.
2.10 Several delegates referred to the importance of UNESCO support to regional and country-specific
actions to document, safeguard and promote living cultural practices. It was considered that UNESCO should
assist Member States to develop these practices into significant and sustainable cultural industries for the
purposes of poverty alleviation and economic development. In this connection, numerous delegates stressed the
importance of the promotion of crafts and cultural tourism with due respect for the cultural specificity of each
community. Similarly, the role of arts festivals was highlighted and one delegate recalled UNESCO’s support for
the Music Festival “Sharq Taronalari” in Samarkand. Another delegate suggested the proclamation of an
International Year for Music or the Visual Arts.
2.11 Numerous delegates considered that, in the light of the impact of globalization and with regard to
Programme III.2 on the development of cultural industries, UNESCO should take a leading role in the
affirmation of cultural diversity in order to ensure that the specific nature of cultural and artistic creation is duly
taken into account. The promotion of living cultures and of languages, as the vehicle of diverse cultural
expressions, were regarded by delegates as in particular need of a carefully planned strategy. The essential role
that UNESCO has to play in the integration of culture into community development strategies and the
transmission of cultural practices to youth, who are the essential stakeholders and beneficiaries of development
action, was underscored by many speakers, in particular those from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
2.12 The Appeal by the Director-General for the promotion of arts education and creativity at school as part
of the construction of a culture of peace was applauded by a large number of delegates and a number of practical
proposals were made on how to implement such arts education programmes. The Secretariat was repeatedly
encouraged to work intersectorally in youth-related activities such as arts education, reading for all and the
promotion of intercultural dialogue among youth.
2.13 Several delegates underscored the importance of regional strategies in the construction of UNESCO’s
programme. In this respect, the Commission supported the programmes for specific regions and culture areas
including: Focus on the Caribbean, Focus on the Pacific, Priority Africa, Arabia Plan and the newly proposed
initiatives for the Caucasus. In the context of these strategies, numerous delegates also spoke on the importance
of completing the History of Civilizations of Central Asia - in particular Kyrgyzstan - and the General History of
the Caribbean, the General History of Latin America, work on the different aspects of Islamic Culture, which is
in various stages of completion, and follow-up activities envisaged for the dissemination of the General History
of Africa. The Commission recommended for approval by the General Conference the draft resolutions presented
with a view to reintegrating these projects into document 30 C/5. UNESCO’s activities for the International
Decade of Indigenous People were evoked by several speakers and the point was made that UNESCO’s role was
not vigorous enough. One speaker suggested a mid-term evaluation of UNESCO’s programme in this field.
2.14 The Commission examined two items (4.10 and 4.11) directly linked with the Transdisciplinary project:
Towards a culture of peace. In regard to item 4.10, the importance of UNESCO’s contribution and lead role in
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