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

Institute for Statistics that will greatly enhance the collection and dissemination of quality statistical data that is
both reliable and policy-relevant.
14.13 Through all of these initiatives, UNESCO has proved itself to be an effective partner of its Member
States, providing a sound basis for policy-making. Meanwhile, however, statistics, even very refined statistics,
obtained now through the Internet, do not provide all the solutions. We can record what is happening in the
world, how many hungry people there are, how many people require support, but we cannot make immediate
provision for alleviating their plight. I think that the Institute for Statistics must describe the reality faithfully but
we must apply what we have already decided as possible treatment of the situation and if we consider that there
are still some shortcomings then UNESCO must take action to seek the best advice in this respect.
14.14 An excellent example of the type of decisive changes which follow sound policy options is to be found
in some of the most populated countries, where substantial and lasting increases in their education budgets have
changed the face of these societies, for the present and for the future. This is one very important example and I
must congratulate all the countries that have followed our recommendations to them in 1988 and 1999: do not
ask for loans for education; do not ask for loans because you will be unable to reimburse them. The funds for
education must come from a reshaping of your priorities. Some of these countries - and I must congratulate
Bangladesh, India, China, Indonesia, Egypt, Brazil and Mexico - have made immense efforts in this respect and,
with only our advocacy, persuasion, advice, this has generated billions and billions of dollars from their own
budgets. And they do not owe anything, they are not indebted, because of the promotion of education. This is
efficiency. This is the way to be followed by UNESCO. These are the intangibles of our efficiency.
14.15 And we have also taken care to act at the grass-roots level, by widely disseminating the declarations and
programmes of action of these conferences. We have aimed to reach the teachers, the scientists, the citizens, all
the stakeholders through whom, slowly but surely, changes in thinking and in practices can be brought about. I
would like to single out Education International, the world association of teachers. I extend my thanks to them
because for us teachers are essential, they are the corner-stone of the edifice we are building and this association
is particularly welcome. I must likewise acknowledge the contribution of all the broadcasting, radio and
newspaper networks that today constitute a means for promoting the ideals, messages and views of UNESCO.
14.16 So these world conferences were not only highlights of the activities of the international community;
both the preparations and the extensive follow-up have provided leverage for concrete changes, combining
political leadership and grass-roots mobilization. The Associated Schools network is an excellent example of this
far-reaching dissemination of UNESCO’s ideas and ideals, as are the UNESCO Clubs, all these networks of
associations and centres.
14.17 In parallel with this renewal of the central pillars of UNESCO’s activities, we sought to reinvigorate the
fundamental message of our Constitution, by infusing all of our programmes with the concept of a culture of
peace. From Yamoussoukro to Montevideo, from Prague - I remember this very important meeting on culture
and democracy under Vaclev Havel’s presidency - to Tunis, with the meeting on education for democracy,
Brasilia on democracy-building, Montreal on education for human rights and democracy and the United Nations
conference in Vienna; in all these ways and at many other meetings, the culture of peace has incorporated, from
the moment of its birth in Yamoussoukro in July 1989, the ideals of democracy and respect for human rights as
its basic principle; the notion of global security as its framework; and the ideal of a right to peace as its ambition.
Today, looking back over these past 12 years, looking at the return to UNESCO’s sources and at its futureoriented
action, we can take the full measure of the Organization’s reinvigoration.
14.18 Where do we stand today? UNESCO’s voice is one of those that counts and is listened to in the world.
We would like to be listened to more and to have more visibility but this does not depend on the Secretariat. We
can be movers and providers; the echo depends on the Member States. It is in the Member States that we hope
that all these messages, all these declarations will find their right place. The recent adoption of the Declaration
and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace by the General Assembly of the United Nations illustrates better
than any other example the contribution of our Organization to the emergence of a shared vision of hope and
responsibilities within the international community. In all its fields of competence, UNESCO has once again
become a point of ethical reference. Many declarations have marked the course of these past 12 years, and the
Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights serves as exemplary testimony to this ethical
role. I remember when we started to consider the possibility of exploring the issue of genetics being utilized to
make distinct human beings with predetermined characteristics. Such utilization was absolutely unacceptable, not
only from the scientific point of view but because it struck at the very roots of mankind and of human dignity.
And it was for this reason that we started, even if many countries - including some of them that have since
applauded this achievement warmly - were against this initiative. And I can understand why: these are very
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