COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS HEARS STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR OF UNESCO OFFICE IN GENEVA

CESCR
26th session
17 August 2001
Morning





The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning heard a statement by the Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization=s (UNESCO) Liaison Office in Geneva.

Georges Malempré noted at the outset a landmark event which came as a result of the growing collaboration between the Committee and UNESCO B the meeting between the Committee of the Executive Board of UNESCO on Conventions and Recommendations, which dealt with human rights issues, and the Chairperson of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The meeting had focused on monitoring the right to education.

The dialogue had led to a fruitful and instructive exchange and had brought into the limelight how the work of the Committee and UNESCO on monitoring developments concerning the realization of the right to education were complementary, Mr. Malempré said. The dialogue clearly showed how much UNESCO and the Committee had in common as well as the potential that should be explored in the future for monitoring the right to education in a complementary spirit.

Mr. Malempré expressed his gratitude to the Committee for placing the follow-up of the Dakar Framework for Action prominently in the concluding observations which the Committee made after examining country reports to ensure further action with respect to the right to education. He said that if every State achieved the objectives of the Dakar Framework for Action, primary education would be available for all by 2015.

The right to education was a fundamental right and was being focused on more prominently in UNESCO's endeavour to give high priority to basic education for all and to promote universal access to education, Mr. Malempré said. The objectives related to the implementation of the right to education in the future were mainly based on the report of the Commission for Education presided by Jacques Delors. This Commission, which was part of UNESCO, had issued a report on the future objectives of education. Mr. Malempré said one of the objectives was to enhance the quality of teaching. Also, new technology had to be available to all and should not be a new factor increasing inequality. The status of teachers and their training had to be specifically adapted to the challenges that occurred in each country.

Lastly, Mr. Malempré reiterated UNESCO's support for the work of the Committee and hoped that the scope of its attention on culture could be widened. He said education had to be promoted because it was part of every individual=s life. Education was also an important issue in terms of non-discrimination. He said that economic, social and cultural rights, like the right to education, had a tremendous impact on human lives and populations.

Virginia Bonoan-Dandan, Chairperson of the Committee, said that the good relations that existed between the Committee and UNESCO would not have been possible without the efforts and collaboration of Kishore Singh. She emphasized the usefulness of this collaboration for the promotion of the right to education. Mrs. Bonoan-Dandan added that the High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Labour Office also collaborated with the Committee.

Kishore Singh of UNESCO said that the follow-up of the Committee concerning the Dakar Framework of Action was very useful and participated in the implementation and the promotion of the right to education around the world. With regards to future perspectives, Mr. Singh said he would continue his collaboration with the Committee on behalf of UNESCO, particularly so that education could be available to all.

Some Experts said that the collaboration between the Committee and UNESCO was very fruitful and that the Committee had closer links with UNESCO than with any other UN agency. An Expert also thanked UNESCO for its cooperation in the elaboration of the General Comment on Article 13 of the Covenant.

When the Committee reconvenes at 3 p.m., it will start a follow-up to the consideration of reports under articles 16 and 17 of the Covenant.



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