LHE/20/8.GA/INF.1 - page 35

- requests that the Secretariat pursue its efforts in the framework of the Strategy for reinforcing UNESCO's action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism in the event of armed conflict and its Action Plan, as well as the Addendum to the Strategy concerning emergencies associated with disasters caused by natural and human-induced hazards', which was the official wording used in UNESCO documents.
- 160. The delegation of Venezuela supported and was grateful for the proposal, which reflected the wording in paragraph 22 of the report.
- 161. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic supported Italy's proposal.
- 162. The delegation of Jamaica also supported the amendment by Italy.
- 163. The Chairperson noted no objections and paragraph 8 was duly adopted. Paragraph 9, calling on States Parties to support operational projects and strengthen the human resources of the Secretariat, was also adopted. Paragraph 10 was a standard paragraph for the Secretariat's next report, which was duly adopted. Paragraph 11, proposed by Sweden, sought to include a separate item on the agenda for the report of the NGO Forum.
- 164. The delegation of Algeria asked that Sweden explain its amendment before its adoption.
- 165. The delegation of Sweden believed that it was vitally important that NGOs and civil societies take an active role in the work of the Convention, as previously mentioned. For this reason, it proposed a separate agenda item for the NGO Forum.
- 166. The Chairperson wished to point out that the NGO Forum report would follow after the adoption of the resolution and it was thus already part of agenda item 7.
- 167. The delegation of India supported the Chairperson's remark, adding that because the NGO Forum would be considered in this agenda item, there was no need to discuss the amendment as a separate agenda item.
- 168. The delegation of Iceland congratulated the Chairperson on her election and supported Sweden's statement on the importance of NGOcooperation in implementing the Convention.
- 169. The Secretary explained that there were two different ways of reporting on the NGO Forum. At the moment, the NGOs would report under item 7bis following the adoption of draft resolution 7.GA 7. This way, the General Assembly did not need to take a decision on the NGO Forum report. However, should it be a separate item, the Assembly would be asked to take a decision on the work of NGOs.
- 170. The delegation of Bangladesh reiterated that the NGO Forum would report in the upcoming item and thus it was unnecessary to have a separate agenda item.
- 171. The delegation of Estonia felt that the issue raised by Sweden to have the NGOForumreport as a separate agenda item was a very crucial addition as NGOs play an important role in implementing the Convention. It believed that the proposal deserved serious attention and it fully supported it.
- 172. The delegation of Serbia congratulated the Chairperson and the Bureau members on their election. It fully concurred with previous speakers on recognizing the crucial role of NGOs. However, it was also important to be coherent and it recalled that an informal ad hoc working group would continue to discuss the perspectives of NGO participation and partners in the implementation of the Convention. The results of these discussions would therefore be discussed within the framework of the working group at the next General Assembly. Also, with the NGO Forum report under item 7bis, no further steps were needed at this time.
- 173. The delegation of Pakistan supported the comments made by Serbia, Bangladesh and India that it was perhaps not the right time to consider this issue as a separate agenda item.
- 174. The delegation of Algeria asked the delegations to reflect on the Secretary's explanation that a decision would have to be taken should the report appear as a separate item. The NGOs would therefore be asked to act on that decision, which would be the first time this had happened, thereby changing the Assembly's working methods. Indeed, the work with NGOs