WHY THIS PROACTIVE SITE?
Because the new “Regulatory Framework” imposed in 2017 has caused a persistent and widespread crisis that affects the very foundations of the Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO. It is our responsibility to react and calmly take action, based on the factual scrutiny of the situation described below and a relevant legal analysis that is the basis of the effective response to this crisis.
We believe in the future of UNESCO as a universal reference and a source of timeless values in societies that are constantly evolving. To this end, we wish to transmit the values of the United Nations through an independent information watch to anticipate these evolutions and a forum for exchange for all the centres, clubs and national, regional and worldwide associations for UNESCO. Our goal is to involve the young generations of today and tomorrow in the quest for a better world and to give them the opportunity to apprehend the world differently.
LEARN – REFLECT – DECIDE – ACT FOR UNESCO
WHO ARE WE?
The Civil Society Initiative for UNESCO is an innovation brought to the fore by our centres, clubs and associations, all staffed by volunteers. It is not a new structure created by UNESCO, or placed under the supervision of a State or its National Commission for UNESCO. It has no ties with the public sector and does not belong to any political persuasion.
What are the foundations of our citizen engagement?
They are based on the ethical and moral values that we all share.
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The Universal Declaration of Democracy (initiative presented by Federico Mayor, former Director-General of UNESCO for submission for adoption by the General Assembly of the United Nations)
- The Constitution of UNESCO and the United Nations Charter
For whom?
For each member of the Network of the Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO and their federal bodies and all the actors that share the active principles of collective, universal democracy and their applications for citizens, local administrations and public partners, NGOs/IGOs, UNESCO Member States and UNESCO National Commissions.
Our resources
These include experienced practitioners in every domain of competence of UNESCO and the United Nations and international experts. We equally draw on the capital of knowledge and the diversified expertise in the field acquired by the Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO as well as their National Federations.
“We the Peoples of the United Nations… have resolved to combine our efforts…”
(Preamble of the United Nations Charter, 1945)
A THREAT TO OUR INDEPENDENCE
What happened in 2017
● In early 2017, the Secretariat of UNESCO launched a consultation with a limited number of National Commissions to establish the terms of reference of a new “Regulatory Framework” to supervise the functioning of the Network of Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO in the world.
● The problem, a very serious one, was that the active members of the Network as well as their national, regional and world Federations were prohibited from attending the meetings held by the Secretariat on this subject and as a result, were not authorized, even as observers to take part in the consultative preparatory work, or in the process of drawing up and finalizing these new regulations.
● The UNESCO General Conference held in November 2017 adopted a decision that established a new “Regulatory Framework” and its implementation was turned over to the National Commissions.
● These new regulations planned for the immediate disappearance of the Centres for UNESCO in 2017. But several Member States were against this measure and after debates, a consensus was found in the end to grant a two-year moratorium (2017-2019) to endorse the General Conference’s decision.
● The worldwide and regional Federations that represented the Network were not in a position to officially weigh in on this process to radically change the functioning and independence of the Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO.
● To sum up, the directives of the “Regulatory Framework,” on a General Conference decision in 2017, created an unforeseeable, unexplained, unfounded systemic shock considered ineffective that threatened the very existence of the Centres for UNESCO, but especially a disturbing obstacle blocking the freedom of association of private individuals, working as volunteers (the Network for UNESCO).
The emergence of the 2018-2019 systemic shock
● A coalition of members and leaders of the associative movement Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO, faced with a major crisis in late 2017, consulted numerous internal and external experts of the Organization with the idea of creating an independent platform comprised of experienced professionals, permitting them to launch, by themselves, an in-depth reflection on the strategic choices to be made from that point on and new methods for their development, cooperation and partnerships (public-private).
● The complexity of this crisis is still present today in unprecedented tension between UNESCO Headquarters, the Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO network and the National Commissions. This site is our response today to this crisis.
UNESCO promotes “the free flow of ideas by word and image.”
(Art. 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights) … to foster “freedom of expression…”
What happened in 2019…
● The National Commissions of Europe held two informal meetings with the UNESCO Secretariat (workshops organized by the National Commission of Slovenia) in February and at UNESCO Headquarters in April 2019 on the application of the “Regulatory Framework.”
● Following upon this latter meeting, UNESCO sent the National Commissions an online questionnaire on 23 May 2019 on the progress of the application of the “Regulatory Framework.” By 20 June 2019, only 25 National Commissions – 12.6% – had reacted. UNESCO considered that the result of this survey was not representative enough to present a report to the Executive Council and the General Conference on the progress made. A new survey was planned by UNESCO for 2020.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000371101
A new awareness arose
● The corrective Amendments to the “Regulatory Framework” debated by the Member States at the 2019 UNESCO General Conference to reintegrate the Centres for UNESCO until the next General Conference session in 2021 were unanimously adopted.
● On 15 November 2019, the day after the reintegration of the Centres for UNESCO was adopted by the General Conference, the members of the Executive Office of the European Federation for UNESCO who had met at UNESCO Headquarters were informed of the plan to disseminate the legal analysis report “Parere Pro Veritate” throughout the network and the need to respond immediately to the request for an interactive information platform.
“Parere Pro Veritate” [“Seeking the Truth”]
● The Italian Federation of Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO sounded the alarm in October 2018 about the new “Regulatory Framework” and was the driving force behind a legal basis for countering the threat to the network’s independence.
● This report written and finalized on 14 October 2018 by Enrico Grosso, professor and attorney specializing in constitutional law, examines the constitutionality of this decision.
● It puts forth the limits of public law (governing the National Commissions under the supervision of the State) as opposed to private law (governing and protecting the freedom of association of individuals under which the Centres, Clubs, Associations and Federations for UNESCO fall). Private law is guaranteed by the Constitution.
● Although this report concerns the Italian Federation for UNESCO and its national network, it is an analytic reference applicable in very many countries throughout the world that can be actively supported and brought together by our entire Network.
● It is the sole independent legal analysis of reference that makes it possible to understand the implementation methods of the new 2017 “Regulatory Framework” concerning the Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO and that should imperatively be re-examined.
The report
… and in 2020
Considering the failure of the survey conducted by the UNESCO Secretariat in 2019 on the results of the implementation of the “Regulatory Framework,” a new decision was taken to once again launch the same survey with all the National Committees in early 2020. The coronavirus stopped this initiative in its tracks.
See the relevant UNESCO documents (all in the official languages of the Organization):
document 40C/90 UNESCO General Conference 40th session, 22 November 2019; “Report of Finance, Administration, and general questions, Programme support and External Relations (APX) Commissions”; Item 10.2 “Amendment to the Regulatory Framework regarding Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO”
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000371886
document 207 EX/51 UNESCO Executive Board 207th session 9 October 2019; “Draft decision amending the regulatory framework regarding Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO (39 C/54)”
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000371022_eng
document 40C/77 UNESCO General Conference 40th session, 11 November 2019; Item 10 of the Provisional Agenda; “Amendment to the Regulatory Framework regarding Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO (39C/54)”
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000371423_eng
document 39/54 UNESCO General Conference 39th session, 19 October 2017; Item 8.3 “Draft Regulatory Framework regarding Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO”
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000259628
document 39C/LEG7 UNESCO General Conference 3 November 2017; Legal Committee Seventh Draft Report “Draft Regulatory Framework regarding Associations, Centres and Clubs for UNESCO”
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000259947_eng
document 167 EX/16 UNESCO Executive Board 167th session, 21 August 2003; “Report by the Director-General on a comprehensive strategy for relations with institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO and those loosely associated with UNESCO”
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000131059
FROM TODAY ON:
Toward a new development strategy and methodology
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
The time for change has come
● Undertake a rapid online consultation of the International Network of Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO to re-examine the terms of reference of the “Regulatory Framework” (2017 and 2019 decisions) with the Director-General of UNESCO prior to the Executive Board meeting in October 2020 and with a view to the 2021 General Conference;
● Create an internal Executive Committee in the Network to deal with this subject;
● Redefine our organic relations with UNESCO Headquarters in the framework of the new UNESCO-civil society strategy;
● Revise our operational relations with the National Commissions in the framework of our specific legal identities, functions, mandates and responsibilities in civil society.
And also to update our priorities and goals for a stronger commitment to democracy and the young generations
● Redefine the functions and responsibilities of the World Federation of Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO and the regional Federation and their respective roles to ensure a better development of the network;
● Develop internal training programs on the major thematic programs of UNESCO to increase the level of our competencies;
● Define an “in-the-field” communication policy jointly with UNESCO Headquarters (Public Information Office) on the national and regional level in liaison with the National Commissions, with the goal of increasing the impact and visibility of UNESCO as well as the role of the Centres, Clubs and Associations worldwide in civil society and public-private partnerships;
● Broaden the network of new associative and institutional partners.
This is the goal of the next phase of this site, which will be developed with the input of your responses and ideas.
THE VISIONARIES
Federico Mayor Zaragoza
Director-general of UNESCO from 1987 to 1999
The House of UNESCO is theirs, that of all the peoples.
You are the paths of light… because you open new paths for UNESCO to have communities hear its message that would undoubtedly never have reached them without you. [The Clubs] show the way to a new, generous… fraternal and peaceful world.
(from his address at the 25th session of the General Conference, 1989)
Amadou Mahtar-M’Bow
Director-general of UNESCO from 1974 to 1987The UNESCO edifice is a continuous creation to which all the driving forces contribute. The volunteer activist network of UNESCO in the world is indispensable; it is the link between the Institution and the people.
René Maheu
Director-general of UNESCO, 1962-1974I desire … to use this occasion to draw attention to the work accomplished in the public sector by the UNESCO clubs… they generally show an entrepreneurial spirit and a devotion to the ideals of UNESCO that make them remarkable auxiliaries and relays, notably with young people of the Organisation’s work and spirit…
Jaime Torres Bodet
Director-general of UNESCO, 1948-1952… This action could take on a greater scope with a ‘club of friends of UNESCO’… This means introducing the international community into the life of young people, as much in terms of conscience as of action, so that they can, in their turn, be inte- grated into the worldwide community.
Julian Huxley
Director-General of UNESCO, 1946-1948UNESCO needs groups of future citizens of the world and clubs of international relations among young people and everywhere in the world – decide your actions by yourself under the banner of UNESCO.
WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU
This homepage is the first phase of a site that will evolve to prepare a new, more open vision of our Civil Society Network. We welcome your opinion on the following themes:
Does this site help you to better understand the subjects and issues brought up and their impact on your future?
What are the roles and responsibilities expected from the World Federation and your Regional Federation in this crisis?
Is the report “Parere Pro Veritate” a useful reference in your exchanges with your National Federation and/or the National Commission to better serve UNESCO and your development?
Do you think that the Network of Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO should establish consolidated organic links with the Organization’s Headquarters? And the Network of Associated Schools?
What major decisions and/or orientations interest you for the future?
In order to facilitate the development of the next phase of this site, please keep your replies concise and to a maximum of 20 lines. To write us, click on the link below.
contact@civil-society-initiative-for-unesco.org
Our heartfelt thanks to the members of the Network of Centres, Clubs and Associations for UNESCO in the many countries for their dynamic contribution to the new broad vision of their engagement in civil society; to the Member States and National Commissions that shared our associative values, our pragmatic specificity in the field and the priority of a new cooperation in favour of the young generations and to all those who contributed to this project.