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7th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO | 22-25 February 2021

Context and objectives

Despite the postponement of the meeting initially scheduled for May 2020, the announced objectives of the 7th Interregional Meeting are maintained:

1.     Contribute to the ongoing elaboration process of the next Draft Medium-Term Strategy for 2022-2029 (41 C/4) and the Draft Programme and Budget for 2022-2025 (41 C/5) of UNESCO. The aim will be to collectively comment on the Director-General's preliminary proposals in the light of the suggestions made during the regional and subregional consultations and the Executive Board decision 210 EX/22. The intention is to share with the Secretariat and Member States the common considerations of the National Commissions in view of the preparation and examination of the drafts to be submitted to the 211th Session of the Executive Board (7 – 21 April, 2021).

2.    Exchange on the role of National Commissions for UNESCO in strengthening concretely the implementation of the Organization’s programmes. A starting point for the discussion will be the document, “National Commissions for a renewed multilateralism”, initiated by the National Commissions of Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The desired result is to provide the Secretariat and Member States with shared recommendations from National Commissions, to be included in the synthesis report as requested in the decision 210 EX/5.III.D on the strategic transformation of the Organization.

3.    Share experiences on actions undertaken or initiatives planned by the National Commissions, particularly those that have a subregional, regional, transregional and interregional cooperation dimension and/or strong intersectoral dimension at a thematic level, as well as projects that are part of the response to COVID-19, to the enhancement of the 2030 Agenda, or to the challenges and opportunities of digitalization.

Revised Programme

 

Monday, 22 February 2021 

 

13.00 - 13.30

Opening of the 7th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO

Welcome Addresses

Mr Thomas Zeltner, Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO  

Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO (video message)

Mr Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation

 

Election of the Bureau

Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (ADG/PAX)

 

Working methods and adoption of the programme

Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

 

1st session

 

13.30 – 13.45

Priorities for UNESCO’s action in 2022-2029

Moderation: Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

Introduction: Mr Jean-Yves Le Saux, Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning of UNESCO (DIR/BSP)

13.45 - 15.15

What is the role of UNESCO towards 2030 in light of global challenges?

Panel among:

Ms Aminata Touré, Member of UNESCO’s High Level Reflection Group for Strategic Transformation

Ms Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights

Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth

Ms Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB)

Mr Peter Messerli, Co-Chair of the UN Global Sustainable Development Report 2019

 

Questions/answers

 

15.15 – 15.30

Wrap-Up / Reminders

Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

 

 

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

 

2nd session

Future Quadrennial Programme of UNESCO (41/C5): programmes and products – operational involvement of National Commissions for UNESCO and their national networks

 

Regional group discussion

Directors of UNESCO Field Offices, ADG, BSP, PAX are invited to participate.

Possibility of optional (passive) participation by all National Commissions in other groups (in line with code of conduct). 

 

07.00-08.30

Asia-Pacific region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)

10.00-11.30

Arab region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)

13.00-14.30

Africa region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)

16.00-17.30

Europe and North America region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)

19.00-20.30

Latin America and the Caribbean region (1 moderator; 1 rapporteur)

 

 

Wednesday, 24 February 2021

 

3rd session

 

13.00 – 13.30

Presentation of the results of group discussions

Rapporteurs of the group discussions

Questions/answers

 

13.30 – 14.15

Strategic Transformation

Moderation: Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

 

State of Play

Presentation: Mr Xing Qu, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO

 

Positioning and Role of National Commissions for a Renewed Multilateralism

Presentation:  Mr Lutz Möller, Deputy Secretary-General of the German Commission for UNESCO             

 

High Level Reflection Group Report

Presentation: Ms Maja Zalaznik, Member of UNESCO’s High Level Reflection Group for Strategic Transformation 

 

14.15 - 15.00

Discussion, Q/A and key messages

Moderation: Ms Gabriela Tejada, Vice-Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

 
 

Thursday, 25 February 2021

 

4th session

 

13.00 – 15.00

From strategy to implementation of concrete initiatives: the comparative advantage of National Commissions

Moderation: Ms Gabriela Tejada, Vice-Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

Presentation of Completed / Planned projects from National Commissions

 

15.00 – 15.30

Closure of the 7th Interregional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO

Presentation by the Rapporteurs and Adoption of Conclusions

Mr Nicolas Mathieu, Secretary-General of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO

 

Closing remarks  

Mr Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations (ADG/PAX)

Mr Thomas Zeltner, Chairperson of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO  

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