Understanding the mechanisms of global governance and how to use the instruments to effect change is one of the challenges facing the region whose representatives often fall into patterns of becoming copycats of dominant agendas.
In the News – From the Archives
Details of funds and activities that would impact Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within UNESCO will come before the UNESCO Executive Board’s 197th session in Paris next week.
This was among items promoted by Trinidad and Tobago with Caribbean and SIDS colleagues at the Executive Board’s spring sitting in April 2015.
The Trinidad and Tobago representative was able to lobby widespread support from SIDS and other states of the 58-member Executive Board.
Global Budget for SIDS
While SIDS has been on the agenda of UNESCO for some time, we felt that UNESCO’s focus on actions should be sharpened, and the budgets available to implement these be specified so as to not be lost among the wide range of activities of UNESCO in the spheres of education, culture, information and communications and science.
We requested the Director General to present specific details of UNESCO’s focus on SIDS so as to assess what gaps needed to be filled, whether in relation to programmes or budgets.
Some 45 other items will receive the Board’s attention over the two week period including the contribution of the programme on Management of Social Transformations to the UN Post 2015 agenda.
Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Latin American and Caribbean MOST Ministers in 2012 while I was chair of the National Commission for UNESCO.
International Day
The Executive Board will also consider proposals to introduce an International Day for the defence of the mangrove ecosystem and an International Access to Information Day; the contribution of UNESCO to combating climate change at COP; and UNESCO’s relations with non-governmental partners.
The Executive Board will further consider a protocol to set up a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission that would settle disputes between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education, and a roadmap for UNESCO’s programme on preventing and addressing school-related gender-based violence.
Multilingualism in Cyberspace
It will examine recommendations for Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace, on the Status of the Artist, Status of Teachers (CEART) and Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, and reports on the implementation of the Information for All Programme (IFAP, 2014-2015).
Culture of Respect
Enhancing UNESCO’s Contributions to Promote Culture of Respect; reinforcement of UNESCO’s action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism; preparation of a global convention on the recognition of higher education qualifications; the outcomes of the World Education Forum 2015 and geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the UNESCO Secretariat are other agenda items that are of particular relevance to Trinidad and Tobago and the Latin Americans and Caribbean regions.
About the UNESCO Executive Board
One of three constitutional organs of UNESCO, the Executive Board is elected by the General Conference to prepare UNESCO’s programme of work and budget estimates and provide oversight to implementation of programmes and actions by the Director-General.
Dr Rampersad will also chair the Education Commission of the UNESCO General Assembly to take place in Paris in November 2015.
About Dr Kris Rampersad
Dr Kris Rampersad is an independent global thought leader and media cultural and literary educator and consultant. She is the UNESCO-trained facilitator, a National Geographic Educator and was an Independent expert and Vice President of the Consultative body of the international UNESCO intergovernmental committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage. She served as Vice President of the UNESCO Programme and External Relations Commission, unanimously voted in for four consecutive term.
Also published: https://m.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-09-27/unesco-funds-sids-education-culture-under-scrutiny—rampersad
Changing the Global Agenda
Published:
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Details of funds and activities impacting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within UNESCO will come before the executive board’s 197th session in Paris next week.
This was among items promoted by T&T’s representative on the board, Dr Kris Rampersad, with Caribbean colleagues at the board’s spring (April 2015) sitting which has had widespread support from Sids and other states of the 58-member executive board.
“While SIDS has been on the agenda of Unesco for some time, we felt that Unesco’s focus on actions should be sharpened, and the budgets available to implement these be specified so as to not be lost among the wide range of activities of Unesco in the spheres of education, culture, information and communications and science, said Dr Rampersad.
Focus on SIDS
“We requested the director general to present specific details of UNESCO’s focus on SIDS so as to assess what gaps needed to be filled, whether in relation to programmes or budgets.”
Rampersad has co-chaired Unesco’s programme and external relations commission since 2014. One of three constitutional organs of Unesco, the executive board is elected by the general conference to prepare Unesco’s programme of work and budget estimates and provide oversight to implementation of programmes and actions by the director general.
Social Transformations
Rampersad noted that some 45 other items will receive the board’s attention over the two-week period, including the contribution of the programme on Management of Social Transformations to the UN Post 2015 agenda, as she recalled that T&T hosted the Latin American and Caribbean MOST Ministers in 2012 while she chaired the national commission for Unesco.
The board will also consider proposals to introduce an International Day for the defence of the mangrove ecosystem and an International Access to Information Day, the contribution of Unesco to combating climate change in COP 21; and Unesco’s relations with non-governmental partners, she said.
Dispute Settlement
Rampersad, who will also Chair the Education Commission of the UNESCO General Assembly to take place in Paris in November, said the Executive Board will further consider a protocol to set up a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission that would settle disputes between States Parties to the Convention against Discrimination in Education, and a roadmap for Unesco’s programme on preventing and addressing school-related gender-based violence.
It will examine recommendations for Promotion and Use of Multilingualism and Universal Access to Cyberspace, on the Status of the Artist, Status of Teachers (CEART) and Higher-Education Teaching Personnel.
Latin America and Caribbean Agendas
Reports on the implementation of the Information for All Programme (IFAP) (2014-2015), enhancing UNESCO’s Contributions to Promote Culture of Respect, reinforcement of UNESCO’s action for the protection of culture and the promotion of cultural pluralism, preparation of a global convention on the recognition of higher education qualifications; the outcomes of the World Education Forum 2015 and geographical distribution and gender balance of the staff of the UNESCO Secretariat are other agenda items that are of particular relevance to T&T and the Latin Americans and Caribbean regions, said Rampersad.
About Dr Kris Rampersad
Listen to UNESCO Members commend work of the Education Commission