Paris, October 13 (QNA) – The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has unanimously adopted two resolutions on Palestine, reaffirming the need to protect Palestinian cultural heritage and safeguard educational and cultural institutions.
Adopted at the Board’s 225th session, the resolutions address the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and the implementation of UNESCO decisions concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories.
The resolutions call for the protection of Palestinian cultural heritage, including historic sites in Jerusalem, Hebron and Bethlehem, and the safeguarding of educational and cultural institutions amid ongoing destruction and violations. They also stress the need to ensure that UNESCO’s decisions are implemented.
On July 22, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee adopted four decisions concerning the conservation of Palestinian World Heritage sites inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Palestine’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Adel Atieh welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolutions, saying attacks on schools, universities, heritage sites and journalists affect not only Palestinians but also undermine UNESCO’s mandate and the values it was established to uphold.
Atieh warned of escalating attacks on Palestinian cultural heritage and educational institutions, as well as violations against students, journalists and farmers. He called for UNESCO to be empowered to fulfill its mandate and urged that its decisions be translated into concrete action and tangible results on the ground. (QNA)