UNCLASSIFIED   UNESCOPARI   05290718 
VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #0718 1490907
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290907Z MAY 09
FM UNESCO PARIS FR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

UNCLAS PARIS FR 000718 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D   C O P Y - SEE PARA 2 ADDITION OF F 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM UNESCO
SUBJECT:  UNESCO: 181ST EXECUTIVE BOARD APPROVES LAUNCHING OF A 
NETWORK OF NATIONAL AGAINST RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND OTHER FORMS OF 
INTOLERANCE 
 
Ref:  A) 08 PARIS FR 002114 B) 09 PARIS FR 000707 
 
¶1.  Uruguay first proposed a network of national authorities against 
racism and xenophobia modeled on an existing network of city 
authorities during the Spring 2007 Executive Board, depicting it as 
an offshoot of UNESCO's "Integrated strategy to combat racism, 
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," (adopted by 
UNESCO's General Conference in 2003).  However, the initial 
explanation and supporting documentation for the "network of 
national authorities" initiative (as presented at that time and then 
again at the Spring 2008 Executive Board) were flawed in several 
respects, and resulted in the Board sending the proposal back for 
further work and clarification.  The Board decided in 2008 to defer 
consideration of this proposal in part because it focused primarily 
on racism, xenophobia and intolerance problems faced by migrant 
populations, an issue that many delegations considered as not within 
the scope of UNESCO's core mandate.  Moreover, it was not clear 
whether this initiative would duplicate work already being done by 
the existing "Coalition of Cities against Racism."  A number of 
Executive Board delegations (the U.S. included) were also reluctant 
to see this initiative launched on a global basis, and urged that it 
first be tested on an experimental basis within the Latin American 
region, where it had its most avid support.  The funding 
implications of such an initiative were also a matter of concern. 
 
¶2.  The feasibility study for this initiative presented at the 181st 
Board session (April 2009), however, overcame many of these 
drawbacks and enabled easy, consensus adoption of this initiative on 
a scaled-back basis.   An important attribute of the "network" 
initiative, as approved, is that it will now be initiated on a 
"pilot project" basis limited to the Latin America and the Caribbean 
region.  States in that region may participate, or not, on an 
optional basis.  The network will aim to complement rather than 
duplicate the work already being done by the Coalition of Cities 
Against Racism and, importantly, will conform to the other key 
understandings set forth in the feasibility study presented at the 
181st Board session.  Among these understandings are the following: 
(a) the initiative would operate under the auspices of UNESCO (b) 
UNESCO would provide a modest, one-time sum of $45,000.00 to help 
the project get started; (c) the remaining costs will be covered by 
the network's members and from other (non-UNESCO) outside sources; 
(d) States joining the network will decide which national entities 
are to participate in it; and (e) it will promote best practices and 
facilitate the exchange of information; and (f) thanks to effective 
advocacy by the U.S. delegation, the network concept no longer seeks 
to focus also on migrants and migration.  It is important to 
underline that, in approving this network the Board also implicitly 
approved its extension, in principle, to an eventual global reach. 
However, the Board has adopted a step-by-step approach toward global 
scope and has asked the Director-General to "monitor the functioning 
of the network and to keep the Executive Board informed periodically 
on the progress achieved." 
 
¶3.  Comment: U.S. persistence in holding this project to strict 
scrutiny, while at the same time working constructively with the 
Uruguayan delegation to secure their agreement to improvements we 
sought, resulted in a potentially troublesome proposal being 
significantly scaled back.  This "network of national authorities" 
concept bears continued close monitoring, particularly at future 
sessions when reports on its progress are being made.  If the 
project remains operationally faithful to the key understandings 
reached (as described above), the network should not pose any major 
problems.  That said, we must still remain vigilant to ensure it 
does not seek to become inappropriate or intrusive in the domestic 
affairs of UNESCO Member States. 
ENGELKEN