On Monday, the Executive Council of UNESCO, during its eighth extraordinary session, adopted a resolution by a significant majority to support the educational activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The resolution reaffirms UNESCO’s commitment to providing education for Palestinian refugees.
Fifty out of the 58 member states voted in favor of the resolution, while two countries abstained, two were absent during the vote, and four countries (Germany, Romania, Latvia, and the United States) voted against it.
The session was held at the request of twelve member states: Chile, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, and Turkey.
The resolution was a response to Israeli legislation that threatens the operations of UNRWA, which could severely impact the education provided to Palestinian refugees.
The resolution highlights the importance of education as a fundamental right and condemns any measures that threaten Palestinian children’s right to education.
Ahmad Abu Holi, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and head of the Refugee Affairs Department, stated that the adoption of this resolution is a victory for the Palestinian cause and a clear response to the illegal Israeli legislations.
He emphasized the essential role of UNRWA and the shared commitment between UNESCO and UNRWA to continue providing education.
Hala Tawil, the Palestinian Ambassador to UNESCO, thanked the countries that supported the resolution and called on the international community to ensure that UNRWA’s work continues until a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause is achieved.
