UNESCO Adopts Resolution Supporting The Sustainability Of UNRWA Education Activities In The Palestinian Territories

JAKARTA - The UNESCO Executive Board with a majority vote adopted a resolution in favor of the sustainability of UNRWA education activities in occupied Palestinian territories during an extraordinary eighth session on Monday, underscoring UNESCO's commitment to ensuring access to education for Palestinian refugees.

Fifty of the 58 member states voted in favor of the resolution, two abstain countries, two countries were not present when the vote took place and four countries opposed it, according to WAFA November 26.

The UNESCO Executive Council's extraordinary hearing was held at the request of twelve member countries, namely Chile, Cuba, Djibouti, Indonesia, Jordan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Spain and Turkey.

"In the 8th special session of the Executive Board of UNESCO on support for the sustainability of UNRWA educational activities in occupied Palestinian territories, more than 70 countries spoke in constructive debates that resulted in historic decisions encouraging collaboration between the two UN institutions," tweeted Chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO Vera El Khoury Lacoeuilhe.

These countries seek to ensure the sustainability of UNRWA educational activities, in response to Israel's Knesset law that threatens the agency's operations, which will further have a severe impact on education activities provided by UNRWA in Palestine.

Last month, the Israeli Parliament passed legislation that could end UNRWA operations in occupied Palestinian territories in less than three months, it said, showing the dissolution of UNRWA would undermine the humanitarian response of the United Nations, which relies heavily on the agency's infrastructure.

At the 8th special session of @unesco EXB on supporting the continuity of @unrwa educational activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, more than 70 states spoke in a constructive debate resulting in a historic decision fostering collaboration between the two @UN agencies pic.twitter.com/IJnzLEZVx4

— Chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO (@EXBChairperson) November 25, 2024

At the 8th special session of @unesco EXB on supporting the continuity of @unrwa equivalent activities in the occupational Palestinian terrorists, more than 70 statements speech in a constructive debate proposing in a histric decision fostering collaboration between the two @UN agents pic.twitter.com/IJnzLEZVx4