Indonesia Supports UNESCO Resolution Regarding The Sustainability Of UNRWA Education Missions In Palestine

JAKARTA - Indonesia supports the resolution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the continuation of the educational mission of the United Nations Aid and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the Palestinian territories, in accordance with the mandate of the Constitution, said the spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Roy Soemirat.

Roy explained that the UNESCO Executive Board (EB) on November 25 held an 8th Extraordinary Session of the UNESCO Executive Board meeting. The meeting was held at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.

The meeting successfully adopted the 'Supporting the Continuity of UNRWA's Educational Activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

"This resolution emphasizes support for the continuation of the UNRWA education mission in Palestine, together with UNESCO. This educational mission will contribute to regional stability, peace, and development through education, especially SDG4," Roy explained in a statement to VOI, as quoted Wednesday, November 27.

"Resolution also urges Israel as its occupying power to be responsible and obedient to international humanitarian law, complying with and respecting UNRWA mandates in Palestine," he explained.

Roy further explained that the holding of the Extraordinary Session of the Executive Board of UNESCO was driven by the decision of the Israeli parliament (Knesset) to stop UNRWA activities in Palestine.

Roy revealed that Indonesia is also a co-sponsor of this resolution and is one of the countries that are members of the UNESCO Executive Council who proposes the need to hold an Extraordinary Session of the Executive Board (ES-EB).

"Indonesia's support for the implementation of the ES-EB and the resolution is carried out in order to carry out the constitutional mandate (creating world peace), as well as to continue to provide support for Palestine, including through UN organizations and agencies such as UNRWA," Roy explained.

As previously reported, the UNESCO Executive Council 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.

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 on social media X.

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.