209th Session of UNESCO Executive Council: Morocco Calls for Innovative, Pragmatic and Inclusive Multilateralism

03 July 2020 Printable Version

Paris - Morocco called, Thursday in Paris, at the plenary of the 209th session of the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), for an innovative, pragmatic and inclusive multilateralism that places people at the heart of its action.

Regarding the preparation for the post-Covid19 period, Morocco hopes that collective reflection will start now for "an innovative, pragmatic and inclusive multilateralism which places people at the heart of its action,” said Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Morocco to UNESCO, Samir Addahre.

In these times of great upheaval, UNESCO must respond to the expectations of the Member States as well as the aspirations of their peoples for sustainable development, solid international cooperation and partnerships based on solidarity, respect and dignity, said the Moroccan diplomat at this meeting, held in the presence of UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay.

“Mainly redefining the role of UNESCO as a leader in education by laying the foundations for the future, rethinking education, climate and social policies for the post-Covid 19 period and strengthening Priority Africa, such is our mission”, he pointed out.

After welcoming the commitment of the Director-General of Unesco for the “strategic” transformation of the organization, he noted that “this transformation must henceforth take into account the lessons and consequences of this unprecedented global crisis”.

"I hope that the Director-General (of Unesco) will take the lead and she has the legitimacy to do so, with all our support, for an innovative reflection on multilateralism. An innovative, pragmatic, efficient and inclusive multilateralism, placing human beings at the heart of its action", the diplomat said.

While welcoming the commitment and the ongoing efforts for the implementation, despite difficulties, of the various UNESCO programs and their adaptation to the realities of the pandemic, Mr. Addahre said that "this momentum should continue and be accelerated within an ambitious and effective logic of UNESCO's action”.

“If we want to live up to the commitments made and face the multiple challenges posed by Covid 19, we must be mobilized together, member states and the Secretariat, hand in hand, in order to learn the lessons of the health crisis and take decisions that this new reality imposes on us,” he went on.

In this regard, UNESCO's Futures of Education is the most ambitious action of our Organization during this biennium, he said, adding that this initiative is intended to rethink education and shape a better future.