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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 9, No. 1. March 1, 1946
New Zealand Delegate to Unesco
New Zealand Delegate to Unesco
Recently returned to Wellington is Mr. A. E. Campbell, Director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research, who was a NZ delegate to the United Nations Conference for the Establishment of an Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which was held in London last November. When interviewed Mr. Campbell was optimistic about the success of the organisation, provided the nations who have agreed to the tentative constitution are prepared to put their proposals into operation. A notable feature of the discussion was the expressed desire of many delegates that the organisation should be of some value to the underprivileged groups in society. It was felt that the exchange of ideas and information which will be brought about should not be confined to the leading figures in the educational and cultural fields, but must reach the ordinary student, teacher and parent.
The conference consisted of delegates from forty-four nations and from seven international organisations, including UNRRA, the ILO and the League of Nations Committee of Intellectual Co-operations. The only significant absence was the Soviet Union but as the conference was anxious that that nation should join the organisation, a seat was reserved for her on the Executive Board of the Preparatory Commission.
The Conference was called as the upshot of a meeting of Allied Ministers of Education which took place in July, 1945. Its function was "to consider the creation of an Educational and Cultural Organisation of the United Nations," and its venue was the Institute of Civil Engineers, Westminster. The Rt. Hon. Ellen Wilkinson, Minister of Education for England and Wales, was elected President, with M. Leon Blum, the chief delegate of France, as Associate President. The leader of the United States delegation was Mr. Archibald McLeish, well-known poet, who was assisted by Dr. Harlow Shapley, the distinguished astronomer. China's chief delegate was Prof. Hu Shin, President of the University of Peking.
The business of Conference was the drawing up of a constitution of the Organisation and the establishment of a Preparatory Commission.
Constitution
| 1. | The purpose of the Organisation is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedom which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations. | ||||||
| 2. | To realise this purpose the Organization will:
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Organisation
The Organisation shall include a General Conference, an Executive Board and a Secretariat.
General Conference
This consists of five representatives from all Member States. It is suggested that representatives be selected by a National Commission in each State on which the Government and various educational bodies will be represented. This means that the Governments will have some control over its delegates, who will not, however, be completely bound to it.
The General Committee is to meet each year and the meeting-place is to vary from year to year, but will not necessarily be different each time. It will determine the policy and main work of the Organisation, receive reports from Member States and will advise the United Nations Organisation on its findings, and set up technical committees where necessary.
The Executive Board will be elected by the General Conference and will be responsible for the execution of the programme adopted by the Conference. It will meet at least twice a year.
The Secretariat will consist of a Director-General and such staff as he may require. Its function will be mainly administrative and it will have permanent headquarters [unclear: in] Paris.
Reports by Member States
Each Member State shall report periodically to the Organisation on its laws, regulations and statistics relating to educational, scientific and cultural life and institutions, and on the action taken upon the recommendations that have been made to the Governments concerned.
It is perhaps surprising that this clause has been accepted without much discussion. It gives the Organisation a means of ensuring that its recommendations are not shelved without its knowledge.
Relations with UNO
It is hoped that UNESCO will be financed by UNO. It will certainly work in co-operation with UNO but will have a large degree of autonomy. Co-operation with other international organisations who have related interests and purposes is also provided for.
What UNESCO Is Doing Now
A Preparatory Commission has been set up with Sir Julian Huxley as Secretary, its main function being to call the first session of the General Conference. It will also provide without delay for immediate action on urgent matters. A most urgent matter is, of course, the problem of the devastated countries, a problem that cannot be left until the General Conference meets some time this year. It has therefore appointed a special technical sub-committee to examine the problems relating to the educational, scientific and cultural needs of the devastated countries. This committee will work in collaboration with UNRRA, which is already tackling the problem of education in these countries. If it is satisfied that any ameliorative measures are immediately practicable, it will report accordingly to the Preparatory Commission and the Commission will then the steps to co-ordinate the provision of relief by approaching Governments, organisations or persons wishing to contribute money, supplies or services.
UNESCO Month
As the location of the General Conference will [unclear: vary] from year to year, it can be expected to arouse considerable public interest in the countries where it takes place. Accordingly it has been suggested that for a few weeks before and during the Conference, the host country should "put its cultural life on show." Special exhibitions of arts and crafts could be held, drama and music festivals could be arranged, and recent scientific achievements could he brought before the public. Delegates would be encouraged to arrive some time before the Conference in order to deliver public lectures. If this were done, the entire educational, scientific and cultural life of the country would receive an impetus similar to that received by the educational community in New Zealand from the New Educational Fellowship Conference held here in 1937.