Overview
Of the very few General Conferences of UNESCO held outside the Organization Headquarters was the one held in Beirut Lebanon in 1948.
Upon the kind invitation of the Lebanese government, then represented by the Minister on Foreign Affairs and Education, the third session of the General Conference of UNESCO was held in Beirut, Lebanon between November 17 and December 11, 1948. The UNESCO Palace, which served as the venue for the General Conference Third Session, was built especially for the occasion and was inaugurated at its opening meeting.
In recognition of the efforts exerted, the General Conference of UNESCO adopted at the conclusion of its third session, the following resolution:-
Unesco 1948 General Conference:
"Deeply touched by the generous hospitality of the Lebanese authorities, keenly alive to the interest shown by the people of Lebanon in UNESCO and its aims and ideals, an interest which is evident of the close kinship between UNESCO and traditional Lebanese aspirations, the General Conference
Expresses to his Excellency Sheik Bechara El-Khoury, President of the Republic of Lebanon, to the members of the Government, Specially to His Excellency Hamid Bey Frangie, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Education, its deep gratitude
for their cordial invitation to UNESCO to hold the Third Session of its Conference at Beirut, for the unsurpassable facilities they have furnished to UNESCO, enabling it to hold its meetings in the splendid building specially erected for its reception, and for the unstinting help they have given to UNESCO in every direction, for the purpose of ensuring the organization and success of the Conference;
Expresses further its gratitude to Monsieur Maroun for all his efforts towards the preparation and organization of the Conference.
Also, The General Conference, recognizing the devoted collaboration extended to UNESCO by the Lebanese Press, both in the preparatory stages of the Conference and throughout its work, thanks the members of the Lebanese Press for the notice they have given to UNESCO, for their ready response to its appeal and for their wide publicizing of the results of the Conference. It is through their help that the public opinion of the Lebanon and, beyond the national frontiers, world opinion have been kept informed from day to day of the progress of the conference and have been able to realize UNESCO's contribution to the development of trustful relations between the peoples and to the maintenance of peace"
Nineteenth plenary meeting
11 December 1948
Initiation
In conformity with article VII paragraph two of UNESCO constitution, Lebanon was among the very first member states of UNESCO to establish its own national commission for UNESCO (presidential decree No 12141, June 28,1948), thereafter known as the the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO (LNCU). In turn and since 1991, the LNCU has been acting as the National Commission for the Arab League Organization for Education, Culture and Sciences (ALECSO) and as of 2002 as the National Commission for Islamic Organization for Education Science and Culture (ISESCO).
A number of personalities, reputed for their contributions in the areas of concern of UNESCO (Education, Science, Culture) assumed responsibilities at LNCU in their respective capacity as Presidents or Secretaries General.
Presidents and Secretaries General who assumed responsibilities at the LNCU since the date of its inception, are:
Mandate
National Commissions, being a unique phenomenon in the United Nations system, and in the Arab League Organization, and specific to their specialized agencies UNESCO and ALECSO, are entrusted, within their member states, with the responsibility of making the missions of both organizations known in the widest possible national circles of education, culture, sciences and communication. Both organizations, having the same areas of competence mandated the national commission with the following:
To ensure their active presence in the member state through education science, culture and communication;
To promote awareness of the two organizations' ideals and objectives within their framework of responsibilities;
To involve national intellectuals and scholars, as well as communities, known for their contributions to the advancement of education, science, culture and information, in the organizations' respective activities and programs.
Tasks
In accordance with its mandate, the Lebanese National Commission assumes four major tasks, which are the outcome of its "purposes" and "functions" as specified by its statutes and as defined by UNESCO's Constitution (Article VII) and Charter of National Commissions.
The Tasks are:
An advisory role, to advise the various national ministerial departments, as well as the national agencies, institutions and organizations on all matters relating to UNESCO and ALECSO and their respective programs.
A liaison role, to serve as a liaison agency between the National bodies concerned with the spheres of Education, Sciences, Culture and information on one hand, and UNESCO and ALECSO on the other.
An information role, to publicize the mission and work of UNESCO as well as ALECSO, disseminating their values and promoting awareness of issues that they deal with.
An execution role under which it is associated, on behalf of its member state, in the formulation, execution and evaluation of UNESCO and ALECSO programs and budgets.
© 2007 Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO
