UNESCO unmoved to try and end humanitarian crisis

In all of these ongoing discussions the very large Legal Department of UNESCO has remained silent - apparently hoping that its spin doctors in Public Relations will make the legal issues go away.

UNESCO's conduct seems very hard to fathom.

UNESCO is sailing into uncharted waters as its decision on Palestine has cost - and will cost it - the loss of 22% of its budget in unpaid American dues totalling about $225 million dollars to 2013. Even worse - loss of funding to the tune of about $85 million per annum is set to continue annually after 2013.

Facing this funding shortfall, UNESCO has halted all new projects, and may be forced to lay off staff.

The Center For Humanitarian Rights and Humanitarian Law (CHRHL) has spelled out the serious consequences of losing that funding:

UNESCO, which has a budget of $653 million for 2011-2012, works to attain equal education around the world, mobilize support for sustainable development, and encourage intercultural dialogue. As a key player in fulfilling the UN Millennium Development Goals(MDG), UNESCO supports and promotes literacy programs across the developing world. The right to education is enshrined in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights. UNESCO's Education for All initiative, which seeks to meet the second MDG of universal primary education by 2015, has faced large funding gaps since its inception. UNESCO's own funding shortfall as a result of the Palestinian vote is likely to exacerbate budgetary constraints on this crucial program. Specific programs that may be affected include: literacy training for Afghan police, an Iraqi curriculum development program, and education infrastructure support in South Sudan.

UNESCO'S response to this developing crisis has been to sail on its merry way - virtually oblivious to the dangers that lurk just beneath the surface that could cause this giant colossus to run aground.

Whilst busy raising the flag of "Palestine" at UNESCO headquarters in Paris - UNESCO has attempted to recoup this staggering shortfall by:

• Establishing an Emergency Fund - which has met with little success.

According to CHCRL the Fund is unlikely to cover the initial shortfall of $65 million and UNESCO will be forced to reformulate its future budgetary plans as the US is expected to withold budgeting for the coming years caused by the automatic suspension of the payment of any funds to any UN agency that admitted Palestine to membership of that organization.

• Attempting to get America to resume its payments to UNESCO by changing its domestic laws - a forlorn hope according to CHCRL because of a desire in the U.S. to cut government spending.

I believe there is a far more cogent reason this will not happen - especially in an election year.

That reason is US Congressional disapproval of the PLO attempting to unilaterally seek recognition of a Palestinian State outside the negotiations agreed to be conducted between Israel and the PLO under the Oslo Accords and the Bush Roadmap.