UNESCO at the African Union Summit

The African Union held a Summit meeting in Khartoum, Sudan in January.

UNESCO provided a documentary exhibition describing the works of UNESCO in the service of culture, science and technology on the continent. Click here to see the exhibit.

Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO addressed the heads of government and other attendees at the meeting. Click here to read his remarks.

Among other decisions, the Summit:

* Proclaimed the period 2006 – 2015, the Second Decade of Education for Africa;

* Endorsed the framework of the Plan of Action of the Second Decade of Education for Africa;

* Called upon Member States to devote sufficient resources for the implementation of the Plan of Action;

* Adopted the revised Charter for the Cultural Renaissance of Africa;

* Appealed to Member States for the speedy signing and ratification of the revised Charter;

* Adopted statutes for the establishment of the African Academy of Languages;

* Invited UNESCO and other relevant partners to provide support to both ministries of culture and education in their efforts to strengthen the interface between culture and education;

* Declared 2006 as the Year of African Languages; and

* Requested that the Commission (in cooperation with a Group of Experts) consider further the establishment of an African Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (AFESCO).