Tuesday 07 / October / 2025
Paris: The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 222nd session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which is taking place at the organisation's headquarters in the French capital, Paris, from 1-16 October.
Amina Salim Al Balushi, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the UNESCO and Vice-Chair of the Executive Board for the Arab Group, delivered Oman's speech. She expressed Oman's appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Organization despite global challenges, asserting that UNESCO continues to perform its vital role in promoting education, culture, and science, which deserves all our support and recognition.
Al Balushi called for addressing the Organisation's financial situation through transparent and strategic discussions, explaining that UNESCO's financial sustainability requires bold measures and long-term planning to ensure its ability to keep pace with global transformations and support the sustainable development goals of member states.
She stressed the necessity of protecting field offices and enhancing their operational capabilities, particularly in the Arab region, noting that "Field offices represent the first line of defense in facing crises and must receive full support to perform their role efficiently."
She commended UNESCO's efforts in organizing prominent international events, including the Global Teachers Summit in Chile, Digital Learning Week, the MONDIACULT Conference in Spain, and the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in China, which witnessed the inscription of the Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Al Sareen reserves into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. She affirmed that the inscription of the two reserves reflects Oman's commitment to environmental protection and biodiversity enhancement, constituting a national achievement to be proud of.
In the context of strengthening the Organisation's standing, she called for institutional coordination and exploring financing opportunities, praising UNESCO's efforts in mobilizing extra-budgetary resources. She added: "We need a more diverse and flexible funding model that guarantees the continuity of institutional work and reinforces the Organization's independence."
Al Balushi called for the importance of geographical balance in the distribution of human resources and promoting equality between the two genders, emphasizing that "the diversity of member states must be reflected in UNESCO's work environment to enrich the experience and promote institutional justice."
In a statement delivered on behalf of the Arab Group, the Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO and Vice-Chair of the Executive Board for the Arab Group expressed the Group's strong condemnation of the genocidal war against the Palestinian people, noting the destruction of more than 110 historical and religious sites in Gaza, and the continuous violations in Al Quds Al Sharif (Jerusalem) and the Ibrahimi Mosque.
The Group condemned the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar and the targeting of the Old City of Sana'a in Yemen, calling for the neutralization of cultural heritage sites during armed conflicts.
The Group affirmed the need to enhance financial transparency, expand the funding base, and activate cooperation with the private sector and civil society, stating that Arab nations look forward to a greater role for UNESCO in supporting the educational and cultural renaissance in the region.
