Leaders' Forum

An international platform for reflection and discussion, UNESCO has created the Leaders’ Forum within the 36th session of UNESCO’s General Conference to inject from the highest level of governments new inspiration and directions for the future. The Leaders’ Forum will be a major opportunity to explore in an open manner innovative, even provocative ideas and new ways of promoting peace and prosperity in a globalized world through UNESCO’s fields of competence and thereby help chart the programmatic activities of the Organizations in the future.

The three sessions of the Forum will be held on Wednesday, 26 October from 9.30 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm and on Thursday, 27 October 2011 from 10 am to 1 pm in Room I. The Forum will take place before the national statements of the general policy debate so as to enhance participation by delegations in the discussions. The following theme shall be addressed and discussed during the Leaders’ Forum:

“How does UNESCO contribute to building a culture of peace and to sustainable development?”

The background document for the debate can be found below.The background note sets out some of the areas which the participants in the Leaders’ Forum may wish to explore. This document does not encompass all topics that could potentially be discussed. It is rather intended as a starting point for a broader reflection on the role of UNESCO in building a culture of peace and in contributing to sustainable development.

The President of the 36th session of the General Conference; the Chairperson of the Executive Board and the Director-General of UNESCO will open the Leaders’Forum on 26 October at 9.30 am.

Each of the three sessions will start, to the extent possible, by two or several keynote addresses by Heads of State or Government, followed by an exchange of views between Ministers, preferably without set statements.

Among the confirmed Heads of States or Governments who will honour us with their presence are

• H.E. Mr Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
• H.E. Mr Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon
• H.E. Mr Pal Schmitt, President of the Republic of Hungary
• H.E. Mr Johnson Toribiong, President of the Republic of Palau
• H.E. Mr Boris Tadic, President of the Republic of Serbia
• H.E. Mr Tillman Thomas, Prime Minister of Grenada
• H.E. Mr Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya
• H.E. Mr Pascal Irenée Koupaki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Benin

The sessions will be moderated by Ms Zeinab Badawi, Presenter of World News Today on both BBC Four and BBC World News and Mr Stephen Cole, Senior Presenter Al Jazeera English, Doha and London.

The gist of the debate and any recommendations resulting from the discussions will be conveyed to the General Conference.

Permanent Delegations wishing to register the Minister(s) who will represent their country at the Leaders’ Forum should contact Ms Caroline Descombris (c.descombris@unesco.org; +33145681624), Bureau of Strategic Planning.