The AFUCA Executive Board Meeting was organized and held by AFUCA and the Chinese National Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (CNFUC)in Beijing, China from 3 to 6 May 2004. It was attended by representatives of eight Members of the AFUCA Executive Board together with 20 observers from Thailand and the secretariat of the CNFUC and a representative of the UNESCO Beijing Office.

Marking 30 years of action

AFUCA President Dr. Kim Ran-Soo delivered the opening message. He spoke of the accomplishments of AFUCA, now a globally recognized NGO, over its 30 year history, and stressed the importance of the Executive Board Meeting in discussing programmes to enrich regional cooperation in the future. Mr. Tao Xiping CNFUC President, Mr. Aoshima UNESCO Beijing Office Director and Mr. N. Noguchi Director-General of the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan (NFUAJ) also made speeches.

Financing AFUCA's programmes

Following the adoption of the agenda and timetable for the meeting, Ms. S. Ishigami, on behalf of the AFUCA Secretariat, explained the financial statements for the period for 2001 to 2003 and activities such as the Festival of Asian ChildrenÕs Art and the AFUCA Newsletter. Revenues were US$4,490 while expenses were US$3,530, leaving a balance of US$960, which would be carried forward to the current budget cycle. Discussions were held on how many years arrears should be claimed from those countries who have not made payments in the past years, and these discussions were continued later on in the meeting. The proposed report on activities and finance were then approved.

The AFUCA Secretariat introduced the document on the proposed programmes and budget for 2004-2005. CNFUC proposed to include the Ponrai Peace Festival, an annual event in China in which both Chinese and foreign children participate, as an AFUCA programme from next year. The meeting agreed, with the understanding that all members of AFUCA would be invited to participate in it. It was also agreed that multi-national exchange programmes and study visits conducted among multiple AFUCA member countries would be noted, not as AFUCA programmes as such, but as related activities. After the discussions, the proposed programmes and budget were unanimously approved.

The new officers are elected

The presentation of reports from seven of the member countries was followed by the election of Board officers.
The results were:

1. President: Mr. Tao Xiping, President, Chinese National Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations
2. Vice-Presidents: Ms. Ekjitra Choosakulchat, President, Center for International Understanding, Thailand Mr. Dhirendra Bhatnagar, Secretary General, Confederation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations, India
3. Secretary-General: Mr. Noboru Noguchi, Director-General, National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan
4. Auditor: Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Vice-President & Secretary-General, Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Vietnam

Dr. Kim was nominated as Honorary President of AFUCA, and was so approved by the Board. The Board decided to recommend the outgoing President as Honorary President for four years, as a general rule. The newly elected President, Mr. Tao, then took over chairmanship of the meeting. Concerning the outstanding issue of membership fees, it was decided that demands for payment would be made from all countries from the year 2003, but only from those able to cover the amount for previous years. The meeting also decided to organize ordinary sessions in odd years starting from the next meeting.

Future Strategy(WFUCA and AFUCA)

Mr. Noguchi and Mr. Thang then explained the WFUCA situation. Because of the disagreement concerning the presidency, UNESCO has set up the “Ad Hoc Committee for the Renewal of WFUCA” (Chairman Mr. Eiji Hattori, with Mr. Noguchi and Mr. Thang as members). This committee aims at preparing a new draft Constitution for WFUCA. After some final remarks, Mr. Tao declared the 15th Executive Board Meeting closed.

The World Congress was once planned to be held in the summer of 2003. However, the hosting organization, the Greek National Commission for UNESCO, withdrew its offer of hosting the Congress and instead the 2003 Congress was hosted by the Cyprus UNESCO Federation. Some member organizations in Asia participated. The situation arose in which two persons both claimed legitimacy as Presidents of WFUCA. UNESCO Headquarters felt that the matter should be resolved within the NGO (WFUCA) and that neither of the two representatives would attend the UNESCO General Conference in 2004. In order to deal with the matter, UNESCO set up the “Ad Hoc Committee for the Renewal of WFUCA” with Mr. Eiji Hattori as chairman. Mr. Thang, Vietnam, and Mr. Noguchi, Japan, are also members of the Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee met in December 2003, and a drafting committee was formed in March 2004 with a view to preparing a new draft Constitution for WFUCA. The drafting committees were held in September and December 2004, and the draft revised Constitution was adopted. The steering committee was set up in December 2004 to prepare for the next World Congress. The Ad Hoc Committee proposed holding a World Conference of the UNESCO Clubs movement in July 2005, and the idea was welcomed by Mr. Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO at the Committee in December 2004. The invitation to attend the World Conference will be sent from UNESCO to all countries where UNESCO Clubs exist. A World Congress is expected to be organized in conjunction with the World Conference and lead to the rebirth of WFUCA.

The following is the address by Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the Second Meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Renewal of WFUCA in December 2004.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to UNESCO this morning for the opening of the second meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Renewal of WFUCA, the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations. I thank you all for coming.

One year ago, under the chairmanship of Mr Eiji Hattori, an informal meeting was held to reflect on the current situation and prospects of the World Federation, and out of this the Ad Hoc Committee emerged, along with a subcommittee for the drafting of a new Constitution of the WFUCA. The subcommittee met in March and June of this year and reported to the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee in September.

The aims of the Ad Hoc Committee are to reinforce the UNESCO Clubs movement and, with that purpose in mind, to revitalize the World Federation. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the time and efforts devoted by this Committee and its Chairperson, Mr Hattori, to date.

Collaboration with civil society partners is becoming more and more indispensable for the United Nations system organizations. The Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations, the so-called "Cardoso Panel" set up by the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, has reiterated this point in its report published in June this year.

UNESCO has long been in the forefront of efforts to build relations with civil society but we have recognized clearly that more needs to be done. Ever since I took office in late 1999, I have been increasingly aware of the importance of such partnership for an organization like UNESCO. In order for the Organization to achieve its global goals, its message should reach towards not only leaders and policy-makers but also the mass of individual citizens within civil society, whose decisions and actions are the concrete substance of social improvement. Those millions of individuals are difficult to approach directly but they can be reached through community groups, clubs, associations, and a myriad of other networks and organizations within civil society. In this regard, UNESCO's Medium-Term Strategy for the period 2002-2007 highlights the potential role of the UNESCO Clubs movement as one of its key civil society partners and a unique asset in the UN system. This reflects the fact that, at meetings of our governing bodies over the years, Member States have reaffirmed their interest in and support for this movement.

The World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations was officially founded in 1981, based on a strong consensus among the leaders of the movement who, three years earlier, had gathered at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Their aim was to enhance the coordination and promotion of the UNESCO Clubs movement at the global level.

Afterwards, UNESCO enjoyed good cooperation with this NGO and supported its activities. Unfortunately, for several reasons and in accordance with Directives governing relations with NGOs, I had to propose the suspension, on an interim basis, of UNESCOÕs formal associate relations with this NGO to the 169th session of its Executive Board in April 2004.

I believe that the role of the World Federation, as an international coordinating body, is becoming more and more critical in the effective planning and implementation of actions of the UNESCO Clubs movement in response to the trend of globalization. Consequently, I found it very important to establish this Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of leaders of major Federations of UNESCO Clubs and Centres from all over the world, in order to revisit the raison d'etre of WFUCA and develop renewal strategies. I was happy to learn recently from Mr Eiji Hattori, the CommitteeÕs Chairperson, that the Committee has developed by consensus some excellent proposals for the revitalization of the World Federation.

I believe it is very timely for us to develop new strategies for the promotion of the UNESCO Clubs movement. It is now over 50 years since the creation of the first UNESCO Club in Japan and it is necessary to respond to the new challenges emerging at the dawn of the twenty-first century.

In particular, I have welcomed the proposal to organize a special international conference for the UNESCO Clubs movement in July 2005. I would be pleased to welcome the participants and open this Conference. Furthermore, I hope that this Ad Hoc Committee will continue to provide guidance to the Secretariat so that the planning of the conference will have a successful outcome.

In closing my remarks, I would like to stress that UNESCO is committed to continuing its support for the Clubs movement itself as well as for this process led by Mr Hattori, in keeping with the request of the 169th session of the Executive Board. We continue to rely upon your constructive and fruitful cooperation.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to draw your attention to the on-going discussion concerning the use of UNESCOÕs name and logo and the categorization of the Institutes and Centres enjoying relations with UNESCO. I invite you to take into consideration the necessity for UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations to be in conformity with forthcoming decisions by UNESCO's governing bodies on these subjects.

It remains for me to wish that you have positive and useful discussions over the next three days. I would like to thank you once again for your continued support for the promotion of the ideals of the Organization through the UNESCO Clubs movement.

Thank you.

The President of AFUCA received a fax from Mr. C. A. Samaradivakara, Secretary General of the Federation of UNESCO Associations in Sri Lanka, dated 29 December 2004, to inform the severe damage in coastal towns and villages in the southern province of Sri Lanka devastated by the tsunami tidal wave. Mr. Samaradivakara reported that a relief operation was organized by UNESCO Clubs, and that the Clubs needed assistance from UNESCO Clubs in other countries. The AFUCA secretariat confirmed the details of the rehabilitation programme, and the proposal was made in February for the rehabilitation of the 101 worst affected families in Matara district for the amount of US$14,150. The following is a summary of the action plan for the rehabilitation of the tsunami victims.

1. Location: Matara Divisional Secretariat, Federation of UNESCO Clubs in Sri Lanka
2. Target community: Displaced families whose main livelihood has been lost in a severely affected fishing community.
3. Direct beneficiaries: 101 women who supplement family incomes and their family members.
4. Main objective: To help regain the lost livelihoods of the worst affected families in the fishing villages, thereby rehabilitating them economically, socially and psychologically
5. Amount requested: US$14,150 (This plan can be replicated in other areas hit by the tsunami)

Mr. Samaradivakara hoped to be contacted for possible collaboration from AFUCA members. NFUAJ responded to the proposal by sending US$2,500 in its first stage of cooperation.