19 May 2011: The Executive Board of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reaffirmed the priority status of small island developing States (SIDS) in the Organization. The Board recently met to review draft resolutions concerning the 2012-2013 programme and budget for UNESCO, ahead of the October 2011 General Conference. The Board requested that additional specific references to SIDS be included to ensure that SIDS concerns are reflected throughout the programme.

The 186th session of the Executive Board of UNESCO took place from 3-19 May 2011, in Paris, France. Significantly, the Board expressed its support for the Organization’s plan to retain and assign financing for the Intersectoral Platform on UNESCO’s Contribution to the Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of SIDS (MSI). The Platform is one of six Intersectoral Platforms foreseen for the 2012-2013 biennium. The Platforms serve as hubs for the implementation of interdisciplinary actions targeting specific priority themes. [IISD Sources] [Meeting Website]