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On November 5th, Permanent Delegate of Lithuania to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ambassador Jolanta Balčiūnienė, participated in the 43rd session of UNESCO's General Conference in Samarkand.

"UNESCO's emergency assistance programme for Ukraine has become a model in preparing similar action plans for Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen," Balčiūnienė underlined at the session.

During this session, the Lithuanian Ambassador chairs the Commission for Financial, Administrative and General Affairs, Programme Support and External Relations. It was this Commission that adopted the General Conference's decision this week to continue UNESCO's emergency assistance program to help Ukraine overcome the damage caused by the Russian aggression. The decision, which required a vote at Russia's request, notes the support of Member States and partners, particularly through voluntary contributions, for UNESCO's actions in Ukraine and calls for the continuation and strengthening of such support.

The head of the Lithuanian delegation, Balčiūnienė, also highlighted the scale of the Russian aggression: the destruction of kindergartens, schools, universities, libraries, and sports centres in Ukraine, the abduction and removal of children from Ukraine, the killing of journalists and media workers, damage caused to cultural heritage sites, biosphere reserves, and the ecosystem.

Lithuania’s national statement also highlighted UNESCO’s innovative solutions, most prominent examples of which have recently been the Draft Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology and the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.

The 43rd session of UNESCO's General Conference takes place from 30 October to 13 November. It is also attended by the Lithuanian delegation consisting of representatives of the Permanent Delegation of Lithuania to UNESCO, the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.