WILLEMSTAD - Recently, Curaçao hosted and co-organized the Consultative Meeting of UNESCO with National Commissions of UNESCO. A total of 34 individuals, including Secretaries-General, participated from Dutch, English, Spanish, French Caribbean, and observers from Bonaire, Saba, Great Britain, UNESCO Paris Headquarters, and the National Commission of France.
Minister Sithree van Heydoorn emphasized the valuable importance during the opening of the meeting for a good representation of Caribbean SIDS concerns on topics such as climate change, the continuation of the Slave Route, and enslaved persons of African descent.
Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations, representing UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, Anthony Ohemeng-Boamah, highlighted the important role of the present countries in taking advantage of the opportunity to engage openly with UNESCO and the different sections that participated virtually in the discussions. There are also sessions on African priorities and gender, which are UNESCO's Global Priorities, sub-regional trends, challenges, and opportunities for SIDS.
During these days, the secretaries-general are discussing various topics to contribute to the document that will provide direction for the next four years for the organization and its member and associate member countries. This includes the so-called Program and Budget, for 2026-2029/43 C/5.
Through the UNESCO SIDS Chair, a talk followed by a panel discussion on the topic "UNESCO Acting with and for SIDS" was organized, elaborating on the importance of SIDS in the Pacific and Caribbean for UNESCO.