UNESCO

NEPALS POSITION PAPER

TOPIC A
DELEGATE: ALVARO SALGADO
Nepals position on the preservation of world heritage in Mali
Introduction
Mankind has created many different cultures, with different traditions during history, that
have grown and then disappeared, some of those civilizations being mysteries unlike
Egyptian and the Mayan, have remained and are still remembered by mankind as of today
Nepal is a country that is culturally rich, its home to different and ancient ethnics groups,
each one with its different languages and traditions. Since Nepal ratified the convention on
the protection of world cultural and natural heritage. Four properties have been recognized
as orld !eritage properties" two cultural, the #athmandu $alley and %umbini, the
birthplace of %ord &uddha' and two natural sites, Sagarmatha National (ark and )hitwan
National (ark.
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Nepals situation
+he country along with the ,NES)- has been working on preserving and promoting
cultural diversity, which makes part of the nation.s identity.
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http://www.unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/culture/world-heritage/
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/n order to promote the international year of rapprochement of cultures, the National
Federation of ,NES)- clubs organized a conference in 01*1.
2lso the ,NES)- office at #athmandu, implemented at the region of the ,pper Mustang a
pilot pro3ect to study the cultural heritage in the region. +his research defined a framework
to preserve the cultural heritage in the zone and also to help the development of the
region.
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+he ,NES)- office at #athmandu has also been working in how to develop the
capacity of the locals to preserve their cultural !eritage. +his is done through research and
policy development, but also through local grass root pro3ects.
2s a way to assist implementation of the orld !eritage )onvention of *450, and the
convention for the safeguarding of the )ultural !eritage of 0116, the office at #athmandu
has insisted on the ratification of the )onvention for protection of cultural property on the
event of armed conflict. +he translated document to nepali, the guidelines and all the
information about the need to protect )ultural !eritage in case of an armed conflict, has
been advocating for a further adhesion of the )ountry to the convention.
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- Strengthening the Conservation and Management of Lumbini; the Birthplace of
Lord Buddha, orld !eritage "ropert#$
+he pro3ect is funded by 7apanese government' it.s also supported by different Nepali.s
state agencies, like the ministry of Federal 2ffairs, the constituent assembly, parliament
affairs and culture, and the %umbini development trust.
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www.unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/culture/cultural-diversity/
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http://www.unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/culture/intangible-heritage/
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+he pro3ect takes into account the work focused in the conservation of the site.s
universal value and also to protect it from the negative impact by fostering the
conservation of the 2shoka pillar and other important monuments of the &irth (lace of
%ord &uddha. E8ecution started 7uly *9
th
of 01*1 between the Nepali :overnment and
the ,NES)-.
+he main pro3ect components are"
- )onservation of archaeological remains and architectural optimization of the
shelter, including mitigation of the micro;climate and hydrological effects inside the
Maya <evi +emple
- 2rchaeological identification, evaluation and interpretation of %umbini
- =eview of the #enzo +ange Master (lan for the Sacred :arden
- Establishment of an integrated management process for %umbini
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%he orld !eritage Convention
+he convention defines the different natural or cultural sites that can be included into the
orld !eritage Sites list.
/t also establishes the duties of State (arties in protection and preservation of the orld
!eritage Sites in their territory. 2lso encourage the (arties to include the protection of these
sites into their development plans.
E8plains how the orld !eritage Fund is going to be used and under what conditions
financial international aid can be provided.
+he document sets the obligation of the States (arties, to inform regularly to the orld
!eritage )ommittee about the state of conservation of their orld !eritage Sites. +hese
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http://www.unesco.org/new/en/kathmandu/culture/jt-lumbini-project/
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reports are crucial for the committee.s work, because it.ll allow to help in what are the
needs of the sites to preserve them.
- Benefits of the ratification of the convention
+he benefit of ratifying the )onvention is that of belonging to an international
community worried about the important cultural meaning of the sites worldwide.
-ne of the key benefits of ratifying the convention is access to > million ,S<
yearly of the orld !eritage Fund to help preserve and identify the sites. +he
assistance in case of an emergency is also available to repair damage caused by
human;Made or natural disasters.
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orld !eritage in &anger
2rmed conflicts, wars and natural disasters are some of the ma3or threats to orld !eritage
sites. +hey can be classified as @ascertainedA when they are proven to be imminent threat,
or @potentialA when the site is facing threats that can cause negatives effects on it.
,nder the convention of *450 the orld !eritage )ommittee can include in the list of
orld !eritage in danger sites whose protection reBuired @ma3or operations CDE and for
which assistance has been reBuestedA.
+he inscription of a orld !eritage site in the danger list allows aid of the orld !eritage
Fund to be given immediately. 2lso alerts the international community for them to start
taking measures to safeguard these important sites.
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http://whc.unesco.org/en/convention/
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hen a orld !eritage Site is added to the danger list the orld !eritage )ommittee is
able to start elaborating and adopting programs of protection along with the State party
involved.
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Malis situation
+imbuktu was once, one of the most important cities across the 2frican continent. !owever
this great )entre of commerce, trade, knowledge and learning has been affected on brutal
attacks as /slamist sect.s push for power in northern Mali.
+his country has struggled to maintain a stable democracy. /n 01** ethnic +uareg fighters
entered into the country declaring their own republic in the region where this ancient city is
located.
+imbuktu now suffers the destruction of many of its ancient monuments and religion sites.
Four of +imbuktu.s landmarks are included on ,NES)-.s list of orld !eritage sites, but
history and heritage mean nothing to the leadership of 2nsar <ine, which has destroyed at
least si8 above;ground mausoleums of religious figures regarded as saints.
2lthough the ,N Security )ouncil has adopted a resolution that threatened sanctions on
rebel fighters in northern Mali and decried the vandalism of cultural sites. /t is unlikely to
end the destruction.
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+he ,NES)- has called upon the military forces at the country to protect heritage sites,
during all kind of attacks. F/ ask all armed forces to make every effort to protect the cultural
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http://whc.unesco.org/en/1!#/
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http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2%12-%$-%!/opinions/3!4##213&1&timbuktu-world-
heritage-sites-mali
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heritage of the country, which has already been severely damaged,F said the organization.s
director :eneral /rina &okova.
+he rebels have fled three key cities in the north, including +imbuktu, a ,NES)- orld
!eritage site at a desert crossroads that was an ancient center of learning. %ast year, the
e8tremists smashed up the mausoleums of ancient saints and the entrance to the *?th;
century Sidi Gahya mosBue in +imbuktu, calling the sites blasphemous.
H
- orld !eritage Sites in the danger list at Mali
+imbuktu
+omb of 2skia
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"ossible Solutions
Nepal firmly believes of importance of the !ague )onvention for the (rotection of )ultural
(roperty in the Event of 2rmed )onflict, as it was created as a way of preventing the
destruction of the orld !eritage sites located at the city.
+his )onvention was adopted at +he !ague CNetherlandsE in *4?> in the wake of massive
destruction of the cultural heritage in the Second orld ar. /t covers immovable and
movables, including monuments of architecture, art or history, archaeological sites, works
of art, manuscripts, books and other ob3ects of artistic, historical or archaeological interest,
as well as scientific collections of all kinds.
2lso it encourages the peace negotiations that the E)-2S is leading with the different
rebel groups, and considers that as a way of advancing in the diplomatic solution the rebelss
should commit on respecting the historical sites under the !ague )onvention for the
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http://www.e'patica.com/(r/news/(rench-news/unesco-urges-(orces-in-mali-to-protect-
heritage-sites&2!!!!1.html
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http://whc.unesco.org/en/danger/
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(rotection of )ultural (roperty in the Event of 2rmed )onflict, especially articles number >
and number ? of the convention that establishes.
'rticle () *espect for cultural propert#
+) %he !igh Contracting "arties underta,e to respect cultural propert# situated -ithin their
o-n territor# as -ell as -ithin the territor# of other !igh Contracting "arties b# refraining
from an# use of the propert# and its immediate surroundings or of the appliances in use for
its protection for purposes -hich are li,el# to e.pose it to destruction or damage in the
event of armed conflict; and b# refraining from an# act of hostilit#, directed against such
propert#)
/) %he obligations mentioned in paragraph + of the present 'rticle ma# be -aived onl# in
cases -here militar# necessit# imperativel# re0uires such a -aiver)
1) %he !igh Contracting "arties further underta,e to prohibit, prevent and, if necessar#,
put a stop to an# form of theft, pillage or misappropriation of, and an# acts of vandalism
directed against, cultural propert#) %he# shall refrain from re0uisitioning movable cultural
propert# situated in the territor# of another !igh Contracting "art#)
() %he# shall refrain from an# act directed b# -a# of reprisals against cultural propert#)
'rticle 2) 3ccupation
+) 'n# !igh Contracting "art# in occupation of the -hole or part of the territor# of
another !igh Contracting "art# shall as far as possible support the competent national
authorities of the occupied countr# in safeguarding and preserving its cultural propert#)
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/) Should it prove necessar# to ta,e measures to preserve cultural propert# situated in
occupied territor# and damaged b# militar# operations, and should the competent national
authorities be unable to ta,e such measures, the 3ccup#ing "o-er shall, as far as possible,
and in close co4operation -ith such authorities, ta,e the most necessar# measures of
preservation)
1) 'n# !igh Contracting "art# -hose government is considered their legitimate
government b# members of a resistance movement, shall, if possible, dra- their attention to
the obligation to compl# -ith those provisions of the Convention dealing -ith respect for
cultural propert#)
Nepal considers it e8tremely important that the ,N approves the deployment of their
peacekeeping forces as a way of protecting the world heritage sites and stabilizing the zone.
+aking into account that although Mali is in state of belligerence the state is still
responsible for the protection of its own orld !eritage sites, this delegation considers
important the intervention of the international community to help Mali not only sending
troops like countries as France, &elgium Nigeria are doing, but also on the reinforcement of
its institutions, as a way of stabilizing the country and preventing any sanctions that could
be imposed to the country for the treaties it has signed and ratified.
Conclusions
From NepalIs point of view, Mali is going through a critical situation incapable of
protecting its own cultural heritage
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+hatIs why this delegation calls upon the international community to keep working for its
protection, also to support the Special Fund for the Safeguarding of Mali.s orld !eritage
sites, created by the ,NES)-, @+he Fund will support the :overnment of Mali in
assessing damage at the sites, and carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation pro3ects for
the properties affected as soon as this is made possible by the security situation. /t will also
be used to reinforce the capacities of the managers of the sites and of local communities of
+imbuktu and :aoA
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+his delegation also e8presses its support to the ,NES)- mission that is going to be send
to the region to make a complete evaluation of all damages and determinate the most urgent
needs, as ,NES)- director;general said @,NES)- will spare no effort to help rebuild the
mausoleums of +imbuktu and the tomb of 2skia in :ao, and we will mobilise all our
e8pertise and resources to help safeguard and preserve the ancient manuscripts that testify
to the region.s glorious past as a ma3or centre of /slamic learning. / appeal to all our
partners to work with us.A
**
/t also invites the delegations to analyze profoundly each one of the solution given in order
to reach a sustainable and effective solution
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http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-
view/news/creation&o(&a&special&account&(or&the&sa(eguarding&o(&malis&world&heritag
e&sites/
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http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/)$$/
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UNESCO
NEPALS POSITION PAPER
TOPIC A
DELEGATE: ALVARO SALGADO
1%
Nepals position towards skilled migration
Introduction
2ccording to the M= the number of migrants around the world has e8ceed the 0*>
million people in 01*1, compared 3ust to *4* million in 011?. /f this continues increasing
during the ne8t 01 years, the number of migrants will e8ceed >1? million people by 01?1.
ith the increasing of the migrants there.s diversity in terms of ethnic, culture, language
and religion.
=egarding destinations and origin countries, migrants come from 2sia, %atin 2merica and
2frica.
+he M= considers migration as a characteristic of today.s globalized world. 2nd it
focuses its efforts on building capacities to enable states to respond to migration in a
sustainable way.
+he policy of the M= consists on"
- aE +he relentless pace of migration and new migration challenges mean that
governments must make a concerted effort to manage migration.
- CbE /t is essential for governments to systematically engage adeBuate financial and
human resources to ensure that States and migrants reap the full potential of future
migration.
- CcE +he risk of not putting in place adeBuate policies and resources is to lose a
historic opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of this global phenomenon.
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http://www.sasnet.lu.se/sites/de(ault/les/pd(/migration&year&book&2%"#.indd.pd(
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+he globalization phenomenon the world is living today, has opened a window for people
to migrate where they.re best rewarded, that means the go to the most economically
advanced countries. +his has been increasing by the introduction of new selective
immigration policies in many -E)< Corganization for economic co;operation and
developmentE. hat started as an effort to populate the huge territories of countries like
2ustralia and )anada has become into an international race to take the highly skilled
workers. +his e8plains the tendency for migration rates to be much higher to the highly
skilled. /ndicators revel that in the past decade the world e8portJ:<( ratio has been
multiplied by *.? and the F:/J:<( ratio by three C+-, 011>E during the period that
period of time the total if migrants living in -)E< countries has been multiplied by *.>.
&ut, what are the conseBuences of the human highly skilled brain drain in developing
countriesK +he skilled migrants receive higher income' natives in the receiving country can
share the immigration surplus. &ut however conseBuences are not always positive. First,
highly skilled migrants represent fiscal loss for their native country. Second, skilled and
unskilled labor complements each other in the production process. So lack of skilled labor
and too much unskilled labor Cas is the case of developing countriesE has a negative impact
on the unskilled workers. productivity and leads to higher ineBuality in the native country.
+hird, in the world human capital is the engine of growth. /f there are no skilled workers in
the home countries Cusually developing countriesE this will affect its economy and will stop
its growth plans increasing poorness and ineBuality.
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Brain &rain
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http://web.mit.edu/is%#/pd(/rapoport.pd(
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+here is clear evidence that the brain drain has increased drastically since the *451s.
2ccording to the ,N forty years ago the total of highly skilled migrants traveling from the
south to the north was only of 611,111 people. &ut in less than 0? years this number
increased to 0,? million people according to the ,S census C*441E.
Studies made by the /%- showed that >1L of migrants in the (hilippines are college
educated, and Me8ico in *441 was the third largest e8porter of skilled migrants. Since
*441, the chief causes of the brain drain have gained in strength due to a combination of
changes on the supply side Ce.g., skill;biased technological progress, human capital
agglomeration effectsE that contribute to positive self;selection among migrants and of
Buality;selective immigration policies on the demand;side.
+he policies of immigration where first introduce in 2ustralia and )anada in the *4H1s,
before being adopted by other -)<E countries. /n the ,S the immigration law of *441 has
represented a big step in that direction. hile the European countries like France and the
,# have recently adopted migration policies to catch the highly skilled workers.
attention.
*>
Migration of health workers can work as the perfect e8ample of the negative effects brain
drain has.
Most of the health workers travel from developing to developed countries. +his has led to a
shortage of health workers in developing regions. 2ccording to the /-M @low health
worker density and diminished service access and availabilityD correlate with increased
mortality among infants, children under five years of age and women during childbirthA.
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http://web.mit.edu/is%#/pd(/rapoport.pd(
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+he health workers feel attracted to the developed states because of the high pay
developing countries can.t afford.
*?
S,illed Migration in Nepal
hen Nepal first published a Gear migrations book in 011? the number of migrant workers
was of *6?.440 people. ,ntil 01*1 that number has changed drastically. 2ccording to the
department of foreign employment 0>1.094 Nepalis left the country.
+he main challenges Nepal faces are the effective compilation of the migration data,
creation of strong migration policies, strategies and action plans' an effective legal
framework and suitable administrative structures.
"olic# frame-or,
@+he Nepal government has given priority to promoting employment opportunities both at
home and abroad for Nepali youths. +he Nepali state has not been able to mobilize human
resources for the development of the country. /t is estimated that 61 percent of Nepal.s total
human resources remain outside the periphery of the Nepali state and among the Nepali
migrants working overseas, 5? percent are unskilled. +he +hree Gear /nterim (lan C:oN,
01*1E 2pproach (aper published in September 01*1 states that the prime responsibility of
the state is @to promote employment opportunities by imparting knowledge and skills to
national human resources in line with national and international labor market.A6 /t also calls
for instituting @tripartite bond among government, employers as well as workers and to
create investment friendly environmentA by investing in labor management infrastructure.
1!
*+,-./ guidelines +0-1*+- 2opic 3 4skilled migration5 Brain Drain pages 12-13
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!owever, the key challenge remains to promoting foreign employment into a systematic
and dignified sector.
+he number of working age Nepalis currently unemployed is estimated at 0.? million. +he
labor participation rate stands at H6.> percent. -f Nepal.s total population, at least 61L is
either unemployed or underemployed Ci.e. people who are seasonallyor partially employedE
and >11,111 people are entering labour market every year. /n this conte8t, the +hree Gear
(lan has placed emphasis on"
- CaE /ncreasing employment opportunities within the country.
- CbE (rotecting the rights of workers.
- CcE /nitiating reforms in labor law and administration to increase production and
productivity.
- CdE (romote decent, safe and productive foreign employment.
- CeE /ncrease access of youth, women, indigenous people, people with disability,
Madhesi, <alits, conflict affected people as well as disadvantaged and poor people
to productive employment.
- CfE Ensure social security to workers including elimination of worst forms of child
labor as per international commitments.
+he +hree Gear /nterim (lan C:oN, 01*1E takes note of a number of achievements and
progress made in relation to labor management and employment promotion. +hese
include the creation of <epartment of Foreign Employment, protection of workers.
rights and fi8ation of minimum wage, establishment of Foreign Employment (romotion
&oard, rescue and relief operations for Nepali migrant workers facing difficult
circumstances, establishment of Migration =esource )enter, appointment of %abor
2ttaches in countries with large concentration of Nepali migrant workers, labor
agreements with five different countries, establishment of Foreign Employment )ourt
1!
CNyayadhikaranE, formulation of the National Master (lan on )hild %abor,
commencement of the process of sending industrial apprentices to 7apan, rescue of
*9,111 child laborers from worst forms of child labor, prevention of additional *5,111
children from entering labor market, operation of /nformal Education and <aycare
)enters and investment made by non;government sector in alleviation of child labor.
+he <epartment of Foreign Employment is currently in the process of finalizing
Foreign Employment (olicy, and Strategy and 2ction (lans to implement the policy in
consultation with key stakeholders. +he (lan has adopted the following strategy in
relation to employment promotion"
*. (rovide for employment guarantee of stipulated duration in stipulated sectors while
unleashing employment opportunities and potential through employment centric
investment.
0. (romote cordial industrial relations by protecting the rights of the workers as well as
creating investment friendly environment and strengthening Employment /nformation
)entre into an /ntegrated Employment E8change )entre.
6. Make foreign employment safe, decent, dependable and more rewarding while
initiating Bualitative reforms in the entire migration cycle.
>. )reate enabling environment for self;employment by enhancing opportunities for
vocational and skill development trainings and by localizing such trainings to reach
consumers.
1"
?. =eform child labor related policies, legislation and institutions and simultaneously
implement
+he key challenge in foreign employment is to making the sector systematic and
professional one. /t has been suggested that the relevant laws regulating foreign
employment should also provide for rights and obligations of migrant workers in order to
make foreign employment systematic and dignified sector. Many Nepalis are believed to
have been engaged in union and other activities of political nature because of recent violent
political crisis in Nepal. +his has made many companies reluctant to hire Nepali workers.
Secondly, the orientation programs for foreign employment given by >5 agencies have not
been effective because such orientations have not helped those going for foreign
employment in terms of knowledge on the work environment, social and cultural conte8t
and labor laws in destination countries. +hirdly, labor diplomacy has not been given the
priority it deserves by promoting the capacity of Nepal.s diplomatic missions in the ma3or
destination countries.A
*9
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http://www.sasnet.lu.se/sites/de(ault/les/pd(/migration&year&book&2%"#.indd.pd(


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