Indonesia vows to strengthen UNESCO as pillar of world peace

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia pledged to strengthen UNESCO’s role as a pillar of world peace through education, science, culture and information access, Culture Minister Fadli Zon told the UN agency’s executive board.

Fadli made the pledge at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in Paris on Thursday (Oct 8) local time, amid global challenges ranging from conflict, displacement and inequality to the climate crisis and technological change.

“Lasting peace cannot be secured through political agreements alone,” Fadli said in a statement on Friday.

He voiced concern about conflicts that hit civil society, including schools, universities, libraries, religious sites, cultural heritage, journalists and educators.

He urged all parties to resolve disputes peacefully in line with the UN Charter.

He called on UNESCO to strengthen documentation of damage, protection of cultural heritage, continuity of education and freedom of expression in conflict-affected areas.

Fadli stressed repatriation of cultural objects as part of cultural sovereignty, citing Indonesia’s focus on the Dubois Collection from the Netherlands, with more than 30,000 fossils related to Homo erectus, or Java Man.

“For Indonesia, repatriation is a moral imperative to restore the integrity of cultural heritage, address historical injustices and build mutual respect,” he said.

Indonesia also highlighted the recognition of Indonesian as the 10th official language of UNESCO’s General Conference.

He said it underscores the importance of embracing diverse languages, cultures and perspectives in international cooperation.

Indonesia outlined three priorities: inclusive, people-centered digital transformation; stronger multilateralism amid global divisions; and organizational reform under the UNESCO-80 agenda.

On technology, Fadli proposed ethical, transparent AI governance and expanded support for developing countries through access to expertise, capacity building and policy support.

Indonesia was the first Southeast Asian country to complete the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Methodology.

Indonesia is pushing for more equitable geographic representation in the UNESCO Secretariat, particularly for underrepresented countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Fadli said Indonesia is ready to work with member states to make UNESCO stronger, more representative and more effective.