Zambia’s Ambassador to France has stressed the need for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to increase the budget for the Natural Sciences Sector for improved programmes.
Speaking when she delivered the National statement to the on-going 209th session of the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in Paris, France, Dr. Christine Kaseba-Sata observed that the COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call to put science on the top of the agenda, UNESCO being the only United Nations Agency with a science in its name.
Dr. Kaseba, who is also the Country’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO further observed that open science has facilitated scientific discovery more rapidly than before in the current global emergency.
She noted that it was imperative for the organization to work with Governments so as to ensure adequate data governance models, standards and sustainable data sharing agreements.
Dr. Kaseba urged the Secretariat to strengthen the implementation of the 1970 Convention to curtail looting of cultural heritage which she claims is the heart of national identities.
“Zambia wishes to stress the importance of repatriation of stolen culture, heritage and artifacts as formulated in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership Of Cultural Property” Dr. Kaseba stated.
This is contained in a statement issued to Money FM News by First Secretary, Press Embassy and Permanent Delegation of Zambia to UNESCO Yande Musonda.