191st session of the Executive Board - 191EX/14, Part VI-

Category 2 Institutes and Centers:

International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement

in Chungju, Republic of korea

Introduction by ADG/SHS

Background

1. In May 2011, the Government of the Republic of Korea sent a letter to the Director-General proposing the establishment of an International Centre of Martial Arts lor Youth Development and Engagement in Chungju, Republic of Korea, as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO. Further to several exchanges with the Secretariat, the Government of the Republic of Korea submitted a detailed proposal to establish such a centre in May 2012

2. In accordance with the integrated comprehensive strategy for category 2 institutes and centres (35 C/22 and Corr.), a mission was undertaken by colleagues from SHS and BSP to assess the feasibility of establishing the proposed centre. All mission costs related to the preparation of the feasibility study were covered by the Korean Government.

Objectives and functions

3. The main objective of the proposed Centre is to contribute to youth development and engagement by using martial arts philosophy and th values, positive attitudes, and personal development characteristics it engenders as the means of doing so.

4. To accomplish this objective, the Centre will seek to better understand how the various forms of martial arts practiced around the world contribute to physiological and psychological enrichment and growth, both at the individual level and through collective action. Using these insights, appropriate programmes will be elaborated to enhance the capacities of young women and men to promote knowledge sharing and international collaboration.

5. A secondary but equally important objective of the proposed Centre is to promote the equitable participation of young women in martial arts as facilitators, beneficiaries and as researchers.

6. The functions of the proposed Centre are to promote research and knowledge sharing, to build the capacities of youth, to provide documentation, to act as a clearing-house, and to promote North-South collaboration.

Specifically, the research and knowledge sharing function will focus on:

a) The role of martial arts in the consolidation of a culture of peace and reconciliation;

b) The contribution of martial arts to the healthy development of young women and young men, and to their personal and social development;

c) The contribution of martial arts to the prevention of violence, particularly affecting youth;

d) A comparative analysis of the perception, acceptance and health and social impacts of martial arts among young women and men in the region, and in other parts of the world;

e) The role of young women in martial arts;

f) Encouraging research on martial arts by young researchers;

g) Producing a world traditional martial arts compendium and glossary targeting youth.

The capacity-building function will focus on:

a) Contributing to youth development, leadership and community engagement through education and training involving martial arts philosophies, cultural values and techniques that train the mind, body and spirit. This could involve:

Ⅰ. Conducting martial arts training seminars and summer schools for young women and men from different parts of the world as a means of building a sense of community and promoting voluntary work;

Ⅱ. Helping establish martial arts "open schools", community and cultural centres;

Ⅲ. Organizing international seminars and academic meetings relating to martial arts;

Ⅳ. Organizing world martial arts youth rallies.

The documentation and clearing-house function of the Centre will include a virtual component and focus on:

a) Setting up and managing a documentation centre which will collect, preserve and disseminate records and materials on martial arts from all countries in order to support educational and academic activities with and for youth in this field. This will involve:

Ⅰ. Collecting all relevant materials;

Ⅱ. Developing and managing a website, including an on-line database, and using social media to connect with youth and to network with youth and to network with youth organizations from different parts of the world on martial arts;

Ⅲ. publishing periodical information, including electronic bulletins;

Ⅳ. Participating in the operation of the world martial arts library cum museum;

Ⅴ. Helping to organize international martial arts festivals and expos.

b) Producing a world traditional martial arts compendium and glossary targeting youth.

Status and operation of the Centre and budgetary aspects

7. The Centre will be an independent legal entity.

8. The annual operating cost of approximately 800,00 USD per year will be provided by the Government. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism would be the responsible agency for establishing the Centre and would serve as the indemnitor for the financial, administrative and logistical aspects of the Centre. It would coordinate all linkages with all other relevant ministries/departments of the Government.

9. It is expected that the Centre starts operating in 2014.

Q&As

QUESTION 1:

How will the Centre contribute to the work and programmes of SHS?

The proposed Centre will directly contribute to the realization of UNESCO’s work with youth to capitalize on the potential of sport for social transformation, social inclusion and development and peace, as well as to promoting peace and sustainable development, by empowering young people to become agents of positive social change in their communities.

The proposed Centre is in fact expected to have a significant impact on UNESCO’s work to develop and implement youth programmes that support youth development and their participation in society, prevent violence affecting youth and promote social inclusion. The Centre and its proposed programmes are thus highly relevant to UNESCO’s work to give priority to youth in both its Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021 (37 C/4) and its Programme and Budget for 2014-2017 (37 C/5).

QUESTION 2:

Will the Centre contribute to UNESCO’s global priorities?

The activities of the Centre will directly contribute to the achievement to the achievement of UNESCO’s two global priorities: the promotion of gender equality and priority Africa. All efforts will be made to ensure that gender equality is included in th conceptualization and delivery of the programme. The Centre will also contribute to priority Africa through its work to engage young people in martial arts activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, including through the establishment of Martial Arts Open Schools, and the training of Martial Arts Leaders, which will directly contribute to the implementation of UNESCO’s Strategy on African youth. It will also directly contribute to the Organization’s capacity building, clearing house, and international cooperation functions.

QUESTION 3:

How will the international scope of the Centre be ensured?

The activities of the Centre relate to all countries, and it will explore cooperation with other youth-focused UNESCO category 1 and category 2 institutes and centres, and other strategic networks. It will expand UNESCO’s implementation capabilities, both in the region, and in other parts of the world, through cooperation with the World Martial Arts Union (WOMAU), currently comprised of 44 organizations from 38 nations, all of which are Member States of UNESCO; the World Taekwondo Federation; the intergovernmental Committee on Physical Education and Sports (CIGEPS), and the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP).

QUESTION 4:

Will the functioning of the Centre have financial or administrative implications for the organization?

No regular financial or administrative implications are foreseen for UNESCO. Future foreseen administrative costs directly linked to the achievement of the operation of the Centre once it is established, foreseen to start in 2014, will correspond to liaising with the Centre and coordinating with the network of UNESCO youth-related centres in accordance with SHS’s strategy for 2 institutes and centres. The relatively minor costs of this involvement will be more than offset by the fact that the Centre will be actively involved in the execution of the Organization’s youth programmes with a substantial contribution from the Korean Government.

QUESTION 5:

How will the centre foster North-South cooperation?

The Centre will contribute to fostering North-South cooperation by:

≫ Engaging young women and men from Sub-Saharan Africa in martial arts activities for the consolidation fo a culture of peace and reconciliation in the sub-region;

≫ Developing projects based on the research component mentioned above for a consolibation of a culture of peace, dialogue and reconciliation also building on UNESCO’s expertise and competencies.