By Rachel Mohamed As South Africa observes International Literacy Day designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it is important to highlight South Africa’s poor literacy rates. VOC News took to the streets to gauge public opinion on literacy in the country. Cape Town residents voiced their concerns, stating the literacy rate in South Africa is poor considering the youth are struggling to get employment and […]
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee has inscribed the ancient Palestinian city of Jericho, also known as Tell Es-Sultan, on the World Heritage List. Wafa news agency reported that the decision was taken during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Including this historic site on the prestigious list means recognition of the immense cultural and historical significance […]
Israel has filed notice to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) alongside the United States. Israel has blasted UNESCO in recent years over the organisation's criticism of Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem and its decision to grant full membership to Palestine in 2011. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said on Friday that she deeply regretted Israel's decision to withdraw. "A member of UNESCO since 1949, Israel […]
The US and Israel announced on Thursday that the two countries would be withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee for “anti-Israel bias.” According to reports, the US made its announcement first, with the Trump administration officially notifying the organization that it would be withdrawing its membership and establish an observer mission to replace its representation at the agency. Shortly after the Trump […]
By Ramzy Baroud In early October 2016, Misbah Abu Sbeih left his wife and five children at home and then drove to an Israeli police station in occupied Palestinian East Jerusalem. The 39-year-old Jerusalemite was scheduled to hand himself over to serve a term of four months in jail for, allegedly, trumped-up charges of “trying to hit an Israeli soldier.” Misbah was familiar with Israeli prisons, having been held there before […]
The United Nations' cultural arm declared the Old City of Hebron a protected heritage site in a secret ballot, an issue that has triggered a new Israeli-Palestinian spat at the international body. UNESCO voted 12 to three - with six abstentions - to give heritage status to Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hebron is home to more than 200,000 Palestinians and a few hundred Israeli settlers, who live in a […]
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) passed a resolution on Tuesday criticizing Israeli policies in occupied East Jerusalem and the besieged Gaza Strip. The resolution -- which passed with 22 countries in favor, 10 voting against, and 23 abstaining -- criticized Israel’s refusal to cease “persistent excavations, tunneling, works, and projects in East Jerusalem,” and stressed that these procedures were illegal under international law. “All legislative and […]
Islamic State fighters have severely damaged a major Roman monument in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, an antiquities official said after visiting the site on Saturday. Under heavy Russian air cover, the Syrian army and allied militias drove the militant group out of the UNESCO world heritage site on Thursday, two months after it had seized it in a surprise advance. It was the second time the city had […]
OPINION by Shafiq Morton THE recent [18 October 2016] UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem and West Bank historical sites – voted into being by 24 states with six against and 26 abstaining – in no way undermines Jewish faith, as is being claimed by the Zionist government, and its international covey of shills. Judging by their pot-banging in the media, it’s almost as if they haven’t read the document. For in […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
