Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is a UNESCO convention and treaty adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 20 October 2005. "The Convention recognises the rights of Parties to take measures to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions, and impose obligations at both domestic and international levels on Parties."^[1]

Background

The convention is a legally-binding international agreement that ensures artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a broad range of cultural goods, services and activities, including their own.^[2] It was adopted in response to "growing pressure exerted on countries to waive their right to enforce cultural policies and to put all aspects of the cultural sector on the table when negociating international trade agreements."^[3] "The international community signalled the urgency to implement an international law that would recognize:

• The distinctive nature of cultural goods, services and activities as vehicles of identity, values and meaning;
• That while cultural goods, services and activities have important economic value, they are not mere commodities or consumer goods that can only be regarded as objects of trade."^[4]

The Convention’s main objective is to provide a legally-binding international agreement that reaffirms the sovereign right of States to adopt cultural policies that support their cultural industries.^[5] Recognizing that the diversity of cultural expressions is a "rich asset for individuals and societies, the protection, promotion and maintenance of cultural diversity are an essential requirement for sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.".^[6]

History

Since the late 1980s, a growing number of countries were showing concern that "the proliferation of trade agreements promoting absolute market liberalization dramatically increased the threat to cultural industries. Countries wishing to retain their right to enforce cultural policies risked being marginalized and unable to maintain their position."^[7]

• In 2001, the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted^[8] and May 21 was declared the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

• 2003 to 2005 marked the years where negotiations at UNESCO started took place to create an international agreement that aims to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions.

• October 20, 2005: UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was adopted.

• March 18, 2007: The Convention enters into force and three months later, the 56 Member States that ratified it meet in Paris for the first Conference of the Parties to begin work on implementing the Convention.

To date, 117 Member States as well as the European Union have ratified the Convention.^[9]

General Objectives to the 2005 Convention

• To reaffirm the sovereign right of States to adopt cultural policies while ensuring the free movement of ideas and works.
• To recognize the distinct nature of cultural goods and services as vehicles of values, identity and meaning.
• To define a new framework for international cultural cooperation, the keystone of the Convention
• To create the conditions for cultures to flourish and freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner
• To ensure that civil society plays a major role in the implementation of the Convention.^[10]

External links

• Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
• Convention text
• UNESCO website
• International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity
• Canadian Coalition for Cultural Diversity

Reference

1. ^ United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office
2. ^ UNESCO 2005 Convention
3. ^ Coalition for Cultural Diversity
4. ^ UNESCO 2005 Convention
5. ^ Coalition for Cultural Diversity
6. ^ UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Article 2 Paragraph 6 [1]
7. ^ Coalition for Cultural Diversity
8. ^ UNESCO Universal Decleration on Cultural Diversity
9. ^ UNESCO Convention Member States
10. ^ International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD)