[Workshop]
UNESCO’s Legally-binding Instruments on
Culture
1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage
Designed to ensure the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and
transmission of cultural and natural heritage to future generations, this Convention
recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Safeguards the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills that
communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural
heritage.
Such heritage may be manifested in domains such as oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals,
festive events, knowledge and practice about nature and the universe, and traditional
craftsmanship.
2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions
A legally-binding international agreement that ensures artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a diversity of cultural goods, services and
activities, including their own.
The Conventions at a Glance
1972 2003 2005
Links… Natural and cultural heritage
Intangible cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Economic and cultural dimensions of cultural goods, services and activities
Link to Development
Conservation policies as a means of development
Cultural heritage as a mainspring of cultural diversity, an important vector for sustainable development
Cultural policies to strengthen cultural industries, create jobs, generate income, alleviate poverty
Major Stakeholders
Local, regional and national government authorities
Communities and individuals maintaining living intangible heritage
Public, private and civil society stakeholders in culture, artists, professionals working in the cultural industries
Example of Implementation
The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (Uganda) are reconstructed
The Saké mon collective fishing rite in Ségou, Mali continues to be practiced for generations
Caribbean musicians receive greater access to the EU market to distribute their music CDs and perform live.
Towards a Binding Instrument Addressing
Diversity
Evolution of the Concept of Cultural Diversity at UNESCO
Post World War II: cultural pluralism focusing on inter-national differences
Cold War context: cultural diversity as identity
1980-1990s: cultural diversity recognised as a key component of development
2000s: cultural diversity originates not only from the cultural identities of individuals, groups and societies but also results from their creativity that is transmitted through a variety of cultural expressions, diverse modes of artistic creation
Milestones
1995: UNESCO World Commission Report on Culture and Development Our Creative Diversity
Argued that diversity is not just tied to individual or group differences but can be a source of creativity. Support for new arts forms and expressions is seen as an investment in human development.
1998: Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development, The Power of Culture, held in Stockholm
Stockholm Action Plan calls upon governments to promote diversity and the idea that cultural goods and services should be fully recognized and treated as being not like other forms of merchandise.
2001: Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity Called for the defence of cultural diversity as an ethical imperative, inseparable from respect for human dignity, and as a capacity for expression, creation and innovation.
2001 – 2005: Work on International Legally-binding Instrument to Advance
Global Commitment to Diversity
The international community signalled the urgency for the adoption of an international law recognising:
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 be regarded as objects of trade
The 2005 Convention Adopted
Adopted 20 October 2005
Enters into force 18 March 2007The speed at which this Convention was adopted is considered an extraordinary achievement and signals the urgency and commitment for action from governments around the world
As of June 2010, 112 Parties
Beginning of the implementation phase
Road map for implementation is nearing completionOver 170 project proposals were submitted to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity and are now under review
The 2005 Convention
What
A legally-binding international agreement that ensures artists,
cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a
diversity of cultural goods, services and activities, including their own.
What do We Mean by…
Cultural diversity: the many ways in which the cultures of groups and societies find expression
Cultural expressions: result from the creativity of individuals, groups and societies and have cultural content. Cultural expressions are conveyed through cultural goods, services or activities (e.g. CDs, books, films, theatre and dance performances) irrespective of the commercial value they may have
Cultural content: refers to the symbolic meaning, artistic dimension and values that originate from or express cultural identities
Cultural industries: produce and distribute cultural goods or services
Cultural policies: whether at the national, regional or local level, policies that have an effect on the creation, production, dissemination, distribution of and access to cultural goods, services and activities
Providing a New International Framework for the Governance of
Culture, the Convention…
Encourages the introduction of cultural policies and measures that nurture creativity
Recognises and optimises the overall contribution of the cultural industries to economic and social development
Integrates culture into sustainable development strategies
Promotes international cooperation
How
Integrate culture at all
levels of development
policies
Create & implementcultural policies Create
environment for production
cycle to function
Collaborateinter-
nationally
Share information
Collaborate acrosssectors
Strengthen Cultural Industries
Who
Public sector: national, regional and local governments and public authorities
Civil society: non-governmental organisations, foundations, associations
Private sector: cultural SMEs, established enterprises, banks, etc.
Artists and cultural professionals
Where
EverywhereEverywhere
Ratification
Why Ratify the Convention?
Strengthen the presence and contribution of your cultural professionals and industries in your national and the international marketplace
Allow your citizens to participate in and consume a diversity of cultural products, services and activities
Reaffirm your right to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that you deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of your cultural industries on your territory
Create jobs, generate income and alleviate poverty by developing your cultural industries
Parties to the Convention by Electoral Groups June 2010
Group IVAsia Pacific
10%
Group IIILatin America /
Caribbean19%
Group IIEast Europe,
Russia, Caucasus20%
Group IWest Europe, North America
20%Group Va
Africa24%
Group VbArab States
7%
Ratification Strategy
What is it? An action plan to raise awareness of the 2005 Convention and increase its number of ratifications
The goal: Achieve 15 new ratifications by the end of 2011 and 35-40 additional ratifications by the end of 2013
Actions: organise awareness raising activities; share experiences; develop new information tools and enrich their content by including examples; translate and widely distribute Convention information kits and other communication tools
Implementation
Operational Guidelines…
…serve as a road map for the implementation of the Convention
…outline roles and responsibilities of the Convention’s diverse stakeholders
…can be revised as often as necessary to reflect new concepts, knowledge or experiences
Ways to Implement the 2005 Convention
Parties to introduce policies and measures that facilitate:Institutional, regulatory and financial incentives for the production and distribution of cultural goods, services and activitiesOpportunities for artists to create, particularly for women, minorities and indigenous peoplesMobility of artists, of cultural activities, goods and servicesDiversity of content in the media
Stakeholder engagement, capacity-building & outreach through:Civil society participation in the design and implementation of cultural policiesEnhancing business skills of cultural industries professionalsPartnerships between private, public and civil society actors to strengthen local cultural industries
Example of implementation
Ensure that individuals and groups (minorities, indigenous populations, etc.) have access to and can participate in the
cultural production cycle.
Creation
Production
Dissemination
Consumption
Exhibition/Reception/
Transmission
Banks facilitate access to financeto manufacture products
Citizens participate in and consume diverse cultural products,
services and activities
Artists create cultural products and services
Government authorities implementcultural policies that facilitate distribution
of cultural products and services
Civil society organisations provide exhibition and convening space, and sensitize
general public to the importance of cultural industries
PartiesIncorporate culture in sustainable development strategies
Introduce cultural policies to strengthen the value chain
Engage a diversity of stakeholders in the design and implementation of policies and programmes
Support diversity of content in the media
Provide support to artists and facilitate the mobility of artists from the developing world
Grant preferential treatment to developing countries and facilitate access of their cultural goods and services to the global marketplace
Ensure information sharing and transparency
Educate the public
Artists and Cultural Professionals
Identify your main challenges and needs that can be addressed through the implementation of the Convention
Engage in a fruitful dialogue with public institutions and policymakers about these challenges and needs
Participate in the development and implementation of a road map
Interpret the Convention and participate in the design of campaigns to raise awareness among citizens of the benefits of diversity in their everyday lives
Civil Society
Bring new ideas & approaches to cultural policy development
Contribute to greater transparency and accountability in decision-making processes
Collect, evaluate and share data & information
Provide input to Parties’ periodical reports
Support opportunities for artists to create
Raise awareness
Private Sector
Banks & lending institutionsFacilitate cultural SMEs’ access to low-interest loansGuarantee funds, offer microcreditProvide technical assistance
Cultural SMEsEngage in cross-sector partnerships and build networksAccess assistance and cultural exchanges
Established cultural enterprisesContribute to the International Fund for Cultural DiversityHelp enhance business skills of cultural industries professionals
What Now?
Have you…
Reached out to national decision-makers about ratifying the Convention (if it isn’t already ratified in your country)?
Organized workshops with relevant civil society organizations to inform them about the Convention?
Encouraged public, private civil society actors to collaborate on projects and programmes that strengthen local cultural industries?
Started collecting and disseminating data, statistics, information and best practices on cultural industry developments?
Been sharing information about the Convention with the public at large and integrating it into your daily programming activities?
What you can do now
Coordinate with culture sector professionals in your office and send
an email to [email protected] to schedule a time to discuss your cultural industries development
strategy and the integration of the Convention
Question & Answer