World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 21 May
Cultural events cancelled, cultural institutions closed,
community cultural practices suspended, empty UNESCO World Heritage sites,
heightened risk of looting of cultural sites and poaching at natural sites,
artists unable to make ends meet and the cultural tourism sector greatly
affected… The impact of COVID-19 on the cultural sector is being felt around
the world. This impact is social, economic and political – it affects the
fundamental right of access to culture, the social rights of artists and creative
professionals, and the protection of a diversity of cultural expressions.
The unfolding crisis risks deepening inequalities and
rendering communities vulnerable. In addition, the creative and cultural
industries (CCI) contribute US$2,250bn to the global economy (3% of GDP) and
account for 29.5 million jobs worldwide. The economic fall-out of not
addressing the cultural sector - and all auxiliary services, particularly in
the tourism sector - could also be disastrous.
Protecting the diversity of
cultural expressions is more important than ever
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and magnified the
creative industries’ pre-existing volatility. Due to the complex nature of
their work, cultural professionals are particularly affected and lockdown
measures around the world directly impact the entire creative value chain.
UNESCO has
launched a page that aims to serve as a reference for those seeking to draw
inspiration from best practices in the development of
appropriate responses adapted to national contexts. UNESCO has also launched a
weekly "Culture &
COVID-19: Impact and Response Tracker" to provide an overview
of the rapidly evolving situation.
Why does cultural diversity
matter?
Three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a
cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and
necessary for peace, stability and development.
Cultural diversity is a driving force of development,
not only with respect to economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more
fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. This is captured
in the culture
conventions, which provide a solid basis for the promotion of
cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is thus an asset that is indispensable
for poverty reduction and the achievement of sustainable development.
At the same time, acceptance and recognition of cultural
diversity – in particular through innovative use of media and Information and
Communications Technologies (ICTs) – are conducive to dialogue among
civilizations and cultures, respect and mutual understanding.
Origin and purpose
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity. and in In December 2002, the UN
General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World
Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, and in 2015, the
Second Committee of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution
on Culture and Sustainable Development A/C.2/70/L.59, affirming culture’s
contribution to the three dimensions of sustainable development, acknowledging
further the natural and cultural diversity of the world, and recognizing that
cultures and civilizations can contribute to, and are crucial enablers of,
sustainable development.
The day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our
understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to advance the four goals
of the UNESCO Convention
on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions adopted
on 20 October 2005:
·
Support sustainable
systems of governance for culture
·
Achieve a balanced
flow of cultural goods and services and increase mobility of artists and
cultural professionals
·
Integrate culture in
sustainable development frameworks
·
Promote human rights
and fundamental freedoms
As the global community is called to re-examine our
relationship to the natural world, one thing is certain: despite all our
technological advances we are completely dependent on healthy and vibrant
ecosystems for our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy,
just to name a few.
This year 2021 the theme is “We’re part of the
solution”. The slogan was chosen to be a continuation of the momentum generated
last year under the over-arching theme, “Our
solutions are in nature”, which served as a reminder that
biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges.
From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues,
food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the
foundation upon which we can build back better. That is the main message from
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), key international instrument for
sustainable development. You can find in its website promotional materials for your
own campaign!
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