CCA Bulletin 16/07

Ottawa, April 10 2007

Canada seeks key role in the implementation of UNESCO Cultural Diversity Convention

Just the facts

As announced in the CCA’s January 24 Bulletin, the UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions has come into force on March 18, 2007. Developments in this file continue to occur rapidly and international support for this important treaty is growing. Fifty-six countries are now parties to the Convention and more are expected to join in the coming months.

In expressing the delight of the government on the progress of the Convention, Canada’s Heritage Minister, the Hon. Bev Oda, reiterated on March 16 that Canada would stand as a candidate for election to the Intergovernmental Committee. Minister Oda reaffirmed the Canadian government’s resolve to remain a leader as the campaign for the Convention enters the crucial implementation phase

The first Conference of Parties, the Convention’s highest governing body, will take place at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters June 18-20. The meeting will include the formalities of creating a new body, such as approving its own rules of procedure. The Conference must decide modalities and elect 24 countries to serve on an Intergovernmental Committee, which is the operational body of the Convention. The Conference will also deal with the mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee, and the rules, commitments and types of projects that will be funded by the International Fund for Cultural Diversity. The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee is expected in early 2008.

In a significant development, UNESCO has created a new Secretariat on Cultural Expressions and has opened a website specifically for the Convention. In addition to administering the new Convention, this Secretariat will be responsible for UNESCO’s Universal Copyright Convention, the Florence Agreement, the Recommendations Concerning the Status of the Artist and the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity. The Secretariat will also look after the Observatory on the Social Status of Artists as well as the eventual Anti-Piracy Observatory currently under consideration.

In reporting on its continuing campaign to promote the Convention, the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD) says, “the effectiveness of the Convention as a shield for cultural policies against the trade and investment agreements, and a positive tool for cultural development, will increase with each new State Party.” INCD also reiterates its objectives for the implementation of the Convention:

Ensuring a meaningful role for civil groups in the processes and deliberations and a formal place at the meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee.
Ensuring State Parties will make a substantial commitment of new resources to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity.
Ensuring UNESCO will provide an appropriate framework and begin to collect the important cultural diversity data.
Ensuring appropriate procedures to encourage countries to work together to monitor developments in other forums (particularly the trade negotiations) and to collaborate to achieve the objectives of the Convention. This should be a key part of the mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee and the responsibilities of the secretariat.
Ensuring mechanisms to guarantee the implementation of the commitments to promote sustainable cultural development. This also should be explicit in the mandate and the secretariat.

Tell me more

A detailed analysis of the Convention is now available on the CCA website

Canadian cultural activist and former CCA Vice-President Garry Neil has authored a comprehensive study of the Convention. Mr. Neil reviews its background, including the WTO’s Canadian magazine case, summarizes its provisions and analyzes its potential impact. The study is contained in a new book UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions: Making it Work, edited by Nina Obuljen and Joost Smiers and published by CultureLink Network, The CCA is very grateful to the author and editors for having kindly authorized the reproduction of Mr. Neil’s chapter on our website.

For more information, please visit the International Network for Cultural Diversity website and that of the Coalition for Cultural Diversity.