UNESCO stands for freedom of expression - Alice Bah Kuhnke Sweden’s Minister for Culture and Democracy

A new global report tracking the progress and challenges in implementing the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, now ratified by 141 Parties, will be released on 16 December, 2015, at 10 AM. The launch event will take place during the 9th Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention at UNESCO HQ in Paris , 14-16 December, in the presence of Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, and high level guests, including Karima Bennoune, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Per Olsson Fridh, State Secretary to the Minister of Culture and Democracy of Sweden, and Pascal Lamy, former Director-General of the World Trade Organization.

This special message was sent by Alice Bah Kuhnke Sweden’s Minister for Culture and Democracy, in support of the 2005 Convention and the new Report entitled: “Re | Shaping Cultural Policies: A Decade Promoting the Diversity of Cultural expressions for Development”.

‘’Freedom of expression is a prerequisite for a living democracy. 
As such, democracy constitutes the basis for cultural diversity and the way we interact across borders and between cultures and peoples. In today’s world, the media landscape changes at a pace never seen before. The free flow of information and ideas is as significant as ever. This exchange of new ideas and perspectives enables different and diverse sources and voices to be heard and, as a result, helps ensure a proper setting for sustainable development. Intergovernmental work undertaken through the UNESCO 2005 Convention is one way to further strengthen the global role of cultural policies for cultural diversity.

This work is of paramount importance in the fight to keep a constructive intercultural dialogue alive. Sweden’s support to the UNESCO programme Enhancing Fundamental Freedoms through the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions – of which this Global Monitoring Report is one part – reflects Swedish commitment to the work of UNESCO and our trust in the organization. This global report highlights best practices, identifies areas for improvement and calls attention to current global trends. It is a tool for national work in the field of cultural policies.

My hope is that the findings of the report will increase our common knowledge and advance applicable solutions that can be used in a broader context. Sweden’s support also reflects the conviction that the work of UNESCO is best carried out through its core programmes and conventions. The UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression is the only cultural policy instrument at global level which deals with policy development for the promotion of diversity of cultural expressions. As such, the Convention builds on the principle of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms – in other words, freedom of expression – which is a prerequisite for true cultural diversity.

In this context my most difficult – and yet also most honourable – task as Minister for Culture and Democracy is to work for the independence of, and equal participation in, cultural life.’’ 

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Photo Credit: Government Offices Sweden