Ei-iE

Education International salutes the ratification of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in October 2005, which will enter into force on 18 March 2007.

On December 18, the European Community (EC) and 12 member States (*) deposited their instruments of ratification of the UNESCO Convention in Paris.

The addition of the Community and twelve Member States to the 22(**) countries which had already ratified the convention means that it will enter into force in three months time, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

EI calls upon its affiliates to support the Convention on Cultural Diversity which will strengthen UNESCO’s comprehensive standard-setting instruments in defence of cultural diversity: the 1972 World Heritage Convention; the 2003 Convention on intangible cultural heritage; and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The 2005 Convention on Cultural Diversity is the first of its kind in international relations, given that it enshrines a consensus on a variety of guiding principles and concepts related to cultural diversity that the international community has never before reached.

The Convention forms the basis of a new pillar of world governance in cultural matters. Its ratification paves the way for enhanced cultural cooperation at international level, notably through exchanges of views and best practices in public policies in favour of cultural diversity.

(*) Albania, Belarus, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Djibouti, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Peru, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Senegal and Togo.

(**) Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Bulgaria also ratified yesterday in Paris, at the end of this joint ratification.