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Convention’s Intergovernmental Committee Completes First Phase of Implementation Work: Stage Set for Second Conference of Parties in June The 24 members of the Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) gathered in Paris from March 23 to 25 for their second extraordinary session. This meeting, their last before the 2nd Conference of Parties in June, focused mainly on the issues of preferential treatment for developing countries, financing mechanisms for the International Fund for Cultural Diversity and the visibility of the UNESCO Convention. The liveliest debates centred on the draft operational guidelines for the Convention’s Article 16 on preferential treatment. It should be noted that this article, without specifying concrete actions to be taken, commits developed countries to facilitate cultural exchanges by granting preferential treatment to artists and other cultural professionals and practitioners, as well as to cultural goods and services from developing countries. During the debates, several members of the Intergovernmental Committee proposed amendments to the draft guidelines prepared by the Secretariat—which had earlier received written contributions from 42 States Parties and four civil society organizations. The main bone of contention proved to be the issue of mobility of artists and other cultural professionals and practitioners. After an animated debate, the Chair called for the creation of an informal working group that managed to proposed wording that achieved consensus. Under the adopted text, the Parties to the Convention are encouraged to take measures that facilitate mobility of artists and other cultural professionals and practitioners from developing countries by, for example, “simplifying the procedures for issue of visas regarding entry, stay and temporary travel” and by lowering “the cost of visas”. During the debates, Canada stated that it faced certain constraints in according preferential treatment, limitations it had originally identified during the negotiations on Article 16. However, rather than block the consensus, Canada did not oppose the adoption of this text, but expressed a reservation that said, among other things, that it “does not subscribe to all of the measures mentioned in this paragraph” and that it “will no be able to implement them in their entirety”. The Secretariat’s draft operational guidelines also included a section on the role of civil society in the effective implementation of preferential treatment. While the members of the Committee rapidly reached consensus on the proposed amendments in this section, IFCCD President Rasmané Ouedraogo voiced some of the reservations expressed by civil society organizations regarding the new wording adopted. Specifically, the Committee ultimately decided to remove certain portions of the text that were quite specific in their provisions, choosing instead more general wording. For instance, members opted to remove examples of concrete areas of action for civil society in facilitating the implementation of Article 16. Moreover, the reference to associations, unions and other organizations of cultural practitioners and professionals was also deleted from the guideline concerning civil society assistance in evaluating the visa requests of applicants from developing countries. On the final day of the session, the Committee discussed proposed measures for more effective financing of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity and for a greater visibility for the Convention. Among other things, the Committee asked for a mandate from the Conference of Parties to develop a fundraising strategy. Furthermore, given that only nine of the States Parties to the Convention have contributed to the Fund so far, the Committee asked all States Parties to “to make voluntary contributions to the IFCD, including by considering the use of innovative financing mechanisms to raise funds.” The members of the Committee also asked the Convention Secretariat to consult with States Parties and civil society on developing strategies to help promote and raise the visibility of the Convention and to encourage its ratification, particularly in regions where ratification is lagging. It should be noted that several Committee members stressed the importance of working with civil society and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity in particular, to help raise the Convention’s profile and visibility. The March meeting marked the end of the first two years of work on implementation by the Intergovernmental Committee, and sets the stage for the second Conference of Parties to the Convention, which will take place June 15-18 in Paris. During that session, the Parties to the Convention will review and consider for approval the package of operational guidelines developed by the Committee—guidelines covering articles 7 and 8, article 11 on the role of civil society, as well as articles 13 through 18, which focus on international cooperation. It will also elect 12 of the 24 IGC members and set the Committee’s priorities for the next two years. Getting the operational guidelines adopted by the Conference of Parties will clearly be a key step in implementing the Convention. However, it must be remembered that this is only a framework to guide the States in their actions. The onus will be on the Parties to the Convention to then translate these guidelines into concrete action in order to truly implement the Convention. Asia-Pacific Cultural Organizations Gather in Vancouver to Discuss Potential of UNESCO Convention for Region
Representatives of cultural organizations from 10 Asia-Pacific Countries gathered in Vancouver, Canada, for a two-day meeting focusing on implications and opportunities presented by the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions for the development of cultural industries in the region. The two-day meeting, presented by the Canadian Coalition for Cultural Diversity in partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) was opened by Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore, who reiterated Canada’s strong support for the UNESCO Convention. “This important instrument recognizes that the contribution our artists and creators make to our society is a public good, one to be cherished and one to be protected,” he added. “It’s very important that we continue to do this, not only here at home but abroad. That is what this convention is all about. It’s about allowing governments to create the right environment for our cultures to thrive.” “We want to help countries build their capacity to promote cultural diversity by being open to other countries and cultures and by promoting their local and national cultural expressions. And by sharing other countries’ cultural perspectives so that their stories and experience contribute to an enriched cultural world.” “Canada, and all of our fellow signatories to the Convention, benefit from clear ground rules. By recognizing that cultural goods have a social as well as economic value, this international instrument allows us to adopt and maintain policies that support our cultural expressions,” the Minister stated. The Minister noted that 96 ratifications to date represented impressive progress, but emphasized the need for more work by both governments and civil society to promote broader ratification to ensure that the full legal and political potential of the Convention as an instrument for upholding the right of countries to apply cultural policies is realized. On this count, he stressed the importance of increasing the number of ratifications by Commonwealth member countries (18 of 53 to date), and in particular from the Asia-Pacific Region. “We must work together, government and civil society, to ensure that the voices of Asia-Pacific countries are heard around the UNESCO table, particularly given the rich cultures of the region that contribute so much to the diversity of cultural expressions.” At the conclusion of the meeting, participants adopted a statement in which they called on governments that have not yet done so to ratify the 2005 Convention, and to engage civil society in effectively implementing it. To this end, they also agreed to explore the possibility of bringing together cultural organizations in their countries to establish national coalitions for cultural diversity. UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity Focus of Seminar in Istanbul Leaders of more than 25 Turkish cultural organizations gathered in Istanbul for a two-day seminar on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The seminar featured presentations by representatives of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity, and was hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Culture. Dr. Ş. Abdurrahman ÇELİK, Director General of the General Directorate of Copyright and Cinema, Ministry of Culture and Tourism opened the seminar. The two-day seminar also featured presentations by Gunay Kiraci, the Deputy General Director, and by Ocal Oguz of Turkey’s National Commission for UNESCO. Jim McKee, the IFCCD’s General Secretary, was joined by Christine Merkel, Head of the Division for Culture and Communications of the German National Commission for UNESCO, and also a representative of Germany’s Coalition for Cultural Diversity. The seminar featured presentations on the evolution of the campaign for an international instrument on cultural diversity and on the emergence of a global movement of coalitions for cultural diversity committed to supporting the right of governments to use policies and other measures to support their domestic cultural sectors. An update on the survey of Turkey’s cultural policies, being carried out by the Council of Europe in partnership with the Turkish Government, was also provided. New Projects by Swiss and French Coalitions The Swiss Coalition for Cultural Diversity, in conjunction with the Swiss National Commission for UNESCO, has begun the first phase of a project entitled “Cultural Diversity – More Than A Slogan!”. The purpose of this joint initiative is to launch the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention in Switzerland by developing a catalogue of proposals after consulting experts and the various actors in civil society. This reflection should lead to policies being implemented and action being taken in Switzerland to improve the protection, and enhance the promotion, of the diversity of cultural expressions. The first series of experts’ sectoral workshops is scheduled to end in April 2009 and the second round will conclude by June 2009. Completion of the catalogue of proposals is scheduled for July/August 2009 and, finally, the submission and distribution of the proposals will take place in Bern on October 16, 2009. This project aims to serve as a springboard for a broader more in-depth process which will extend beyond this project into the various cultural sectors in question. The description of the project is avalaible in French or German. The French Coalition for Cultural Diversity has published on its website a study entitled: "Cultural policies in France". This document, although not exhaustive, provides a detailed overview of the principal policies in support of the various creative sectors (visual arts, audiovisual and film, books, music, performing arts) existing in France. The purpose of this study is to provide cultural professionals and institutions from other countries with food for thought to define and implement policies to foster the national creation and the circulation of their culture beyond their borders. |
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