The Second Congress of the International Federation Of Coalitions For Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) held from November 5-8, 2009 in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, closed with the adoption of a series of resolutions stressing the importance of effectively implementing the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion ff the Diversity of Cultural Expressions to ensure the right of governments to apply cultural policies and other steps to support their cultures.

Founded in Seville, Spain, in 2007, the IFCCD is composed of 42 national coalitions for cultural diversity representing more than 600 professional cultural organizations in the fields of book publishing, the movie, television and music industries, the performing arts, visual arts and new media sectors.

Joining local Brazilian participants were representatives from 40 countries at the Congress—delegates of 30 national coalitions, and some 10 international observers.

In their final resolutions, the delegates in attendance at the Congress focused on the importance of keeping cultural cooperation initiatives clearly distinct from trade agreements and timetables, and on ensuring the comprehensive exemption of all cultural sectors from such trade agreements.

They also called on the UNESCO Convention’s Intergovernmental Committee to tackle the issue of promoting the principles and objectives of the Convention in other international forums. As well, they called on governments to act to quickly make the International Fund For Cultural Diversity operational and to incorporate culture into their sustainable development strategies.

In Salvador, delegates of IFCCD member coalitions elected new members to the Federation’s Board of Directors.

At the first meeting of the new Board, held November 6, Board members re-elected Rasmané Ouedraogo President of the IFCCD for a second two-year term. Mr. Ouedraogo, President of Burkina Faso’s Coalition, is a well-known African actor.

Mané Nett of the Chilean Coalition was elected Vice-President for the Americas. Beat Santschi of the Swiss Coalition remains Vice-President for Europe and Peter Shannon of the New Zealand Coalition remains the Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific Region. Solange Drouin of the Canadian Coalition also remains the Treasurer and was elected the IFCCD Secretary as well.

In addition to the General Assembly of IFCCD member Coalitions, the Salvador Congress included two days of public presentations and discussion panels on important issues relating to implementation of the UNESCO Convention.

During this section of the Congress, invited legal experts and government officials joined artists and other cultural practitioners in discussions focusing on effective policy approaches to strengthening national cultural sectors; the need to promote the principles and objectives of the Convention in other international forums, particularly trade forums; the importance of integrating culture into sustainable development strategies; and the importance of continuing vigilance and action by civil society to ensure its voice is heard in the implementation process;

The IFCCD in particular wishes to thank the host Brazilian Coalition, without which the holding of this event would not have been possible; it also expresses its thanks for the financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Brazil, the Government of the State of Bahia, the Canadian and French coalitions, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Commonwealth Foundation, the Government of Québec and the Department of Canadian Heritage.

For more information, visit the website of the Congress.