Cultural Diversity Coalitions that took part at the “1st Meeting of Mercosur’s Coalitions” which took place in Asunción, Paraguay on May 20-22, 2009, agreed to:
* Urge governments of the region to acknowledge Cultural Diversity Coalitions as valid interlocutors to build Mercosur’s cultural policies.
* Suggest systematic participation in every country’s government within Mercosur Cultural.
* Ensure that international commercial negotiations preserve national sovereignty to develop policies supporting cultural activities and industries.
* Have regular meetings with UNESCO’s regional office to follow-up activities related to UNESCO’s Convention and other related projects in the subregion.
* Support RECAM’s decision to create an audiovisual training center in Paraguay.
* Promote the creation of a regular bulletin with information about Coalitions’ activities and the cultural sector. UNESCO’s regional office will be approached for financial support. Paraguay’s Coalition will lead this project.
* Promote the joint celebration with UNESCO of Cultural Diversity’s International Day, every 21st of May.
* Compile regional legislation related to the promotion and support of cultural activities and industries, to make them available at the International Federation of Coalitions (FICDC) Web site.
* The Uruguayan Coalition will act as liaison to UNESCO’s regional office.
* Support as a group of coalitions Paraguay’s campaign to advocate for its cultural institutions.
* Welcome Paraguay’s cultural policy advancements and the strengthening of their corresponding institutions, resulting from the National Law for Culture (Law 3051)
* Express concern about the backward step that legal initiatives intended to limit and subordinate the role of the National Secretariat for Culture might mean. They would eliminate its ministerial level and will push it to the background within the governmental structure.
* Thank Paraguay’s National Secretariat for Culture and Coalition for Cultural Diversity for hosting the I Meeting of Mercosur’s Coalitions and the international organizations that helped in its organization. The Coalitions expect cultural agents and the general public to boost these initiatives interested in developing cultural diversity.
Asuncion, Paraguay, May 22nd, 2009.
Signed by:
Argentina: José Pérez Nella, Cultural Industries Advocacy Forum.
Bolivia: Alfonso Alem Rojo, Specialist on social movements and indigenous rights.
Brasil: Geraldo Moraes, Ana Arruba, Brazilian Coalition for Cultural Diversity
Chile: Mané Nett, Chilean Coalition for Cultural Diversity.
Colombia: Bernardo Jaramillo, Colombian Coalition for Cultural Diversity.
Ecuador: Elizabeth Vasquez, Ecuadorian Coalition for Cultural Diversity
Paraguay: Alejandra Diaz, Paraguayan Coalition for Cultural Diversity
Perú, Luis Repetto Málaga, Peruvian Coalition for Cultural Diversity.
Uruguay, Sergio Navatta, Claudia Pisani, Uruguayan Coalition for Cultural Diversity.
Venezuela, Yisbel Perez Diaz, Venezuelan Coalition for Cultural Diversity.
Rocío Ortega, Paraguay’ National Secretariat for Culture
Jean-Luc Pilón, International Federation of Cultural Diversity Coalitions