Declaration favours culture in Madrid

IFACCA/Artshub,
12 June 2005, Spain

Ministers who participated in the Madrid World Summit of Cultural Ministers in June have signed the Madrid Declaration in favour of cultural diversity. Below is the complete text of the declaration: The Madrid Declaration in Favour of Cultural Diversity states that the protection and promotion of cultural diversity constitutes a common objective to be reached. The culture ministers and representatives from 70 countries and international organizations, of which 45 are cultural ministers or representatives, met and signed this declaration, which makes a call for the definitive adoption of the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Expression of Cultural Diversity in the 33rd General UNESCO Conference (October 2005) in the terms recommended by the third meeting of intergovernmental experts on June 3rd in Paris. They support UNESCO in the intergovernmental approval process for the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Expression of Cultural Diversity. The culture ministers and representatives invite their counterparts from other countries to subscribe to this declaration. In addition, the presidency of The World Summit of Culture Ministers in favour of Cultural Diversity, composed of France, Spain and Brazil, has made the following declaration: DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE WORLD SUMMIT OF CULTURE MINISTERS IN FAVOUR OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY: During the world summit of Cultural Ministers celebrated in Madrid on June 11-12 with the presence of ministerial representatives from 50 countries and representatives from another 20 countries and international organizations, as observers, it can be stated that the protection and promotion of cultural diversity is a common objective. For this reason it is considered necessary to decide definitively on a Convention on the Protection and Promotion of expressions of Cultural Diversity in the next general UNESCO Conference (in October 2005) in the terms recommended by the third meeting of intergovernmental experts. Cultural diversity is a factor of pluralism, democracy, social cohesion, employment, sustainable growth, the personal identity of individuals and societies and for dialogue. It is essential to restrain the current standardisation and homogenisation that could cause imbalance between cultures and we must promise to protect and promote the rich cultural diversity that exists on our planet for future generations. Consequently, it is necessary that the future convention on cultural diversity maintains the content recommended by intergovernmental experts and clearly and definitively includes the following elements:
  • Respect for human rights and fundamental liberties as the main basis for cultural diversity,
  • The principal of equality for all cultures, inasmuch all cultural expressions are part of a common human heritage,
  • A Distinct nature for cultural goods and services, which must have special treatment and be differentiated from other goods and services,
  • The sovereign right of public powers to establish and develop cultural policy that promote and protect cultural diversity,
  • The fundamental role of culture in employment, economic growth and sustained development, especially countries with lower incomes,
  • The necessity to give this Convention the same legal status as other international agreements. Finally we declare that dialogue between cultures is the best means for comprehension and mutual understanding between different societies and for the prevention of conflicts. For further information, CLICK HERE