UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity

The declaration defines "culture" as "the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group", noting that this includes lifestyles, value systems, traditions, and beliefs in addition to creative works. The declaration contains twelve articles.

• Article 1 states that "as a source of exchange, innovation and creativity, cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for the nature. In this sense, it is the common heritage of humanity and should be recognized and affirmed for the benefit of present and future generations."
• Article 2 identifies cultural pluralism ("policies for the inclusion and participation of all citizens") as a policy response to, and promoter of, cultural diversity.
• Article 3 identifies cultural diversity as one of the roots of development, where "development" means individual flourishing as well as the growth of an economy.
• Article 4 specifies that cultural diversity may not infringe upon human rights guaranteed by international law.
• Article 5 affirms linguistic rights as cultural rights in accordance with International Bill of Human Rights.
• Article 6 affirms the freedom of expression, media pluralism and multilingualism.
• Article 7 calls for "heritage in all its forms [to] be preserved, enhanced and handed on to future generations" to support creativity and inter-cultural dialogue.
• Article 8 asks that cultural goods "must not be treated as mere commodities" but must be recognised as bearers of values and meaning.
• Article 9 calls on each state to "create conditions conducive to the production and dissemination of diversified cultural goods" with appropriate policies.
• Article 10 calls for international cooperation so that developing and transitional countries can build viable cultural industries.
• Article 11 affirms the importance of public policy and of partnerships between private, public, and civil institutions, given that market forces alone cannot protect cultural diversity.
• Article 12 defines the role of UNESCO: to incorporate the principles of the declaration in other international bodies, and to act as a forum in which many kinds of organisation can develop ideas and policies in support of cultural diversity.

Other UNESCO activities since 2001 continue the theme of protecting and promoting cultural diversity. These include the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; the 2018 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society; and the designation of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages.[3] A 2003 resolution named 21 May as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which continues to be celebrated, and 2021 was designated the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.[4]

For the declaration's 20th anniversary, an official book was published by the Khalili Foundation, featuring essays on cultural diversity by artists, intellectuals, and leaders. UNESCO Assistant Director-General Ernesto Ottone called for the international community to "create or strengthen social protection of artists, cultural professionals and heritage practitioners as core actors creating and safeguarding [...] cultural diversity around the world."[3] Organisations whose leaders said they were influenced by the declaration included the Commonwealth of Nations, the Caribbean Community, Europeana, and the Prince's Trust. UNESCO also scheduled a World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development for September 2022 in Mexico.[3][5]

The composer and conductor Daniel Barenboim is one of the public figures who identifies the declaration as an inspiration: "Each and every one of us has his or her own responsibility to foster these values in his of her area of action." Barenboim leads the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, composed of musicians from Israel, the Palestinian territories and Arab countries which has been designated a UN Global Advocate for Cultural Understanding. Sumi Jo, the South Korean soprano and UNESCO Artist-for-Peace, says she was inspired by UNESCO's commitment to cultural diversity to use her singing to bring together different cultures.

• Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. Retrieved 9 January 2011