Recommendations from the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization

In an era where borders are increasingly open to global markets, ideas and values, the international community is seeking new ways to sustain and promote cultural diversity and expression while maintaining access to the best the world has to offer.

Existing domestic cultural policies, and the effectiveness of the tools used to enforce them, are increasingly being questioned. New approaches to cultural policy development at the domestic level should see cultural policies created in partnership between governments and civil society (including the private sector and non-governmental organizations) and link local and global initiatives within a democratic framework.

At the same time, it is appropriate to consider what form of feasible, effective and enforceable global response could be developed which reflects shared opportunities, concerns and challenges and expands on previous international cultural commitments. It is within this context that the idea of an international instrument on cultural diversity has emerged.

The Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization considered an illustrative set of ten cultural principles (see below) drawn from existing instruments. The list provides an effective starting point for building consensus on the instrument s vision and objectives.

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INCP Cultural Diversity Principles: An Illustrative Starting Point

1. The fundamental importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in particular Article 27 - Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits .
2. The preservation of cultural heritage is a crucial component of identity and self- understanding that links a community to its past.
3. Art plays an essential role in the life and development of the individual and society States must protect, defend, and assist their artists and artistic freedom.
4. Linguistic and ethno-cultural diversity helps maintain and develop national and international cultural richness and traditions and reflects a commitment to common values and social cohesion.
5. Authors and rights holders have the right to the protection of his/her moral and material interests regarding creation.
6. Cultural goods and services should be fully recognized and treated as being not like other forms of merchandise. (1)
7. Social and cultural fulfillment of the individual is a key element of human development and must be integral to sustainable development approaches.
8. Cultural exchange and cooperation are necessary to build wider cultural allegiances in an increasingly globalized world and are important tools in building human security.
9. Cultural diversity includes an openness to a wide range of cultural influences and recognizes the importance the production and distribution of local content.
10. Governments have a role to play in preserving and promoting cultural diversity and respect for cultural diversity is an important element of developing good governance.
    Countries around the world have different priorities related to the concept of cultural diversity. In order to pursue a new international instrument on cultural diversity, a broad-based discussion is necessary to reach agreement on the scope and importance of cultural diversity and its fundamental role in social and economic development.

The Working Group agreed that a first step in building this global approach is to identify a common vision, objectives and principles of cultural diversity which could provide the backbone in the development of a new instrument.

Next Steps

Substantial research and discussion is necessary to effectively develop policy responses to the broad cultural diversity challenges facing countries. The Working Group should advance this agenda during 2000-2001 by:

• Mapping current national cultural policy frameworks, to identify what type of other permissible domestic policy strategies, tools and capacity-building efforts are necessary to support cultural diversity effectively.
• Identifying, among Network members, how human security, social cohesion and identity can be better integrated as important elements of cultural diversity management and capacity-building.
• Elaborating further on a new cultural diversity instrument, with priority placed on developing vision, principles and objective, as well as its scope and structure.

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