Cape Town Statement

Participating members: South Africa, Austria*, Botswana, Canada, China*, Croatia, Cuba*, Finland*, France, Hungary, Jamaica*, Lesotho*, Malaysia*, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Norway, Senegal, Sweden*, Swiss Confederation, Zimbabwe.

* These countries are represented by a Minister designate.

Intergovernmental organizations: UNESCO

Other observers: United States of America

The Fifth Annual Ministerial Meeting of the International Network on Cultural Policy (INCP) was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 14 to 16, 2002. This year, Dr. Ben Ngubane, the South African Minister of Arts and Culture chaired the discussions of the INCP. The discussions focused on the issues and challenges facing developing and developed countries with respect to cultural diversity. The participants also discussed the draft International Instrument on Cultural Diversity (IICD), issues related to tangible and intangible heritage, the role of the media in promoting culture and emerging cultural policy issues.

All Ministers agreed that it is necessary to expedite the work on the Instrument as a matter of priority both at national and international levels. They will put the Instrument and cultural diversity on the agenda of key international institutions such as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), African Caribbean Pacific (ACP), World Bank, Francophonie, New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), African Union (AU), etc., and encourage public distribution and discussion.

The participating members, intergovernmental organizations, and other guests reaffirmed their support for the INCP and emphasized the role played by the Network in fostering the exchange of ideas and experiences on areas of importance to the Network. The parallel NGO network, the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD), tabled the report attached and had fruitful discussions with the Ministers.

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Three main themes were discussed at this meeting:

Cultural Diversity in Developing Countries: the Challenges of Globalization:

The Ministers discussed the issues and challenges facing developing countries with regard to cultural diversity. In doing so, they referred to the excellent document prepared by South Africa that highlights the cultural development priorities of countries in the South, the state of their cultural sectors, and the importance of developing cultural policies. This document also examined the implications of the Instrument to developing countries as well as making recommendations about its form and content.

The Ministers concluded that:

• The issues and challenges facing developing countries are varied and complex, and it is essential that the needs of these countries be reflected in an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity.
• Gender is a cardinal issue and should be infused in all aspects of the Instrument.
• The cultural sector can make an important contribution to social and economic development. Further research should be undertaken on the role that cultural policy plays in growing cultural investment. Project Teams will develop regional inventories of financial and legal instruments available, nationally and internationally, to support intangible heritage and cultural industries. Senegal and South Africa will lead the team focusing on intangible heritage. Mexico and Canada will lead the group on cultural industries. All INCP members are encouraged to contribute to these inventories.
• These inventories will facilitate joint efforts among INCP members to approach international financial and development organizations.

Cultural Diversity and Globalization: Review of an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity:

The Ministers reviewed the draft text of the Instrument, written without reference to any particular institution or organization, and the document entitled Strategic Options which addresses the policy issues relating to the governance of an Instrument.

The Ministers agreed that:

• The Instrument presented provides an appropriate basis to deepen development of an enforceable agreement to preserve and promote cultural diversity.
• UNESCO is the appropriate international institution to house and implement an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity. They noted the commitment of UNESCO to the broad objective of cultural diversity as contained in the "Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity: a vision, a conceptual platform, a pool of ideas for implementation, a new paradigm" tabled at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Ministers welcomed the reference by UNESCO to the work of the INCP in that document.
• A meeting, as soon as possible, between a group of representatives of the INCP (Canada, [China], Croatia, France, Mexico, Senegal, South Africa) with the Director General of UNESCO is necessary to address the feasibility of achieving this objective.

The Ministers gave the Working Group, chaired by Canada, the mandate to intensify and accelerate their deliberations on an Instrument so that an improved draft can be ready for consideration by Ministers at a ministerial level Working Group meeting in early 2003. Over the next year, the Working Group must:

• Actively engage with UNESCO and develop a framework for cooperation for the advancement of the Instrument.
• Improve the draft to address inter alia, appropriate rights and obligations of governments, the needs of developing countries, and culture and trade links.
• Intensify its work of promoting cultural diversity, generating awareness of the Instrument and its coherence with other international agendas.

The Ministers will review the process at the next Annual Ministerial Meeting in 2003 in Croatia.

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Other Cultural Priorities:

The Ministers discussed the conclusions of the Working Group on Cultural Heritage and those of the Special Policy Research Team on Media Issues. They also discussed two emerging issues, the creation of cultural observatories and the concept of interculturality. The Ministers asked the Liaison Bureau to further the research in these two fields.

The Ministers considered the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report on cultural heritage submitted by Mexico. They discussed five national experiences in promoting and safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage. They acknowledged the need to adopt and implement national policies to protect and promote cultural heritage. Ministers thanked Mexico for its efforts over the past two years in concluding this work which will contribute to the new project to be led by South Africa and Senegal.

The Ministers also welcomed the final report of the Special Policy Research Team on Media Issues in a Global Environment, chaired by Sweden. They discussed the role of the media in disseminating and promoting cultural diversity. The report highlighted the most significant challenges facing ministries of culture with respect to media concentration and the globalization of information. Ministers thanked Sweden for its leadership, and agreed that this is an important issue which should be followed by the INCP.

The INCP Ministers and delegates had the opportunity for discussion with participants from the INCD. INCD representatives presented and discussed the conclusions of their conference held in Cape Town from October 11 to 13, 2002. The Ministers stressed the importance of the INCD's work and the continuation of the dialogue between civil society and governments in the interest of preserving and promoting cultural diversity.

In adjourning, the Ministers promised to continue the discussions at their next meeting in 2003, to be chaired by Croatia. It was announced that the INCP would be hosted by China in 2004 and by Senegal in 2005.

A motion of thanks was tabled in appreciation of the work undertaken by South Africa in hosting this meeting.

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