The United Nations(UN)’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is annually observed across the globe on 21st May to celebrate the richness of the world’s cultures. The day also recognises the need to enhance the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and peaceful global coexistence
- The annual observance of the day is led by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The day highlights that strengthening intercultural dialogue must be a priority to promote cooperation and sustain peace. More than 89% of all current conflicts in the world are occurring in countries with low intercultural dialogue.
i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/57/249 in December 2002 and proclaimed the 21st May of every year as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
ii.The UNGA resolution follows UNESCO’s adoption of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which recognises the need to enhance the potential of culture to achieve prosperity, sustainable development and global peaceful coexistence.”
- The first-ever World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development was observed on 21st May 2003.
UN and Cultural Protection:
i.In 2015, the 2nd Committee of the UNGA adopted the resolution A/C.2/70/L.59 on Culture and Sustainable Development, affirming culture’s contribution to the 3 dimensions of sustainable development, acknowledging further the natural and cultural diversity of the world.
ii.Four Goals of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions:
- Support sustainable systems of governance for culture
- Achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services and increase the mobility of artists and cultural professionals
- Integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks
- Promote human rights and fundamental freedoms
iii.In September 2022, delegations from 150 States gathered in Mexico for UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development- MONDIACULT 2022, the largest world conference devoted to culture in the last 40 years.
- They unanimously adopted the historic Declaration for Culture affirming culture as a “global public good” and calling for it to be integrated “as a specific goal in its own right” in the development agenda beyond 2030.
i.The cultural and creative sector, one of the key promoters of development across the globe, accounts for more than 48 million jobs, and around 50% of the jobs are held by women.
ii.This also represents 6.2% of all existing employment across the globe and 3.1% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
About the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France