Germany enhances diversity in its artistic and cultural landscape

Under the direction of the Federal Foreign Office, Germany has submitted its second country report on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The report highlights the importance of cultural diversity for sustainable development and reflects the wide range of initiatives by the Federal Government, Länder, municipalities and civil society since 2012 aimed at promoting the diversity of cultural expressions in Germany.

For instance, cities such as Hanover, Heidelberg or Mannheim have been systematically using their status as UNESCO Cities of Music and Literature to boost their long-term development. In addition, the cultural strategies of many Länder combine regional development with cultural education and cultural tourism.

In this connection, Maria Böhmer, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement in Berlin today (18 July):

"Ten years ago, the international community adopted the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which even today is a highly relevant instrument of international law. Germany was one of the initiators of this Convention. It is intended to make the political scope for fostering diversity and cultural policy, also at international level, fit for the future in the face of increasing trade liberalisation. Germany’s second country report on the Convention makes it very clear that the Convention is not only fostering the diversity of cultural expressions within Germany. For it is also enriching our contributions towards cultural co‑productions with countries in the Global South."

Background:

On 20 October 2005, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. It guarantees the right of the States Parties to formulate an independent cultural policy. It strengthens governance in the artistic and cultural sector and is meant to place global cultural cooperation on a more balanced basis. The Convention entered into force on 18 March 2007. Germany ratified it on 12 March 2007.

Every four years the States Parties submit a country report on the application of the Convention in their countries. The collated data and information facilitates the exchange of experience and examples of best practice, thus fostering the implementation of the Convention. The drafting of Germany’s second report on the Convention was overseen by a steering committee consisting of the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, as well as the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in the Federal Republic of Germany with the expert assistance of the German Commission for UNESCO.

The country report is available at external link, opens in new windowwww.diplo.de/unesco

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http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Meldungen/2016/160718_Vielfalt_UNESCO.html?nn=479796