International Multilateral Relations

• International Multilateral Relations
  • UNESCO
  • Organization of American States
  • Council of Europe

International Multilateral Relations

The Multilateral Relations Unit within the International Relations and Policy Development Directorate of the Department of Canadian Heritage, works to shape the international agenda on cultural policy in general and cultural diversity in particular. The unit, in partnership with other branches and agencies within the Canadian Heritage portfolio, is active within a range of international organizations in order to influence and support policy discussions, resolutions and action plans that support Canada's overall cultural policy objectives. The Department of Canadian Heritage contributes to advancing Canada's overall foreign policy agenda at numerous multilateral venues and shares our Canadian diversity model through exchange of expertise on a range of policy issues including broadcasting, human rights, heritage, and official languages.

Effective multilateral relations are historically an important part of Canada's foreign policy relations. As a medium sized country, Canada is privileged to be a member of key international organizations such as the Commonwealth, APEC, La Francophonie, UNESCO, the Organization of American States, the G-8 and many others. This broad based international presence allows Canada to effectively engage the international community and play a central role in shaping the overall international agenda. With increasing global attention being paid to cultural issues and their relationship to economic prosperity, sustainable development and security, Canadian Heritage's support and participation in the deliberations of many international organizations contributes directly to an increased international understanding of Canada's objectives.

Canadian Heritage through the Multilateral Relations Unit works with the United Nations system and with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in particular. Canadian Heritage also has a particular focus on advancing cultural policy and cultural diversity within the hemisphere. Through the Summit of the Americas process and the Organization of American States, Canadian Heritage has helped respond to the Government's priority of engaging the Americas and has helped influence the agenda of hemisphere-wide cultural cooperation. Other key partnerships include the Council of Europe, and the Commonwealth where Canada is working to promote effective exchange on cultural policy. The following descriptions are an illustration of some of the work being advanced within key multilateral fora.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

• Canada @ UNESCO

UNESCO is the primary United Nations system organization responsible for culture. Canada has been a member of this organization since its founding in 1946 and is one of over 170 countries who have a permanent mission representing our interests at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Canada has played an active role within UNESCO over the past few years, having recently completed a term on the Executive Council.

Canadian Heritage and the portfolio agencies are involved in a broad series of activities within UNESCO that relate to our mandate international priorities. The Department worked closely with UNESCO Secretariat and key bilateral partners such as France, in the adoption of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity at the last General Conference of UNESCO in 2001. Canadian Heritage and its portfolio agencies have also been involved in the elaboration of a Convention on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. The Minister of Canadian Heritage has also played a leading role in advancing Canadian interests related to cultural policy and cultural diversity at various UNESCO Ministerial Round Tables and conferences which aim to advance international cooperation and understanding.

Canada is also working with UNESCO in shaping international policy discussions on the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. Canada, and the Canadian Heritage portfolio, is using its presence within the organization to further its overarching cultural policy objectives and provide policy depth and support to Canada's overall engagement with this organization.

Organization of American States (OAS)

• Canada @ the OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS), as the primary multilateral organization in the Americas is a key forum for discussions related to cultural policy and cultural diversity. At the Third Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City in April 2001, Leaders of the Hemisphere agreed to a plan of action, which included a chapter on cultural diversity and called on the OAS to act as the primary body responsible for its implementation.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is playing a leading role in the implementation of the Summit of the Americas Plan of Action on cultural diversity. The Department hosted the first inter-American experts seminar on cultural diversity in Vancouver in March of 2002. This seminar contributed directly to the themes and issues addressed during the first Ministerial meeting on cultural diversity, held in Cartagena, Colombia in July of 2002.

The declaration and plan of action of this meeting, and its call for the establishment of a new inter-American Committee on Culture, serve as the basis of ongoing Canadian Heritage engagement in the hemisphere.

Council of Europe

The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is the oldest pan-European Organization. The Council was originally created to promote cooperation and to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Today, it serves primarily as a forum for examining a wide range of social issues such as culture, education, sports, health, human rights, and new technologies. Canada was granted Official Observer status in to the Committee of Ministers in 1996, and to the Parliamentary Assembly in 1997. However, the Department of Canadian Heritage has been active in the various Steering Committees since the 1980s.

Canadian Heritage's present day focus is placed on the activities of the four Steering Committees of the Directorate General - Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport (DGIV) and the Steering Committee on Mass Media of the Directorate General - Human Rights (DGII). ). Within these committees, Canadian Heritage and its portfolio agencies advance Canadian interests on a range of issues including cultural diversity, human rights, freedom of the media, and sport among others. Canada worked very closely with the Council in its preparation of a Declaration on Cultural Diversity which helps advance understanding on European approaches to this important Canadian priority.

Canadian Heritage is currently involved with the work of the CDCULT (Steering Committee for Culture), which is charged with elaborating cultural policies and standard setting texts related to culture. The committee is also responsible for a Transversal Study on Cultural Diversity, a project of the Council of Europe that compares the diversity model experiences of various Council of Europe member countries and Canada.

Participation in the deliberations of the Council of Europe have and will continue to enable Canada to exchange with and learn from a range of important European partners. The Department of Canadian Heritage and its portfolio will continue to engage with the Council as a means of deepening our cooperation on a variety of issues with partners from Western, Central and Eastern Europe.