Government of Canada Builds Support at the International Level for Adoption of an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity
DAKAR, June 20, 2003 -- The Honourable Don Boudria, Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell), is pleased with Canada's participation in the First Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), which took place from June 18 to 20 in Dakar, Senegal. Canada has been invited by ACP and Senegal to come to Dakar to make a presentation on the International Instrument on Cultural Diversity and to explain the main issues involved in its adoption. Mr. Boudria participated in the meeting as the representative of his colleague, Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps."We must learn to better understand each other, to celebrate the vitality of our diversity and to equip ourselves with the means for cultivating our differences so that each of our countries may contribute to enriching the human heritage," said Minister Boudria. "At stake is our economic and cultural prosperity."
The First Meeting of ACP Ministers of Culture came about as the result of the shared wish of the 79 ACP member countries to put culture at the centre of each member's sustainabledevelopment. A number of ACP member states are already active within the International Network on Cultural Policy, created in 1998 in Canada to promote dialogue on international cultural policy, and also within the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, which adopted a declaration supporting cultural diversity at its most recent summit in Beirut.
"We are very happy to have been invited to discuss the International Instrument on Cultural Diversity with ACP ministers," said Minister Copps. "We are particularly encouraged by the fact that, in their action plan, the ministers committed to preparing ACP member states to participate in negotiations on the Instrument."
Canada is in the forefront of countries working within various international forums, such as UNESCO, the International Network on Cultural Policy, the Organization of American States and La Francophonie, to make partners aware of the importance of adopting an international instrument. This would allow for establishing clear ground rules empowering each government to support, promote and preserve its cultural diversity while complying with international trade rules and securing markets for its cultural exports.
Information:
Marc Roy
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Don Boudria
(613) 996-9429 Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Cultural Diversity and the Internatioanl Instrument
on Cultural Diversity
Context
Canada's experience with diversity is unique. For us, cultural diversity involves being open to the world's many different influences and cultural products, but it also involves making our stories and our voices heard. Canada sees cultural diversity as a source of creativity and innovation, as well as a force for social cohesion and economic development. Since it is well positioned to speak about cultural diversity, Canada is playing a lead role in the international dialogue on this issue and on international cultural cooperation. Until an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity (IICD) is adopted, Canada is resolved not to make any commitment that would restrict its ability to achieve its strategic cultural objectives.
Why an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity?
With globalization, the development of multilateral trade policy and rapid technological changes, it is necessary to put into place a convention that will:
Ï define the legitimate role of governments in drafting national cultural policy;
Ï declare that cultural products are different from other goods and services; and
Ï clarify international trade rules on what countries may or may not do to preserve and promote cultural diversity, particularly with regard to creation, production, distribution, promotion, accessibility and conservation of cultural contents and various forms of cultural expression.
International bodies and cultural diversity
The efforts undertaken by Canada and its partners with a view to promoting cultural diversity and the creation of an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity have borne fruit:
Ï Since its creation in Ottawa in 1998, the members of the International Network on Cultural Policy (INCP) have discussed cultural policy. Since 1999 Canada has chaired the Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization, which was charged with drafting the text of the International Instrument.
Ï In April 2001, heads of state meeting in Québec City for the Summit of the Americas stated in their Plan of Action that they were committed to enhancing cooperation in the hemisphere in order to ensure strengthening of cultural diversity.
Ï In June 2001, during its Cotonou Summit, La Francophonie was the first international organization to officially support the principle of a binding legal instrument in support of cultural diversity. At the IX Francophonie Summit in Beirut in October 2002, heads of state and government advocated rapid adoption of such a convention under the aegis of UNESCO.
Ï In November 2001, UNESCO member states approved the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. In February, UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura welcomed the proposal of the INCP's Working Group on Cultural Diversity and Globalization, calling for integration of the International Instrument on Cultural Diversity within UNESCO.
Ï In December 2001, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a Declaration on Cultural Diversity, addressing three major themes: cultural diversity; cultural and audio-visual policies for sustainable cultural diversity in a global world; and sustaining and enabling cultural diversity.
Ï During the August 2002 Meeting of Ministers of Culture of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Cartagena, Colombia, participants agreed to establish a new Inter-American Committee on Culture, with the mandate of promoting dialogue and cooperation on issues related to cultural diversity and cultural policy.
Ï In October 2002, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) attended the Ministerial Meeting of the International Network on Cultural Policy, held in South Africa. Following the meeting, ACP called a meeting of its culture ministers in Dakar, Senegal, for June 2003. Canada was invited to discuss the International Instrument on Cultural Diversity.
Important dates
Ï September 2003: annual meeting of the International Network on Cultural Policy in Croatia.
Ï September 29 to October 18, 2003: 32nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, in Paris. The proposed International Instrument is on the agenda.
Ï September 10-14, 2003: Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, in Cancun, Mexico. Its main objective is to assess advances in negotiations and other projects required by the Doha Development Agenda.
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