Canada Accepts UNESCO Convention on Diversity of Cultural Expressions
MONTRÉAL, November 23, 2005 --- The Government of Canada today announced its acceptance of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions."The Government of Canada was committed to accepting the Convention before the end of the year and today we met that commitment," said Prime Minister Paul Martin. "Accepting the Convention is the right thing to do for Canada. It will ensure that the cultures and identities that shape and enrich all of humanity are preserved and transmitted to future generations. I am calling on all UNESCO Member States to follow Canada's lead and accept the Convention."
"Early acceptance by Canada of this Convention, confirms our strong leadership and commitment to the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions," said Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women Liza Frulla. "I want to thank representatives of provincial and territorial governments, the arts and cultural community, and other Canadians on the hard work they have done since 1998 to help develop and build international support for this Convention. Every culture must have the means to promote its ideas, its values, its perspectives on the world, and its hopes. The Convention will allow us to do that."
The Convention, which was adopted by an overwhelming majority of UNESCO Member States at their General Conference in October 2005, in Paris, recognizes that books, films, television programs, and other cultural goods and services have a distinctive nature that goes beyond their commercial value. The Convention reaffirms the right of countries to take measures to foster diverse cultural expressions, and it will be a reference point for future international agreements with a cultural dimension. The new funding for the arts announced by the Government of Canada today is a good example of the type of initiatives that support the diversity of cultural expressions.
The Convention will require acceptance of ratification by at least 30 UNESCO Member States to come into force. Canada, for its part, will spare no effort to ensure this is done in a timely manner by the largest number of countries.
Information:
Jean-François Del Torchio
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
(819) 997-7788
Jean-Guy Beaupré
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
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