Diversity of Cultural
Expressions in Asia:
Challenges and Perspectives
on the Implementation of
the 2005 Convention
Bangkok, Thailand
4-6 March 2014
Danielle Cliche, Secretary of the 2005 Convention
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Milestones
 1995: Our Creative Diversity
Argued that diversity is not just tied to individual or group
differences but can be a source of creativity. Support for
new arts forms and expressions is seen as an investment
in human development.
 1998: The Power of Culture
Stockholm Action Plan calls upon governments to
promote diversity and the idea that cultural goods and
services should be fully recognized and treated as being
not like other forms of merchandise.
 2001: Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity
Called for the defence of cultural diversity as an ethical
imperative, inseparable from respect for human dignity,
and as a capacity for expression, creation and innovation.
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
2001-2005
The international community saw the need
for an international treaty recognising:
 the distinctive nature of cultural goods, services and
activities as vehicles of identity, values and meaning
 that while cultural goods, services and activities have
important economic value, they are not mere
commodities or consumer goods that can be
regarded as objects of trade
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Adopted
20 October 2005
Entered into force
18 March 2007
Operational Guidelines adopted
June 2009 and June 2011
As of February 2014
134 Parties have ratified
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Ratifications
134 Parties to the Convention as of February 2014
50
45
11
40
35
5
30
32
25
4
2
20
35
15
10
28
23
7
23
12
5
12
0
Groupe I
Groupe II
Groupe III
Groupe IV
Parties
Groupe V(a)
Non parties
Groupe V(b)
1
Organisation
régionale
d’intégration
économique
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Ratifications in Asia/Pacific
Afghanistan
Bhutan
Nepal
Australia
Brunei Darussalam
Niue
Bangladesh
Cook Islands
Pakistan
Cambodia
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Palau
China
Fiji
Papua New Guinea
India
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Philippines
Indonesia
Japan
Samoa
Lao People’s Democratic
Republic
Mongolia
Kazakhstan
Singapore
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
New Zealand
Kyrgyzstan
Sri Lanka
Republic of Korea
Malaysia
Thailand
Viet Nam
Maldives
Timor-Leste
Marshall Islands
Tonga
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Turkmenistan
Myanmar
Tuvalu
Nauru
Vanuatu
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
2005 Convention: Key concepts
Diversity: the many ways in which the cultures of groups and
societies find expression
Cultural expressions: result from the creativity of
individuals, groups and societies and have cultural content.
Cultural expressions are conveyed through cultural goods, services
or activities irrespective of the commercial value they may have
Diversity of cultural expressions : is manifested
through diverse modes of artistic creation, production,
distribution, whatever the means and technologies used
Policies: whether at the national, regional or local level, policies
that have an effect on the creation, production, dissemination,
distribution of and access to cultural goods, services and activities
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Key Message
All citizens, especially artists, cultural
professionals & creative practitioners
can create, produce, disseminate &
enjoy a broad range of cultural goods,
services and activities, including their
own.
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Chain of cultural production
Creation
Enjoyment/
participation
Production
Dissemination/
Distribution
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
A Framework for the Governance of Culture
Reaffirms the sovereign rights of governments to
formulate and implement policies and adopt measures
to promote a diversity of cultural expressions
Calls for an integrated approach to policy-making for
the cultural sector which includes the participation of
various government ministries/departments
Encourages active participation of civil society actors
in policy-making processes as well as sharing
responsibility in policy implementation
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Culture and Development
 Culture as an important factor of sustainable
development
 Cultural aspects of development are as important
as economic aspects
 Culture to become a strategic element in national
and international development policies and cooperation frameworks
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Cooperation for Development
 Encourages the design of new forms of bilateral
and multilateral cooperation that promote, for
example:
Mobility of artists and cultural professionals
 Greater market access for cultural goods and
services from developing countries
 Strengthening of human and institutional
capacities leading to emergence of dynamic culture
sectors
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Stakeholders of the
Convention
 Parties
 Parliamentarians
 Artists, cultural entrepreneurs
 Private sector
 Citizens
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Mechanisms
 Governing Bodies
 The International Fund for Cultural Diversity:
Funding for projects in developing countries
that strengthen or build new cultural policies
and/or industries
 Parties’ quadrennial periodic reports: Monitor
implementation of the Convention on the
ground to promote good practices, identify
challenges and future priorities=> Convention
contact points
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
National Points of Contacts
 Share information on the Convention at the national
level
 Act as communication channels through which this
information can be disseminated to relevant Ministries
and public agencies
 Gather relevant information, as input to the
quadrennial periodic reports
 Participate in other Convention activities related to
promotion, visibility, ratification and
fundraising, and cooperate with other points of
contact in order to share information and good practices.
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Activities to Support Implementation
 Building institutional and human capacities
 Enhancing local expertise through training
programmes
 Targeted, needs based interventions at the
country level to reinforce existing policy
processes and build partnerships (Expert facility)
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Activities to Support Implementation
 Developing tools and materials
 Policies for the cultural and creative industries
 Training curricula and materials (6 areas of
assistance)
 Collecting data to inform policy making
 Indicators culture for development (CDIS)
 Educational games for youth on potential of
diversity
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Activities to Support Implementation
 Information sharing and knowledge
management
 Establishing a Knowledge Management system
(KMS)
 a new Biennial global monitoring Report on the
state of implementation of the Convention
 Producing the Creative Economy Report 2013
Edition: « Widening local development pathways »
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Conclusion

A new policy tool

Potential for bringing together many sectors (arts
and culture, business and trade, industry, health,
education, etc.)

Prominent role of civil societies
 Post 2015 development agenda discussions: an
opportunity not to be missed
Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Asia : Challenges and Perspectives on the
Implementation of the 2005 Convention
Thank You
For further information,
please consult:
www.unesco.org/culture/en/2005convention/