UNESCO
The
UNESCO Universal declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)
was adopted unanimously at the 31st UNESCO General
Conference. The 12 Articles of declaration affirm member
State’s conviction that inter-cultural dialogue is the best
guarantee of peace and to reject the theory of the
inevitable clash of cultures and civilisations. The
Declaration supports cultural diversity, cultural rights and
the role of culture in development. Article 5 reaffirmed
“Cultural rights as an enabling environment for cultural
diversity”:
Cultural rights are an integral part of human rights,
which are universal, indivisible and inter-dependent.
The flourishing of creative diversity requires the full
implementation of cultural rights as defined in Article
27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in
Articles 13 and 15 of the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. All persons have
therefore the right to express themselves and to create
and disseminate their work in the language of their
choice, and particularly in their mother tongue; all
persons are entitled to quality education and training
that fully respect their cultural identity; and all
persons have the right to participate in the cultural
life of their choice and conduct their own cultural
practices, subject to respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms.
The United
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
published the document Cultural Diversity: Common
heritage – Plural Identities (2002), based on a
multidisciplinary exhibition 2001, and the adoption of the
Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity. This sets out
the principles of cultural diversity which evolve from a
common heritage of humankind. Further details can be found
at:
www.unseco.org.uk.