Forum on the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity |
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Date 2019-04-19 |
International
Forum on the UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of
Cultural Expressions - Reviewing the status of implementation of the 2005 Convention - Suggesting directions for domestic cultural diversity
policy The forum was designed to increase local understanding of
the concept of cultural diversity and to raise awareness of current
international discussions regarding issues associated with the interpretation
of cultural diversity, so that local organizations can implement cultural
diversity projects with greater knowledge and awareness. Approximately 200 people
attended the conference, including academics, civil society activists, and interested
members of the general public. The forum focused on progress and challenges in the implementation
of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of
Cultural Expressions (the 2005 Convention), and offered an overview of the Global
Report on the implementation of the 2005 Convention, which was published by
UNESCO last year. Two experts who participated in the drafting of the
Global Report gave presentations at the forum. Andrew Firmin, Editor-in-Chief
of CIVICUS’ State of Civil Society Report, presented on sustainable cultural
governance and civil society participation, and Sara Whyatt, former Deputy
Director of PEN International, gave a presentation entitled "the freedom
to imagine and create." Lectures and discussions were also held on cultural
diversity issues specifically within the Korean context. Professor Han Kyung-Koo from the College of Liberal
Studies at Seoul National University, was among several professors, from the
Republic of Korea and other countries, who discussed the Convention on Cultural
Diversity in the Korean context, and the interpretation and practice of cultural
diversity in Korean society. Mr. Kwang ho Kim, the Secretary-General of the Korean
National Commission for UNESCO, said, "I plan to provide more opportunities
for discussion on the subject of cultural diversity in the future, to foster a
richer, more nuanced discourse on this subject than currently exists within
Korean society.” Mr. Kwang ho Kim, the Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, delivering opening remarks
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