UK Ratifies UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expression

The United Kingdom ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression on 29th November.

The Convention seeks to 'strengthen the links between creation, production, distribution/dissemination, access and enjoyment of cultural expressions, as conveyed by cultural activities, goods and services. In particular, the Convention aims to reaffirm the sovereign right of States to draw up cultural policies; recognize the specific nature of cultural goods and services as vehicles of identity, values and meaning; and strengthen international cooperation and solidarity so as to favour the cultural expressions of all countries'.

Along with the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO state that this Convention is 'one of the three pillars of the preservation and promotion of creative diversity'.

For more information about the Convention, visit http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11281&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html