UN treaty to preserve cultural expression comes into force

Zee News - UN treaty to preserve cultural expression comes into force


UN treaty to preserve cultural expression comes into force
United Nations, March 21: A United Nations-backed international treaty to preserve the rich diversity of means of cultural expression across the world, including different languages, from the dangers of globalisation has entered into force. The convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, adopted by the general conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in late 2005, became operative on Sunday, three months after it reached the required total of 30 ratifications. India is among the 35 countries which have so far ratified the treaty. The pact is designed to not only protect the existing cultural expressions but to "create the conditions for cultures to flourish and to freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner". UNESCO has noted previously that half the world's languages are in danger of extinction and that many areas of cultural production, such as cinema, are dominated by only a handful of nations. An international fund for cultural diversity will be set up under the convention and the treaty stresses the importance of culture in spurring development and encouraging international solidarity. It also reaffirms that "freedom of thought, expression and information, as well as diversity of the media, enable cultural expressions to flourish within societies". Bureau Report