U
CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION
OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS
Paris, 20 October 2005
CLT-2005/CONVENTION DIVERSITE-CULT REV.
CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION
OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS
The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, meeting in Paris from 3 to 21 October 2005 at its 33rd session,
Affirming that cultural diversity is a defining characteristic of humanity,
Conscious that cultural diversity forms a common heritage of humanity and should be
cherished and preserved for the benefit of all,
Being aware that cultural diversity creates a rich and varied world, which increases the
range of choices and nurtures human capacities and values, and therefore is a mainspring
for sustainable development for communities, peoples and nations,
Recalling that cultural diversity, flourishing within a framework of democracy, tolerance,
social justice and mutual respect between peoples and cultures, is indispensable for peace
and security at the local, national and international levels,
Celebrating the importance of cultural diversity for the full realization of human rights
and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other universally recognized instruments,
Emphasizing the need to incorporate culture as a strategic element in national and
international development policies, as well as in international development cooperation,
taking into account also the United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000) with its
special emphasis on poverty eradication,
Taking into account that culture takes diverse forms across time and space and that this
diversity is embodied in the uniqueness and plurality of the identities and cultural
expressions of the peoples and societies making up humanity,
Recognizing the importance of traditional knowledge as a source of intangible and
material wealth, and in particular the knowledge