UNESCO

Millennium Development Goals, the new
agenda integrates the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of sustainable
development to stimulate action over the
next 15 years in areas of critical importance
for humanity and the planet. It sets out
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and 169 targets. The Summit represented
a substantial step forward for sustainable
development in many fields. For the first
time, the role of culture and cultural diversity
has been acknowledged explicitly as an
enabler of sustainable development, in
the framework of SDGs related to education,
food security, the environment, economic
growth and sustainable consumption and
production patterns, peaceful and inclusive
societies, and sustainable cities. Thus
UNESCO’s Culture Conventions are now
essential for implementing the 2030 Agenda.
In November, the UNESCO General
Conference adopted the text of a new
standard-setting instrument on the
Protection and Promotion of Museums and
Collections, their Diversity and their Role
in Society. Member States have agreed to
establish and implement a set of global
guidelines for the protection and promotion
of museums and collections, which should
become the cornerstone of international
museum policies. The adoption of this
Recommendation reflects the international
community’s commitment to assisting
Member States and their museums in
fulfilling their roles in contemporary
society, which include promoting
sustainable development and intercultural
dialogue. Museums are one of the most
prominent institutions for safeguarding
heritage and encouraging creativity. Brazil,
the Philippines and the Czech Republic
gave financial support to this initiative.
2004 (US$ billion)
2013 (US$ billion)
7.5
31.8
Audiovisual
and music
Global export of
cultural services
Global export
of cultural goods
Share of developing
countries
11.3
33.0
Audiovisual
and music
2.0
18.9
Publishing
3.8
21.1
Publishing
108.4
(US$ billion)
4.0
16.0
Visual
arts
25.6%
Chin
a
71.9
(US$ billion)
14.4
35.7
Visual
arts
The Zhi Zheng Art Museum in Shenzhen
(People’s Republic of China) will also
partner with UNESCO to create a High-Level
Forum on museums and to support the
implementation of the Recommendation,
as well as other museum-related activities.
India
2.1%
2004
2012
2013
128.5
(US$ billion)
1.6%
UNESCO’s Regional Work Plan for Culture in LAC
India
China
46.7%
212.8
(US$ billion)
This graphic from the UNESCO 2015 Global
Report Re | Shaping Cultural Policies illustrates
the balance of the flow of cultural goods and
services, and the mobility of artists and cultural
professionals between 2004 and 2013.
© plural | K. M. Reinhold, S. Wucher
The UNESCO Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean organized a regional
workshop from 18 to 19 September, in the context of the Third Meeting of Ministers of Culture of
the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Taking place in Havana (Cuba), the
workshop was supported by the Ministry of Culture of Cuba and the Cuban National Commission for
UNESCO. The aim was to discuss and validate the Regional Work Plan for Culture (2016–2021), which
is related to the implementation of the SDGs. UNESCO’s participants included the Director-General.
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