The eighteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was held at UNESCO Headquarters from February 11 to 14, 2025.
During this session, the Committee examined the recommendations developed by the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment as well as the recommendations prepared by the Intergovernmental Reflection Group on the Implementation of Article 16 “Preferential Treatment for Developing Countries”. The Committee also considered the roadmap for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention in 2025. Furthermore, while reaffirming the fundamental role of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity for the implementation of the Convention, the Committee approved the funding requests presented within the framework of the fifteenth appeal and examined the report of the third external evaluation of the Fund.
It focused on collaboration with civil society organizations for efficient and participatory implementation of the Convention and considered the preliminary proposals for the organization of the fifth edition of the Forum of Civil Society Organizations.
CERAV/Africa as a UNESCO category 2 center whose main missions are the promotion of the performing arts including cinema and audiovisual and supporting African states in the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO convention, as well as the promotion of cultural and creative industries in Africa took part by indicating in its message the actions it is undertaking with a view to contributing to the positive transformation of cultural policies and contributing to the achievement of the SDG objectives 2030.
CERAV/Africa has indicated that the issue of Artificial Intelligence is at the center of its actions. To this end, it organizes discussions on the implications of AI in the cultural and creative industries and takes head on the question of the discoverability of cultural content as far as its field of intervention is concerned.
This session was an opportunity for UNESCO to invite all stakeholders in the promotion and implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the said Convention through various activities.
CERAV/Africa would like to express its gratitude to the authorities of Burkina Faso and to all the people who contributed to the success of its participation in this 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 UNESCO Convention.
