UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity

The Declaration aims both to preserve cultural diversity as a living and thus renewable treasure that must not be perceived as being unchanging heritage but as a process guaranteeing the survival of humanity and to prevent segregation and fundamentalism. It declares and adopts principles in relation to (i) identity, diversity and pluralism, and cultural diversity; (ii) cultural diversity and human rights; (iii) cultural diversity and creativity; and (iv) cultural diversity and international solidarity. The Member States committed themselves to take appropriate steps to disseminate widely the "UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity" and to encourage its effective application, in particular by cooperating to achieve objectives including deepening the international debate on questions relating to cultural diversity, particularly in respect of its link with development; advancing in the definition of principles, standards and practices, awareness-raising modalities and patterns of cooperation that are most conducive to the safeguarding and promotion of cultural diversity; fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices regarding cultural pluralism to facilitate the inclusion and participation of persons and groups from varied cultural backgrounds, among others.