In November, Brazil will host the 8th International Congress of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity. The event is being organised by the CBDC – Brazilian Coalition for Cultural Diversity, in partnership with the IFCCD and ACIS, the Brazil’s Ministry of Culture, and UNESCO.
The Coalitions are civil society organisations committed to promoting the diversity of cultural expressions around the world. Each year, they gather to discuss the state of cultural diversity, share the challenges faced by member countries, and make recommendations for updating and strengthening the UNESCO Convention.
The gathering will include public panel discussions on 5 and 6 November, followed by the IFCCD’s closed-door General Assembly on 7 November.
The official opening of the Congress will take place on 5 November 2025, coinciding with Brazil’s National Day of Culture and the Portuguese Language, in the presence of key stakeholders, public authorities, and artists.
The panels will explore the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions over the past twenty years, with a particular focus on the digital age and the challenges and opportunities brought about by artificial intelligence. Other key themes will include linguistic diversity as an expression of cultural diversity, the cultural dimension of sustainable development, and emerging issues related to the “Living Culture Around the World” programme.
The digital age has transformed every sector within the framework of a globalised economy. Cultural diversity now plays an even more vital role in the face of new technologies, which present major challenges to the promotion of diverse cultural expressions worldwide. The international debate on regulating digital platforms and major tech companies underscores the urgent need to protect and promote cultural and linguistic diversity. In this context, the UNESCO Convention must serve as a legal and policy foundation for advancing inclusive solutions that support all forms of artistic expression, reduce inequalities between countries, and ensure broad access to cultural content in increasingly multicultural societies.
PROGRAMME (Speakers to be confirmed)
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
[2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.] Official Opening of the Congress
speakers to be confirmed
- Márcia Rollemberg – Secretary for Cultural Citizenship, Ministry of Culture
- Cláudia Leitão – National Secretary for the Creative Economy (SEC)
- UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture: Ernesto Ottone R. (virtual)
- Rector of the Federal University of Sergipe: André Maurício Conceição de Souza
- President of the IFCCD: Guillaume Prieur (virtual)
- Secretary General of the IFCCD: Marie-Julie Desrochers
- President of the Brazilian Coalition: Solange Moraes
[3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.] PANEL 1 – Twenty Years of the 2005 Convention: Strengths, Challenges, and the Essential Role of Civil Society in Its Implementation
1:30 of presentations followed by an open debate
Themes
- Origins and content of the 2005 Convention
- The strengthened cultural dimension of sustainable development
- Implementation challenges
- The work of coalitions worldwide
Moderator: Débora Peters, Brazilian Coalition for Cultural Diversity
Speakers:
- Alexandra Xanthaki, UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights (virtual participation)
- Giuliana Kauark, Cultural Diversity Observatory and Federal University of Bahia
- Alejandra Diaz, Paraguayan Coalition for Cultural Diversity, IFCCD Vice-President for the Americas
- Mahamadou Adamou, Nigerien Coalition for Cultural Diversity, IFCCD Vice-President for Africa (virtual participation)
Thursday, 6 November 2025
[10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.] PANEL 2 – Cultural Diversity, Citizenship, and Sustainability: Culture and Social Impact
1:30 of presentations followed by an open debate
Themes
- The Cultura Viva program: origins, challenges, and achievements
- Cultural diversity, citizenship, and sustainability
- Social impact of cultural projects
Moderator : Solange Moraes, Brazilian Coalition for Cultural Diversity
Introduction: Reflections and experiences from Mondiacult 2025
Speakers:
- Márcia Helena Gonçalves Rollemberg, Secretary for Citizenship and Cultural Diversity, Ministry of Culture
- Américo Córdula, former Secretary for Cultural Policies, Identity and Diversity (2005–2015)
- Cláudia Leitão, Secretary for the Creative Economy, Ministry of Culture
- Felipe Pitaro, Fundação Gol de Letra
[12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.] Lunch
[2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.] PANEL 3 – Implementing the 2005 Convention in the Digital Era: Public Policies and Regulation
1:30 of presentations followed by an open debate
Moderator: Marie-Julie Desrochers, the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity
Introduction: Overview of initiatives promoting the implementation of the Convention in the digital environment: operational guidelines, digital roadmap, UNESCO Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment
Themes
- Digital challenges for linguistic diversity and multilingualism
- Challenges related to the “discoverability” of diverse cultural content online
- Presentation of the corresponding recommendations from the Reflection Group
- Challenges brought by artificial intelligence to the cultural sector
- Digital regulation for cultural diversity in Brazil
Speakers:
- Gilvan Müller de Oliveira, Federal University of Santa Catarina
- Lilian Richieri Hanania, lawyer, mediator, lecturer, and consultant for UNESCO
- Marcos Alves de Souza, Secretary for Copyright and Intellectual Property, Ministry of Culture
- Beth Ponte, cultural manager and consultant
Friday, 7 November 2025
[10h – 12h] IFCCD General assembly
[12h – 14h] Lunch
[14h – 16h] IFCCD General assembly
This session is open to regular and associate members of the IFCCD.
The General Assembly sets the strategic priorities of the Federation for the coming years.
- Organisateurs
- Coalizão Brasileira pela Diversidade Cultural
- Related publications