Paris, 7th IFCCD Congress
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, with support from the Government of the State of Piauí, 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.
If you require financial support to attend, a grant is available for IFCCD members.
PROGRAMME (Speakers to be confirmed)
Wednesday, 5 November 2025
[9:00 – 10:00] Official Opening of the Congress with Public Authorities
[10:00 – 12:00] PANEL 1 – 20 Years of the 2005 Convention: Strengths, Challenges, and the Key Role of Civil Society in Its Implementation
(1.5 hours of presentations, followed by an open public discussion)
Themes:
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Origins and content of the 2005 Convention
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Cultural dimension of sustainable development strengthened by the Convention
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Challenges in its implementation
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The work of Coalitions around the world
[12:00 – 14:00] Lunch
[14:00 – 16:00] PANEL 2 – Living Culture: Cultural Diversity, Citizenship, and Its Impact on Sustainability
(1.5 hours of presentations, followed by an open public discussion)
Themes:
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The Living Culture programme: origins, challenges, and successes
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Examples of projects demonstrating the social impact of cultural initiatives, especially among youth
Thursday, 6 November 2025
[10:00 – 12:00] PANEL 3 – Implementing the 2005 Convention in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities
(1.5 hours of presentations, followed by an open public discussion)
[12:00 – 14:00] Lunch
[14:00 – 16:00] PANEL 4 – Public Policy and Regulation in the Digital Age: Artificial Intelligence, Transparency, and Online Cultural Diversity
(1.5 hours of presentations, followed by an open public discussion)
Friday, 7 November 2025
[10:00 – 16:00] 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