Delegation and members on site, from left to right: Klara Kostal (Austrian Commission for UNESCO), Manon Montrouge (French Coalition for Cultural Diversity), Mohamed Diakité (Malian Coalition for Cultural Diversity), Annie Josée Ngo Njock Njock (Collectif des Experts et Entrepreneurs Culturels du Cameroun), Bill Skolnik (Canadian Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions), Marie-Julie Desrochers (IFCCD General Secretary), Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman (Culture all Nippon – Japan), Humberto Mancilla (Centro de Gestión Cultural Pukañawi – Bolivia)
The seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was held at UNESCO headquarters, in Paris, from February 27 to 29, 2024. The Federation was represented by Annie Josée Ngo Njock Njock, Secretary General of the Collectif des Experts et Entrepreneurs Culturels du Cameroun, Mohamed Diakité, Administrator of the Malian Coalition for Cultural Diversity, Bill Skolnik, Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and Marie-Julie Desrochers, Secretary General of the IFCCD. Overall, a dozen members of the Federation were present and registered as civil society observers.
Finally, it should be noted that the proceedings were not offered in hybrid format. However, a live YouTube webcast was available.
IFCCD Participation in a meeting between the Secretariat and civil society
On February 27, the Chairman of the 17th session, Mounir Anastas, and the Secretary of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Toussaint Tiendrebeogo, took part in a two-hour meeting with the civil society representatives in attendance. During the meeting, the organizations present submitted comments and recommendations aimed at optimizing the participation of civil society in the Convention’s bodies. Guillaume Prieur, President of the IFCCD, presented several ideas for improving the organizational structure and impact of the Civil Society Forum.
IFCCD interventions in the context of the work of the IGC
The Federation contributed to six agenda items, namely 4, 6a, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
Point 4 called for comments on the Secretariat’s report on its activities and the implementation of Committee decisions. In the light of the revision of UNESCO’s Framework for Cultural Statistics, the Federation emphasized the importance of data availability and statistical frameworks to:
- To inform evidence-based legislative and policy-making processes that take full account of the cultural sector and the diversity of its expressions.
- Ensure that by 2030, no creators and their associated economies are left behind.
Point 6a presented the report on the implementation of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity. The Federation encouraged all Parties to make the suggested voluntary contribution to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) and invited them to strengthen the capacities of jury members at the national level to ensure that processes are based on objective criteria and conducted transparently.
Item 8 dealt with the expert group tasked with presenting recommendations on the diversity of cultural expressions in the digital environment. The IFCCD highlighted the vulnerability of cultural ecosystems to the digital environment and developments in generative AI on creators and cultural professionals, but also its impact on society. It also announced that the Canadian Coalition will host experts starting from May 27 for a conference day highlighting voices from civil society.
Point 9 dealt with the implementation of Article 16 “Preferential Treatment for Developing Countries”. The IFCCD welcomed the proposal to set up a Reflection Group on the subject, but encouraged the search for other funding solutions to support the group’s activities than recourse to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD), which is crucial for civil society. However, Parties decided to use these funds in spite of everything.
Point 10 invited proposals regarding the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention in 2025. The IFCCD informed the assembly that several communication tools were being developed, including the production of a video and informative documents targeting currently underrepresented audiences, such as Indigenous peoples in Canada or countries lacking a structured Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Point 11 gathered feedback on collaboration with civil society for Convention implementation and conclusions from the fourth edition of the Civil Society Organizations Forum. The IFCCD, which had prepared its intervention in consultation with several other civil society organizations present at the committee, put forward questions and suggestions concerning the organization of the Civil Society Forum. It also emphasized the importance of multilingual interpretation access and the possibility of online participation in all Convention works.