The IFCCD submitted a brief to UNESCO to provide analytical elements of the relevant international legal framework in response to a survey on legal options within the framework of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions that could address various issues related to the digital environment. The survey is conducted as part of the multi-stakeholder approach requested by the Conference of Parties to the Convention in its Resolution 10.CP 8.b, adopted in June 2025, which asked the UNESCO Secretariat to continue its analysis on the feasibility, technical, and legal aspects of an additional protocol and other legal options based on a multi-stakeholder approach, and to present its preliminary study on fea-sible options to the nineteenth session of the Committee in February 2026 for discussion.
In this brief, the IFCCD considers that the most appropriate option would be the adoption of an Additional Protocol to the 2005 Convention, explicitly incorporating AI, generative AI, discoverability, linguistic diversity, and platform transparency. This option, preceded as planned by an update of the Operational Guidelines, would consolidate the action of Parties and civil society in support of the diversity of cultural expressions, clarify the scope of the Convention, and establish a legally binding framework commensurate with the trans-formations induced by the digital environment.
This document was financially supported by the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) – Canada, Québec. Research and co-authorship were carried out by John Crowley, from the PHGD group, and the IFCCD Secretariat, following consultations with members.
- Related publications
-