The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (hereinafter referred to as the “Intergovernmental Committee”) was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from February 11 to 14, 2025. The International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) was represented by Holly Aylett (United-Kingdom Coalition for Cultural Diversity), Alejandra Diaz (Paraguayan Coalition for Cultural Diversity), Guillaume Prieur (French Coalition for Cultural Diversity), Hiroko Tsuboi-Friedman (Culture All Nippon), as well as Bill Skolnik, Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, and Marie-Julie Desrochers, Secretary General of the IFCCD.
In total, about ten members of the Federation participated in the proceedings as civil society observers, demonstrating the network’s active engagement in international discussions on the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (hereinafter referred to as the “2005 Convention”).
Review Of Expert Recommendations On The Diversity Of Cultural Expressions In The Digital Environment
The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee featured a review of the recommendations put forward by the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment.
The Parties welcomed the recommendations and adopted recommendations 2 to 11. The decision adopted on this agenda item paves the way for significant progress: during the next session of the Conference of Parties in June 2025, States will have the opportunity to adopt an action plan for the implementation of these ten recommendations. This decision also underscores the importance of consulting civil society throughout this process.
Recommendation 1, supported by the IFCCD, which proposed the adoption of an additional protocol to the 2005 Convention in the digital environment, was not adopted. However, the Parties recognized the pressing need to protect creators in the digital environment, particularly in response to the challenges posed by the rise of generative AI. The next session of the Conference of Parties will provide another opportunity to consider the adoption of an additional protocol to the Convention, alongside other legally binding options that could strengthen the implementation of the Convention in the digital environment.
Finally, the Parties emphasized the importance of exploring synergies between the recommendations of the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment and those of the Intergovernmental Reflection Group on the implementation of Article 16, “Preferential Treatment for Developing Countries.”
IFCCD’s Participation In The Intergovernmental Committee Side Events
Perspectives on the recommendations of the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment
On February 12, 2025, the IFCCD and the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE), with the support of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Chair in Communication and Technologies for Development, organized a side event to facilitate and enrich stakeholder dialogue on the recommendations of the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment.
Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, delivered opening remarks and participated in the discussions.
The moderator, Pierre Trudel, who has worked closely with Canadian civil society throughout this process, presented the position adopted by the Canadian Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. Guillaume Prieur shared the positions of the IFCCD and the French Coalition. Viviana Rangel, from the Colombian organization, Fundacion Karisma, expressed the concerns of the Colombian cultural sector regarding streaming platforms.
This panel also allowed experts to present their work within the Reflection Group and explain the reasoning behind their recommendations. Destiny Tchéhouali and Lilian Hanania, who participated in both meetings of the Reflection Group, provided insights into the experts’ work.
Online Exchange Session with Civil Society Organizations
On the final day of the proceedings, Marie-Julie Desrochers led an online exchange session with civil society organizations, titled “Achieving Balanced Flows of Cultural Goods and Services in the Digital Environment.”
Held in the main hall of the Intergovernmental Committee and lasting one hour, this session provided Parties and the Secretariat of the 2005 Convention with a valuable opportunity to hear directly from five civil society organizations about their needs, concerns, and challenges. The speakers included:
- Babylas Ndiaye, President of Arterial Network
- Ananya Bhattacharya, Director of Contact Base
- Ouafa Belgacem, President of Culture Funding Watch
- Boniface Sagbohan, Secretary General of the Beninese Coalition for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD)
- Virdzinija Djekovic, Independent Cultural Scene Association
This session, marked by rich and constructive discussions, is available online for viewing.
IFCCD Interventions During the Intergovernemental Committee Proceedings
Throughout the proceedings, the Federation distinguished itself through active engagement and valuable contributions to discussions on agenda items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
Agenda item 4 invited comments on the Secretariat’s report on its activities and the implementation of Committee decisions. On this occasion, the IFCCD commended the work accomplished during this pivotal year, particularly highlighting the establishment of expert groups. It also emphasized the quality of collaboration with civil society, applauded the five new ratifications of the 2005 Convention, and warmly welcomed the Brazilian Coalition’s membership in the IFCCD.
Agenda item 5 focused on the quadrennial periodic reports. The IFCCD took this opportunity to highlight the encouraging submission rate (84%) and consultation rate (73%) of civil society organizations, reflecting their active commitment to monitoring the Convention. It urged Parties to further strengthen these practices, recalling the fundamental role of civil society in the effective implementation of the Convention.
Agenda item 6b presented the report on the third external evaluation of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD). The IFCCD encouraged Parties to contribute the suggested voluntary donation to the IFCD and commended those that had already done so. It also reiterated the crucial role of National Commissions in facilitating civil society’s access to the IFCD. Additionally, the IFCCD supported the establishment of an alternative mechanism allowing projects to be submitted directly to UNESCO, aiming to prevent potential bottlenecks and delays.
Agenda item 7 presented the report of the Reflection Group on Cultural Diversity in the Digital Environment. The IFCCD congratulated the experts on the quality of their work and the relevance of their recommendations. It expressed strong support for all the recommendations, particularly emphasizing the adoption of an additional protocol. The IFCCD also underlined the importance of its implementation, given the current gaps in international normative instruments regarding artificial intelligence.
Agenda item 8 addressed the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Reflection Group on the implementation of Article 16, “Preferential Treatment for Developing Countries.” The IFCCD reiterated the importance of Article 16 in promoting more balanced and equitable cultural exchanges among Parties. It supported recommendations aimed at improving accessibility and understanding of preferential treatment, stressing the need for multilingual information tailored to geographic realities and diverse stakeholders, including civil society. The IFCCD also questioned the necessity of creating a new platform and encouraged an assessment of possible alternatives. Finally, it highlighted the key role of national contact points as primary interlocutors for civil society and their responsibility in working with ministries to ensure effective implementation of the Convention.
Agenda item 9 outlined the roadmap for the celebration of the Convention’s 20th anniversary. The IFCCD informed the assembly about awareness-raising tools developed in collaboration with the CDCE and invited Parties and the Secretariat to ensure their broad dissemination. It also highlighted events organized with its partners at the national level to mark this milestone. Reaffirming its commitment to UNESCO’s work in 2025, the IFCCD shared its planned participation in the COP in June and MONDIACULT in September. Finally, it urged the Secretariat to publicly announce the official dates for the COP and the 20th-anniversary celebrations, while expressing its willingness to collaborate on these initiatives.
Finally, agenda item 10 focused on collaboration with civil society in implementing the Convention. The IFCCD welcomed the quality of discussions and the attention given to civil society’s concerns. It emphasized the need to expand linguistic accessibility, particularly by integrating Spanish, to foster more inclusive participation. Additionally, it recommended adjusting the format of interventions to allow civil society more substantial speaking time. Lastly, it called for ensuring that remote participation is truly interactive, moving beyond a simple broadcast of the proceedings.
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