A/RES/70/214
Culture and sustainable development
Recalling also the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Diversity of Cultural Expressions, 1 as well as other international conventions of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that acknow ledge
cultural diversity and economic and social development, 2
Recognizing that culture is an essential component of human development, that
it represents a source of identity, innovation and creativity for the individual and the
community and that it is an important factor in social inclusion and poverty
eradication, providing for sustainable economic growth and ownership of
development processes,
Recognizing also the importance of respect and understanding for cultural
diversity throughout the world and of working together and not against each other
and of fostering intercultural understanding and dialogue, mutual listening and
learning and an ethic of global citizenship and solidarity,
Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration on Cultural D iversity of
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization , 3 and
acknowledging that cultural diversity is a source of enrichment for humankind and
an important contribution to the sustainable development of local communities,
peoples and nations, empowering them to play an active and unique role in
development initiatives,
Recognizing the importance of multilingualism as a means of promoting,
protecting and preserving the diversity of languages and cultures globally and that
genuine multilingualism promotes unity in diversity and international
understanding, and recognizing also the importance for the peoples of the world to
communicate in their own language,
Recalling the concerns expressed in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action 4 on the underrepresentation of women in decision-making positions in the
area of culture, which has prevented women from having a significant impact in the
area of culture and development,
Recalling also the importance of the promotion of national cultures, artistic
creation in all its forms and international and regional cultural cooperation, and
reaffirming in this regard the relevance of strengthening national efforts and
regional and international cooperation mechanisms for cultural action and artistic
creation and recognizing respect for cultural pluralism, as defined by the Universal
Declaration on Cultural Diversity, as policies for the inclusion and participation of
all citizens that guarantee social cohesion and the vitality of civil societ y and peace,
enhance cultural development and contribute to sustainable development,
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1
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2440, No. 43977.
The Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954); the
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of
Ownership of Cultural Property (1970); the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural
and Natural Heritage (1972); the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001);
and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).
3
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Records of the General Conference,
Thirty-first Session, Paris, 15 October–3 November 2001, vol. 1 and corrigendum, Resolutions, sect. V,
resolution 25, annex I.
4
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annexes I and II.
2
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