A/RES/68/223 Culture and sustainable development 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, Recalling the principles of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, 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 5 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, 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 society and peace, enhance cultural development and contribute to sustainable development, Recognizing the linkages between cultural and biological diversity and the positive contribution of local and indigenous traditional knowledge in addressing environmental challenges in a sustainable manner, Recalling that, in its resolution 65/1 of 22 September 2010, entitled “Keeping the promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals”, the General Assembly emphasized the importance of culture for development and its contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and, in that respect, encouraged international cooperation in the cultural field, aimed at achieving development objectives, Noting the positive results and impact of programmes on culture and development at the country level, inter alia, the programmes jointly implemented by several United Nations agencies, including but not limited to those financed by the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund, Taking note of the Hangzhou Declaration: Placing Culture at the Heart of Sustainable Development Policies, adopted at the Hangzhou International Congress, _______________ 5 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. 2/7