Last Update: 9-dec-04 16:44  What is the convention? The United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) is developing an international convention on cultural
diversity.  The draft convention had its start in 2001, when the
Member States of UNESCO adopted a “Universal Declaration on
Cultural Diversity.” The Declaration emphasized the principles
of pluralism, respect for human rights, promotion of creativity,
and international solidarity. To expand upon the Declaration,
the UNESCO General Assembly decided that “the question of
cultural diversity as regards the protection of the diversity of
cultural contents and artistic expression should be the subject
of an international convention.”  In September 2004, the U.S.,
as a Member State of UNESCO, participated in an
intergovernmental meeting to discuss general issues regarding a
possible convention and to review a draft of it. [link to draft
convention below] A drafting committee is now charged with the
production of a new draft document