Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)
- Drafted: 20 October 2005 (Paris)
- Entry into force: 18 March 2007
- UK status: The UK ratified this Convention on 7 December 2007
Cultural products, goods and services have importance and meaning that go beyond their commercial value. In the absence of policies to promote and protect these cultural products, the citizens of many countries would not have access to books, movies, music, theatre and other cultural expressions that reflect their own experiences. When the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions came into force in 2007, for this first time in modern history, the right of states to adopt policies to protect and promote their cultural expressions was affirmed in an international legal instrument.
The Convention seeks to protect and promote cultural expressions by ensuring conditions that favour their creation, production and distribution. This is teamed with enhanced access to and enjoyment of these cultural expressions by all.
Within the Convention the term “cultural expressions” refers to the various ways in which cultural goods and services take shape. These include:
- expression through words, such as books, poetry and literature
- music
- images or digital media
- activities, such as dance or theatre
- made objects, such as sculptures or paintings
The Convention also seeks to strengthen the five inseparable links of cultural expression: their creation, production distribution, access and enjoyment.
Along with the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage this Convention is one of the pillars of the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity.
