The Foreign Affairs Committee recommends that the Parliament ratifies the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
21 December 2009, 12:33
The Convention was adopted by
the 33rd UNESCO
General Conference on 20 October 2005. It reaffirms the rights of sovereign states to maintain, adopt
and implement policies and measures that they deem appropriate for the
protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their
territory. The Convention encourages dialogue among cultures
with a view to ensuring wider and balanced cultural exchanges in the world in
favour of intercultural respect and a culture of peace.
The Committee members stated that the Convention envisaged foundation of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity that shall consist of funds-in-trust established in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO.
Thus, the resources of the Fund shall consist of: voluntary contributions made by Parties; funds appropriated for this purpose by the General Conference of UNESCO; contributions, gifts or bequests by other States; organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, other regional or international organizations; and public or private bodies or individuals; any interest due on resources of the Fund; funds raised through collections and receipts from events organized for the benefit of the Fund; any other resources authorized by the Fund´s regulations.
The People´s Deputies stressed that ratification of the Convention would reaffirm permanent stand of Ukraine concerning protection of human rights and freedoms in cultural domain, since "this international legal document underscores the importance of cultural diversity for the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other universally recognized instruments".
A relevant Bill was registered under Reg. No. 0151.