UNESCO commends G20 commitment to prioritizing culture in policymaking

Today, in a joint Declaration, G20 Member States committed to increasing investment in cultural policies, in line with UNESCO recommendations. This commitment is the fruit of a series of multilateral discussions which UNESCO contributed to as a privileged partner.

8 November 2024 – Last update:12 November 2024

The G20 Culture Ministers met on Friday in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. The meeting resulted in a joint commitment to increase investment in cultural policies focusing on four priorities: cultural diversity and social inclusion; digital environment and copyright; the creative economy; and the preservation, safeguarding and promotion of cultural heritage and memory.

Culture is a pillar in the construction of prosperous and peaceful societies. This is why UNESCO has advocated for this sector to be better recognized in multilateral fora and public policies. I am delighted that this has resulted in a strong commitment from G20 Member States, under the presidency of Brazil.

Audrey AzoulayUNESCO Director-General

Building on the momentum of the 2023 G20 in India, at which Heads of State and Government called for Culture to be made a stand-alone goal in the post 2030 Agenda, it has been a central focus of the G20 in 2024. Brazil’s Presidency has led ambitious discussions in fields such as the promotion of cultural rights, the impacts of Artificial Intelligence on cultural diversity, artists’ work, and culture for climate action.

UNESCO has contributed to shaping these discussions within the Culture Working Group, facilitating consensus-building between the membership and offering insights provided from its work and expertise on Culture Conventions, on-the-ground projects and participation in other multilateral fora.

Global unanimity to place culture at the top of the agenda

Under the leadership of Director-General Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO has worked in recent years to place culture at the top of the global agenda. At MONDIACULT 2022 (Mexico), the largest world conference on culture in forty years organized by UNESCO, States recognized culture as a “global public good” for the very first time. This recognition has put the cultural sector in the spotlight and accelerated international commitments.

In September 2024, G7 Ministers of Culture have adopted a historic declaration to better protect cultural rights in all their diversity. A few days later, the Heads of State and Government gave culture a prominent place in the ‘Pact for the Future’ during the United Nations General Assembly, further encouraging them to integrate this sector into their economic, social and environmental policies, promote intercultural dialogue, and facilitate international cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural property.

The Salvador da Bahia Declaration of the G20 Ministers of Culture is an important new lever, building momentum in advance of the next MONDIACULT Conference in 2025 in Barcelona (Spain) and in the establishment of the next United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

About UNESCO

With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions. Its Director-General is Audrey Azoulay.

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.

More information: www.unesco.org