2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

Canada is one of the founding members of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 2005. This international agreement recognizes that cultural products and services are part of the economic sector but also convey identities, values and meaning. This is why it is so important to develop and implement national policies to support the cultural sector, including artists and the creative industries. The Convention also fosters international cooperation in the cultural field.

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Canada's role

Canada is a strong defender of the sovereign right of states to protect their culture and cultural industries. It strives to promote the Convention in the many trade agreements it ratifies as well as in the international forums in which it participates.

By focusing on priorities such as international cooperation for a fair exchange of cultural goods and services and the implementation of the Convention in the digital environment, Canada is shaping the future of the global cultural landscape to protect the interests of its creative industries and artists, at home and abroad.

2024 Quadrennial Periodic Report

Parties to the Convention are committed to reporting every four years on their national and global implementation activities. As part of its 2020-2024 Quadrennial Periodic Report on the Implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Canada put forward measures and initiatives to address the main objectives of the 2005 Convention, namely to:

The reports of all signatory countries to the Convention serve to share good practices between countries and as a basis to produce a UNESCO global report every 4 years. The report is a worldwide reference in the field of cultural policies, providing strategic data and advocacy messaging on key issues for a more informed, participatory and transparent governance of the cultural and creative sectors.

Canadian initiatives

Canada's quadrennial report represents the efforts of many partners, including the provinces and territories, Canada's major cultural institutions, and civil society. It presents both national and international policies, programs and initiatives that support the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. These initiatives are grouped under 7 main themes:

Read the full 2024 Canadian Quadrennial Report

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2025-02-14