Could the future UNESCO convention on cultural diversity jeopardize freedom of expression?
Resolution 32C/34, adopted by consensus at the 32nd General Conference of UNESCO, emphasized “the importance of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which declares that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” This same resolution also recalled “that one of the fundamental purposes of UNESCO is to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image, and to preserve the independence, integrity and fruitful diversity of cultures.” It must be recalled that to ensure the free flow of ideas by word and image, voices are needed to produce them and make them heard. If this free flow of ideas by word and image is to have real meaning, creation must occur in a context of sufficient technical, financial and human resources to allow cultures and creators to participate in the great cultural exchanges of this century. Only a multitude of voice
