The importance of diversity is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) with the implementation of the
UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity which was passed unanimously by the 185 members states represented at the 31st General Conference in 2001. There are a number of key points which the declaration makes in relation to the importance of recognising cultural diversity as a basic human right.
Article 2: From Cultural Diversity to Cultural Pluralism states, “In our increasingly diverse societies, it is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities as well as their willingness to live together. Policies for the inclusion and participation of all citizens are guarantees of social cohesion.”
Article 4: Human Rights as Guarantee of Cultural Diversity states, “The defence of cultural diversity is an ethical imperative, inseparable from respect for human dignity. It implies a commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights of persons belonging to minorities and those of indigenous peoples. No one may invoke cultural diversity to infringe upon human rights guaranteed by international law, nor limit their scope.”
Article 5: Cultural Rights as an Enabling Environment for Cultural Diversity states, “Cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, which are universal, indivisible and interdependent. The flourishing of creative diversity requires the full implementation of cultural rights as defined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and in Articles 13 and 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. All persons therefore have the right to express themselves and to create and disseminate their work in the language of their choice and particularly in their mother tongue; are persons are entitled to quality education and training that fully respect their cultural identify; and all persons have the right to participate in the cultural life of their choice and conduct their own cultural practices, subject to respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Article 27 (1) of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.”
Article 13 (1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, highlights the right of everyone to education in the first instance. The importance of recognising diversity is highlighted in the second paragraph which states, “They (the parties to the agreement) further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.”
Article 15 of the Covenant further states that everyone has the “right to take part in cultural life,”
Further information on the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity can be found on the UNESCO website portal.unesco.org/culture
Further information on the Universal Declaration on Human Rights can be found on the UN website
www.hrweb.org/legal/undocs.html
International Service for Human Rights which provides a range of information and publications in relation to the latest developments in human rights legislation across the world can be found at
www.ishr.ch This site also contains useful links to government and non-government agencies which oversee and promote the implementation of human rights legislation in many parts of the world.