Kiri

Dear Minister,

Please find hereunder the draft of the Pact for the Future with minor but strategic amendments, which we believe are vitally important to return to the previous text that more adequately reflected the role of culture in the global agenda.

Pushed by some Members States today the draft includes sports in the paragraph on culture.

But if we are successful in achieving the amendments hereunder, this text will help us to move forward on the path that we have been building collectively with so much effort for more than 6 years to position culture as a priority on the global agenda and as a catalyst for an inclusive, more just, peaceful and sustainable development that we so very much need.

We think that sports should be introduced but cannot be glued to Culture.

I thank you in advance for your kind support with your Permanent Mission in New York.

Ernesto Ottone R.

Assistant Director-General for Culture

7, Place de Fontenoy, 75007 Paris

+33 (0)1 45 68 11 01

unesco.org

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SECOND READING WITH PROPOSALS BY UNESCO

Action 11. We will protect and promote culture and sport as an integral component of sustainable development.

27. We recognize that culture offers people and communities a strong sense of identity and fosters social cohesion and economic growth. and that sport can contribute to individuals’ and communities’ health and wellbeing. Culture and sport therefore have the potential to be important enablers of sustainable development.

We decide to:

(a) Ensure that culture and sport can contributes to more effective, inclusive, equitable and sustainable development, and integrate culture into economic, social and environmental development policies and strategies and ensure adequate public investment in the protection and promotion of culture, including as a central consideration to enhance implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

(b) Engage promptly and constructively in bilateral negotiations, engaging relevant stakeholders as required, on the return or restitution to countries of their cultural property of spiritual, historical and cultural value, and strengthen international cooperation on this issue.

(c) Promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue as well as sport to strengthen social cohesion and contribute to sustainable development.

Action 14. We will protect all civilians in armed conflict. 

32. We condemn in the strongest terms the devastating impact of armed conflict on civilians, civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage, and we are particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact of violence on women, children, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups in armed conflict. Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are prohibited under international law and we recommit to our obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international refugee law. We decide to: 

(a) Take concrete and practical measures to protect all civilians in armed conflict, in particular people in vulnerable situations. 

(b) Accelerate the implementation of our commitments under the children and armed conflict agenda. 

(c) Refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas when their use may be expected to cause harm to civilians or civilian objects, including essential civilian infrastructure, schools, cultural heritage, medical facilities and places of worship. 

(d) Enable safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access and assistance, and full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. (e) Protect all humanitarian and medical personnel and all journalists and media professionals in armed conflict.

(f) Redouble our efforts to end impunity and ensure accountability for atrocity crimes and other gross violations, such as the use of starvation of civilians as a method of war and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence. 

(g) Encourage a collective and voluntary agreement amongst the permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from the use of the veto when the Security Council intends to take action to prevent or halt genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

Chapeau

3. Yet this is also a moment of hope and opportunity. Global transformation is a chance for renewal and progress grounded in our common humanity. Advances in knowledge, science, technology and innovation, if properly and equitable managed, and leveraging the power of culture as a driver for sustainable development (A/RES/78/161), could deliver a breakthrough to a better and more sustainable future for all. 

14. We recognize that the well-being of current and future generations and the sustainability of our planet rests on our willingness to take action. We will review progress on the implementation of the actions in this Pact and its Annexes at the beginning of the eighty-third session through a meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government. In the area of sustainable development and financing for development, we will:

…

Action 11. Protect and promote culture and sport as an integral component of sustainable development