Under the direction of the Federal Foreign Office, Germany has submitted its second country report on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The report highlights the importance of cultural diversity for sustainable development and reflects the wide range of initiatives by the Federal Government, Länder, municipalities and civil society since 2012 aimed at promoting the diversity of cultural expressions in Germany.

For instance, cities such as Hanover, Heidelberg or Mannheim have been systematically using their status as UNESCO Cities of Music and Literature to boost their long-term development. In addition, the cultural strategies of many Länder combine regional development with cultural education and cultural tourism.

In this connection, Maria Böhmer, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement in Berlin today (18 July):

“Ten years ago, the international community adopted the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which even today is a highly relevant instrument of international law. Germany was one of the initiators of this Convention. It is intended to make the political scope for fostering diversity and cultural policy, also at international level, fit for the future in the face of increasing trade liberalisation. Germany’s second country report on the Convention makes it very clear that the Convention is not only fostering the diversity of cultural expressions within Germany. For it is also enriching our contributions towards cultural co‑productions with countries in the Global South.”

The country report is available at www.diplo.de/unesco