IFCCD report on civil society and the diversity of cultural expressions in Asia-Pacific

The International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) has published a report on the contribution of civil society to the promotion and protection of the diversity of cultural expressions in Asia-Pacific.

The IFCCD has conducted research over the past few months on civil society organisations in the cultural and creative industries in Asia-Pacific. This report focuses on the main challenges facing the cultural sectors in the region such as artistic freedom, dialogue with governments, gender equality, cultural policies and the treatment of culture in trade agreements.

The International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) is composed of diverse organisations from the cultural sector in over 30 different countries. Its mission is to coordinate civil society efforts for promoting and protecting the diversity of cultural expressions, including through the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention.

In April 2021, the Federation launched a research on civil society participation in the promotion and protection of the diversity of cultural expressions in the Asia-Pacific region, a region where it has few members. This reflects the ratification deficit of the 2005 UNESCO Convention in the region-in 2021, only 16 of the 46 UNESCO Member States in the Asia-Pacific region had ratified the Convention [1]. This research aimed to guide the IFCCD to better define the role it can play in the region and better respond to the needs of civil society.

The production of this report was made possible thanks to the participation of civil society members in Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and the Arab world, as well as the financial support from the Swiss government.

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