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Echoing Voices: Tenth Anniversary of the Adoption of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity Year of publication: 2011 Corporate author: UNESCO This founding text was the first to acknowledge cultural diversity as “the common heritage of humanity”. It is with great pride that UNESCO is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Declaration. Commemorate – from the Latin cum memorare – means quite literally “to remember together” or “to remember with”. This collection is compiled the voices of all those who have contributed to the heightening of human awareness by throwing into relief the inestimable value of cultural diversity. These excerpts from books, articles and statements by global intellectual and political leaders, artists and Nobel Prize-winners all call for the safeguarding of cultural diversity, which is inseparable from respect for human dignity. Their voices resound in bearing witness to the strength of cultural diversity and to its capacity to enlighten the minds of women and men. We are duty-bound to ensure that it is central to public policies and a resource for development and dialogue among nations. The United Nations was born of the determination of men and women “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war...”. In accordance with that principle, UNESCO was established on a key idea, expressed at the very beginning of its Constitution: “... since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. In the world today, globalized, connected and interdependent as never before, this mission is more vital than ever. The rapprochement of peoples and cultures requires a commensurately global awareness. Cultural diversity has always been at the heart of international relations. It is also, increasingly, a feature of the contemporary mixed and plural societies in which we live. In view of this reality, we must formulate appropriate public policies and rethink the mechanisms of social cohesion and civic participation. How can we build common ground on the basis of such diversity? How can we construct genuine moral and intellectual solidarity of humanity? Any new vision of humanism must be grounded itself in the dynamism and diversity of cultural heritage. It is a source of inspiration and knowledge to be shared and a means of broadening our horizons. The goal of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity is to provide keys and benchmarks for capitalizing on this wealth. There can be no sustainable governance if cultural diversity is not acknowledged. There can be no economic and social development if specific features of every culture are belittled and ignored. 
Review of UNESCO culture sector's work on intercultural dialogue with a specific focus on: the general and regional histories, the slave route and cultural routes projects, plan Arabia, alliance of civilizations 'International vademecum' projects Year of publication: 2011 Author: Julie Carpenter Corporate author: UNESCO This review was commissioned from Education for Change Ltd by Internal Oversight Services (IOS) in UNESCO during June 2011 and completed in September 2011. The purpose of the review was to generate findings and recommendations regarding the relevance and effectiveness of the following priority initiatives on intercultural dialogue: • The General and Regional Histories (and related activities) • The Slave and Cultural Route projects (and related activities) • Plan Arabia • The Alliance of Civilizations (AoC) projects funded by the Government of Spain. The majority of activities in these flagship initiatives have been HQ-led and implemented with limited or no input from the field. Intersectoral work, essential to the effective implementation of the flagship initiatives and associated activities, was constrained by structural and budgeting factors common to most cross-sectoral work in UNESCO. Dissemination of the outputs of all the projects, with the possible exception of The Slave Route Project, has been a major and continuing challenge. The conception, writing, editing and direction of the Histories over more than 50 years have been the responsibility of an individual ISC for each History collection, supported by the UNESCO Secretariat in CLT. This highly participatory but complex process has caused delays and frustrations. However, the relevance of the Histories’ approach to history has not diminished over time. The interdisciplinary Histories have also been subject to the typical constraints within UNESCO of working across sectors. The use and re-use of the content in the Histories has recently been constrained by complex issues relating to co-publication and copyright covering volumes and illustrations and authors rights. The urgency of resolving these issues has arisen because of pressure from Member States to make the content of the Histories freely available online to enable access by institutions and individuals unable to afford the high costs of the published, printed volumes. The expensive printed formats selected for the Histories were predicated on the flawed assumption that university, college and public libraries exist in all countries that could afford to purchase relevant volumes and thus make available the content to researchers and the public. Overall effectiveness of these publications to date is impossible to measure, in terms of levels of takeup and use in universities or research for example, because over the years very limited data have been consistently or systematically collected, and little research or analysis has been done to determine the influence of the content of the Histories on written or broadcast material on history, on conference presentations etc. 2 Despite these constraints, the successful end in 2009 of this massive effort of developing, writing and publishing the history collections can and should be regarded as a significant achievement in itself, in which UNESCO has been effective in overcoming many problems and set-backs to achieve the completion of a project that only UNESCO itself, unique among all the international and UN bodies, could have achieved. Examen des travaux du secteur de la culture de l'UNESCO sur le dialogue interculturel avec un aCECnt particulier sur: les histoires générales et régionales, l'itinéraire des esclaves et itinéraires culturels projets, Plan Arabia, projet d’ alliance des civilisations ‘vade-mecum International’ Year of publication: 2011 Author: Julie Carpenter Corporate author: UNESCO Cet avis a été chargé de l'éducation pour le changement Ltd par les services de contrôle interne (IOS) de l'UNESCO au cours de Juin 2011 et achevé en Septembre 2011. Le but de l'examen était de générer des conclusions et des recommandations concernant la pertinence et l'efficacité des initiatives prioritaires suivants sur interculturel dialogue: • les Histoires générales et régionales (et activités connexes) • les projets esclaves et Route culturelle (et les activités connexes) • plan Arabia • l'Alliance des civilisations des projets (Alliance of Civilizations, AOC) financé par le gouvernement de l'Espagne. La majorité des activités de ces initiatives phares ont été HQ-dirigé et mis en œuvre avec la participation limitée ou pas sur le terrain. Le travail intersectoriel, indispensable à la mise en œuvre effective des initiatives phares et les activités connexes, a été entravée par des facteurs structurels et budgétaires communes à la plupart des travaux intersectoriels à l'UNESCO. Diffusion des résultats de tous les projets, à l'exception possible du projet Route de l'esclave, a été un défi majeur et continue. La conception, l'écriture, l'édition et la direction des histoires depuis plus de 50 ans ont été la responsabilité d'un ISC individuel pour chaque collection Histoire, soutenue par le Secrétariat de l'UNESCO CLT. Ce processus hautement participatif mais complexe a des retards et des frustrations causées. Cependant, la pertinence de l'approche de l'histoire de l'histoire n'a pas diminué au fil du temps. Les Histoires interdisciplinaires ont également été soumis à des contraintes typiques au sein de l'UNESCO de travailler dans tous les secteurs. L'utilisation et la réutilisation du contenu dans les Histoires a été récemment contraint par des questions complexes relatives à la co-publication et droits d'auteur couvrant les volumes et les illustrations et les droits d'auteur. L'urgence de résoudre ces problèmes a surgi en raison des pressions exercées par les États membres à rendre le contenu des histoires disponibles gratuitement en ligne pour permettre l'accès par les institutions et les personnes qui ne peuvent pas se permettre les coûts élevés des volumes imprimés publiés. Les formats chers imprimés sélectionnés pour les histoires étaient fondées sur l'hypothèse erronée selon laquelle l'université, le collège et les bibliothèques publiques existent dans tous les pays qui pouvaient se permettre d'acheter des volumes concernés et ainsi mettre à disposition le contenu des chercheurs et du public. L'efficacité globale de ces publications à ce jour est impossible de mesurer, en termes de niveaux de reprise et d'utiliser dans les universités ou la recherche, par exemple, car au fil des années des données très limitées ont été régulièrement ou systématiquement collectées, et peu de recherche ou d'analyse a été fait pour déterminer l'influence du contenu des histoires sur des documents écrits ou diffusés sur l'histoire, onconférencepresentations etc. 2 en dépit de ces contraintes, la fin réussie en 2009 de cet effort massif de développement, l'écriture et la publication des collections d'histoire peut et doit être considéré comme un réalisation importante en elle-même, dans laquelle l'UNESCO a été efficace pour surmonter de nombreux problèmes et revers pour obtenir la réalisation d'un projet qui ne l'UNESCO elle-même, unique parmi toutes les instances internationales et de l'ONU, aurait pu atteindre. Resonancias: Décimo Aniversario de la Adopción de la Declaración Universal de la UNESCO sobre la Diversidad Cultural Year of publication: 2011 Corporate author: Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura (UNESCO) This founding text was the first to acknowledge cultural diversity as “the common heritage of humanity”. It is with great pride that UNESCO is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Declaration. Commemorate – from the Latin cum memorare – means quite literally “to remember together” or “to remember with”. This collection is compiled the voices of all those who have contributed to the heightening of human awareness by throwing into relief the inestimable value of cultural diversity. These excerpts from books, articles and statements by global intellectual and political leaders, artists and Nobel Prize-winners all call for the safeguarding of cultural diversity, which is inseparable from respect for human dignity. Their voices resound in bearing witness to the strength of cultural diversity and to its capacity to enlighten the minds of women and men. We are duty-bound to ensure that it is central to public policies and a resource for development and dialogue among nations. The United Nations was born of the determination of men and women “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war...”. In accordance with that principle, UNESCO was established on a key idea, expressed at the very beginning of its Constitution: “... since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. In the world today, globalized, connected and interdependent as never before, this mission is more vital than ever. The rapprochement of peoples and cultures requires a commensurately global awareness. Cultural diversity has always been at the heart of international relations. It is also, increasingly, a feature of the contemporary mixed and plural societies in which we live. In view of this reality, we must formulate appropriate public policies and rethink the mechanisms of social cohesion and civic participation. How can we build common ground on the basis of such diversity? How can we construct genuine moral and intellectual solidarity of humanity? Any new vision of humanism must be grounded itself in the dynamism and diversity of cultural heritage. It is a source of inspiration and knowledge to be shared and a means of broadening our horizons. The goal of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity is to provide keys and benchmarks for capitalizing on this wealth. There can be no sustainable governance if cultural diversity is not acknowledged. There can be no economic and social development if specific features of every culture are belittled and ignored. Résonances: Dixième Anniversaire de l'Adoption de la Déclaration Universelle de l'UNESCO sur la Diversité Culturelle Year of publication: 2011 Corporate author: UNESCO This founding text was the first to acknowledge cultural diversity as “the common heritage of humanity”. It is with great pride that UNESCO is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Declaration. Commemorate – from the Latin cum memorare – means quite literally “to remember together” or “to remember with”. This collection is compiled the voices of all those who have contributed to the heightening of human awareness by throwing into relief the inestimable value of cultural diversity. These excerpts from books, articles and statements by global intellectual and political leaders, artists and Nobel Prize-winners all call for the safeguarding of cultural diversity, which is inseparable from respect for human dignity. Their voices resound in bearing witness to the strength of cultural diversity and to its capacity to enlighten the minds of women and men. We are duty-bound to ensure that it is central to public policies and a resource for development and dialogue among nations. The United Nations was born of the determination of men and women “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war...”. In accordance with that principle, UNESCO was established on a key idea, expressed at the very beginning of its Constitution: “... since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed”. In the world today, globalized, connected and interdependent as never before, this mission is more vital than ever. The rapprochement of peoples and cultures requires a commensurately global awareness. Cultural diversity has always been at the heart of international relations. It is also, increasingly, a feature of the contemporary mixed and plural societies in which we live. In view of this reality, we must formulate appropriate public policies and rethink the mechanisms of social cohesion and civic participation. How can we build common ground on the basis of such diversity? How can we construct genuine moral and intellectual solidarity of humanity? Any new vision of humanism must be grounded itself in the dynamism and diversity of cultural heritage. It is a source of inspiration and knowledge to be shared and a means of broadening our horizons. The goal of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity is to provide keys and benchmarks for capitalizing on this wealth. There can be no sustainable governance if cultural diversity is not acknowledged. There can be no economic and social development if specific features of every culture are belittled and ignored. National identity and xenophobia in an ethnically divided society Year of publication: 2005 Author: Noah Lewin Epstein | Asaf Levanon Corporate author: UNESCO Recent studies have suggested that national identity is empirically related to negative sentiments of individuals towards foreigners. This type of analysis has hitherto been based on the notion that xenophobia is shaped by the specific nature of national identity in a given society. Representing a stronger and more exclusive perception of national identity, ethnic national identity (compared with civic national identity) is expected in this line of research to result in less favourable perceptions of immigrants. In this paper we expand this approach by arguing that, in deeply divided societies, national identity itself may have different meanings among different social groups. L'identité nationale et la xénophobie dans une société ethniquement divisée Year of publication: 2005 Author: Noah Lewin Epstein | Asaf Levanon Corporate author: UNESCO Des études récentes ont suggéré que l'identité nationale est empiriquement associée à des sentiments négatifs des individus envers les étrangers. Ce type d'analyse a été jusqu'ici fondée sur la notion que la xénophobie est façonnée par la nature spécifique de l'identité nationale dans une société donnée. Représenter une perception plus forte et plus exclusive de l'identité nationale, l'identité nationale ethnique (par rapport à l'identité nationale civique) est attendue dans cette ligne de recherche pour aboutir à la perception moins favorable des immigrants. Dans cet article, nous étendre cette approche en faisant valoir que, dans les sociétés profondément divisées, l'identité nationale elle-même peut avoir des significations différentes entre les différents groupes sociaux. 
Reflections on Progress, Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Year of publication: 2013 Author: Georges Haddad Corporate author: UNESCO The arguments developed in this concise presentation demonstrate that sustainable development, progress and global citizenship, efficiently embedded in the context of the Knowledge Society, undeniably participate in the development of the New Humanism promoted by the Director-General of UNESCO, and which we all agree to consider essential for the wealth and prosperity of Humanity in an agreeable, peaceful and friendly common environment. 
From words to action; Des paroles aux actes Year of publication: 2014 Corporate author: UNESCO Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has been working to enhance mutual understanding between peoples, founded on an ever more subtle knowledge of cultures in their rich diversity in order to promote the dignity of all through the affirmation of the principles, rights and values of our common humanity. The era of globalization characterizes our societies, in a cultural landscape which, more than ever, is permeated with diversity because of the mutual influences of peoples, communities, and of their cultural and religious practices. A major issue remains: the need to demonstrate the benefits of promoting both respect for human rights and cultural diversity, recognizing the importance of genuine intercultural dialogue in order to fight against new forms of racism, discrimination, intolerance, extremism and radicalization. UNESCO, with lengthy practical experience as an international laboratory of ideas, monitors respect for universal values, in particular by initiating research and producing various kinds of teaching tools designed for the acquisition of intercultural skills. Which skills should be mobilized or acquired in order to be able not only to respect but also to appreciate the Other in all his or her diversity. How many of these skills can be useful on both a collective level and an individual one in order to protect cultural rights, protect oneself from, or to transcend prejudice? Intercultural sensibility and aptitudes have to be explored since they refer to the willingness and capacity of people to step outside of their own logic and systems of thought in order to engage with others, and appreciate different cultural narratives especially if they are not equally valorized or recognized in a given societal context. This portfolio proposes a basic tool for capacity building in support of exchange, communication and cooperation beyond cultural, religious and national borders, allowing the emergence of a global citizenship in a safer world for all. In this perspective, this set of key resources consists of papers by international experts exploring the linkage between respect for cultural diversity and human rights, with all that that implies. It brings together other publications such asIntercultural Competences, Conceptual and Operational Framework, published by UNESCO in 2013, and documents such as Dire la Tolérance (Defining Tolerance), published in 1997 and translated into English and into Arabic, and, finally, UNESCO’s Programme of Action for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, A Vision in Action, published in English in 2012 and in French in 2013. Symbolically released on 10 December 2014, Human Rights Day, this multilingual and evolving publication is designed primarly to be an Open Access tool, a flagship project of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022). In the same spirit, its content will be enriched and developed in an e-learning format, throughout the Decade. 
The rapprochement of cultures: roadmap Year of publication: 2016 Corporate author: UNESCO Today, the sheer compression of the world is bringing people and their cultures into the same space with intense speed, rendering new levels and forms of human interaction and interdependence. Population growth and migration are increasing in scale and complexity, and technology and media are bringing people together in ways never before thought possible. As a result, new creative expressions, innovation and immense opportunities have been generated and developed. While these phenomena have brought people together across geographic spaces, it has concurrently exposed a widening moral gap in our societies and the extent to which our societies are ill-equipped to effectively manage and overcome the challenges that continue to arise. Often in parallel with developmental progress, retrogressive patterns have emerged that present persistent threats to peace-building and social cohesion. Recurrent cycles of deadlock and conflict undermine governance and legislation at international, national and local levels preventing long-term peace and development.The litany of polarization within our societies often defined along the lines of ‘identity’ – religious, cultural, ethnic, or otherwise – are increasingly manifested in prejudice, intolerance, racism, xenophobia, discrimination, radicalization and extreme violence. The challenges are often multidimensional and interrelated, and their impacts cross conventional borders, thus revealing a pervading vulnerability at global level and the accompanying need for a global response. From a policy and governance perspective, this has rendered new levels of complexity in addressing challenges. It has also reinforced the need for a more inclusive and participatory notion of development, including integrated approaches that tackle the issues at hand as well as their foundations.The Decade has come into being in an era marked by increased divisiveness, and learning to live together in the 21st century presents a new frontier for managing cultural diversity. Respect for the inherent dignity of all persons underpins the values of the Decade and is one of the core pillars of the UN system, to ensure that all people have equal rights and opportunities to shape their future. These principles are reflected in the values of many cultures around the world. Intercultural dialogue denotes an open process of exchange and respect between individuals and groups of different cultures, points of view and aspirations. In such a way, the respect for and exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms are not only key inroads to dialogue, but they are integral to its process. Ultimately they are crucial to sustaining the rapprochement of cultures as the central aspiration of the Decade.