Status: December 2008
The table below was devised following a decision at the 5th Compendium Authors meeting held in Budapest Spring 2006 to begin monitoring the UNESCO Convention among Compendium countries, going beyond the information published on the relevant UNESCO website.Country | Ratification* by National Governments/Parliaments | Deposit at UNESCO | Main Ministry Responsible for Implementation | Current Plans/Activities | Other Active Bodies |
Albania | 24 September 2006 | 17 November 2006 | Ministry of Tourism and Culture | Albania is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | No |
Austria | 8 August 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Austrian Federal Chancellery Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture Ministry for Foreign Affairs | Austria is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | Austrian Commission for UNESCO houses the Austrian Coalition for Cultural Diversity Working Group "Cultural Diversity" established by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO in 2004; consists of experts, artists and persons engaged in the cultural sector and their lobbies, as well as representatives of the Federation and the Provinces. |
Azerbaijan | Government has initiated procedures to ratify the Convention. | -- | Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
| -- | National Commission for UNESCO |
Belgium | Process of ratification is underway. Government goal is to have it finalised as soon as possible. | -- | Involvement of all concerned governments and ministries of the regional and federal level. | -- | Coalition belge francophone pour la diversité culturelle Flemish Commission for UNESCO
|
Bulgaria | 18 December 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture | Promotion of original publication "Right of Cultural Diversity" by Ivan Kabakov (University Ed. "St. Kliment Ohridski" 2007). | Bulgarian National UNESCO Commission |
Canada | 23 November 2005** | 25 November 2005 | Department of Canadian Heritage Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade | The Department of Canadian Heritage is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, with the provinces and territories, and with Canada's arts and cultural community to play an active role in the implementation of the Convention. It also continues to advocate for the widespread ratification of the Convention as this will strengthen the effectivness of this international instrument. In June 2007, Canada was elected to the Intergovernmental Committee and has been elected chair of its meetings: December 2007 (Ottawa); June 2008 (Paris); December 2008 (Paris). | Canadian Coalition for Cultural Diversity The Canadian Commission for UNESCO |
Croatia | Ratified by the Croatian Parliament on 12 May 2006 | 31 August 2006 | Ministry of Culture
| Croatia is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | Croatian membership in INCD and contacts with professionals in the CCD. |
Denmark | 18 December 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture | On 10 January 2007, the Ministry of Culture organised a first meeting of members of the Cultural Committee of the Parliament (Folketingets Kulturudvalg) and representatives from the culture sector to discuss the implications of the Convention. It was decided to organise follow- up meetings every year with the purpose to discuss experiences and challenges and to consult the cultural sector on initiatives taken by the Ministry in order to meet its requirements under the Convention. | National Commission for UNESCO |
Estonia | 23 November 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture | An Estonia translation of the Convention has been prepared. A draft letter of motivation has been written and will be submitted to the Parliament. Comments from other Ministries are being requested. | Estonian National UNESCO Commission |
Finland | 29 June 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Education and Culture | Finland is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | Finnish Commission for UNESCO |
France | 5 July 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministère de la culture et de la communication | France is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. French Ministry of Culture and Communication publishes: De la diversité culturelle au dialogue interculturel | |
Georgia | -- | 1 July 2008 | National Commission for UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | -- | -- |
Germany | 7 March 2007 | 12 March 2007 | German Foreign Office | U-40 Capacity Building Programme "Cultural Diversity 2030". Seminar (November 2007): Policies and Best Practices for Cultural Diversity and Capacity Building Joint French-German parliamentary committee published report on the Convention and Cultural Diversity in Europe, February 2007. Germany is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | German Commission for UNESCO Bundesweite Koalition für Kulturelle Vielfalt Deutscher Kulturat |
Greece | -- | 3 January 2007 | Hellenic Ministry of Culture | Greece is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | -- |
Hungary | 25 February 2008 | 9 May 2008 | Ministry of Education and Culture | The UNESCO Convention is not yet a key issue among key actors including the administration, civil society or culture professionals. | Coalition hongroise pour la diversité culturelle |
Ireland | 19 December 2006
| 22 December 2006 | Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism | At the moment, there is no debate about the Convention, its articles or how it will be implemented in practice. | Irish Coalition for Cultural Diversity |
Italy | Internal ratification process by the Senate was finalised on Nov 14, 2006 and ratified by the Parliament on 31 January 2007. | 19 February 2007 | Ministry for Heritage and Cultural Activities Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Since ratification, several conferences and seminars have been organised by the Ministry for Heritage and/or the Italian Coalition for Cultural Diversity, with a view to promoting and discussing the Convention's contents. A special issue of the journal "Economia della cultura" on the Convention, jointly edited by the Italian Association for Cultural Economics and the Italian Coalition for Cultural Diversity was published. | Commissione Italiana Nazionale per l'UNESCO Coalizione Italiana per la Diversità Culturale
|
Latvia | The Covention was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 27 February 2007 and ratified in June 2007. | 6 July 2007 | Ministry of Culture | Public discussion held on 27 May 2007 | National Commission for UNESCO |
Lithuania | 14 December 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture | Lithuania is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | -- |
FYR of Macedonia | 22 May 2007 | 22 May 2007 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture | No official plans or strategies for the moment | National Commission for UNESCO (depends on the field of interest) |
Malta | 5 December 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry for Tourism and Culture and the Ministry for Education | -- | -- |
Moldova | 5 October 2006 | 5 October 2006 | Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Education and Youth and the State Department for Inter-Ethnic Relations | Seminars and other information events have been organised | Moldovan National Commission for UNESCO. Several NGOs on human rights and minority issues. |
Monaco | 28 March 2007 | 31 July 2006 | Internal Affairs, | -- | National Commission for UNESCO |
The Netherlands | Preparations for the ratification process started in October 2006 by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Aims at rapid ratification as soon as new government will have taken office. | -- | Ministry of Education, Culture and Science | The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science have commissioned the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO to undertake a study of the possible implications of ratification on Dutch legislation. This study was realised in cooperation with a group of experts. Indepth interviews were conducted with key actors operating in both subsidised and private sector institutions. *** | Dutch National Commission for UNESCO There is no National Coalition in the Netherlands |
Norway | 17 January 2007 | 17 January 2007 | Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs | -- | -- |
Poland | 17 August 2007 | 17 August 2007 | Ministry of Culture and National Heritage | Work related to the implementation of the Convention is in progress | Polish Committee for UNESCO |
Portugal | 11 January 2007 | 16 March 2007 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Work related to the implementation of the Convention is in progress. | Portuguese Commission for UNESCO |
Romania | 20 June 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs (MoCRA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) | -- | National Committee for UNESCO |
Russia | -- | -- | Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications | -- | -- |
San Marino | -- | -- | Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Education and Culture | In 2006 the Government decided to adopt the Convention, after carrying out an analysis with the competent bodies | National Committee for UNESCO
|
Serbia | The process of ratification was launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then sent through an Parliamentary procedure.**** | -- | Ministry of Culture | Creation of a working group for the implementation of the Convention. | -- |
Slovakia | 12 December 2006 | 12 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture | Creation of a working group to promote the Convention and develop activities regarding the implementation of the Convention. | National Coalition for Cultural Diversity |
Slovenia | 30 November 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture | Slovenia is a member of the intergovernmental committee to promote and monitor the objectives of the Convention. | Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO |
Spain | The Convention was approved by the Senate on the 25th September 2006. One month later, on the 25th October 2006, it was approved and ratified by the King of Spain. | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Culture
| One of the first consequences of this ratification has been the creation of a national commission on intercultural dialogue and the application of the recently approved Latin American Cultural Letter. | Coalición Española para la Diversidad Cultural
|
Sweden | 9 November 2006 | 18 December 2006 | Ministry of Education and Research | -- | -- |
Switzerland | Ratification process began in early 2007 with stakeholder hearings. On the 21st September 2007, the Government sent a ratification proposal to the Parliament. | 16 July 2008 | Federal Ministry of the Interior | -- | Schweizer Koalition für die kulturelle Vielfalt |
Ukraine | Government has not confirmed date for ratification. | -- | Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | There is no special programme related to the implementation and monitoring of the Convention. There is, however, a stated intention to do so in the "The Roadmap to the Programme for Enrichment and Development of Culture and Spiritual Heritage of the Ukrainian Society".
| Ukrainian National Committee for UNESCO |
United Kingdom | In July 2007, the Government presented the Convention to the House of Commons for ratification. | 7 December 2007 | Department of Culture, Media and Sport |
Source: Council of Europe/ERICarts, Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 10th edition, 2008.
Notes:
* In accordance with its Article 29, the Convention shall enter into force three months after the date of deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, but only with respect to those States or regional economic integration organisations that have deposited their respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession on or before that date. It shall enter into force with respect to any other Party three months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession
Ratification by national governments which are members of the EU were part of the EU deposition of the relevant instruments to UNESCO HQs in December 2006.
** The Convention was rapidly ratified by Canada in November 2005, in part due to the fact that they did not have to go through a Parliamentary process in order to adopt the Convention. A simple decision was taken by the cabinet. However, the Canadian province of Québec, through its National Assembly, did decide to ratify the Convention on 10 November 2005.
***A set of 12 closed questions were posed in the context of the study commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Respondents were asked to indicate whether they: agree, not agree or have no opinion, to the following questions. UC = UNESCO Convention. Translation of questions from Dutch into English by Cas Smithuijsen, member of the study group and Compendium author.
**** In Serbia, a proposal for the Law on Ratification of the UNESCO Convention received agreement from all relevant ministries: Ministry of Education; Ministry of Science; Ministry for Finance; Ministry for Economic Relations; Office for EU Integration; and the Office for Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities. The State Secretary for Legal Affairs made some critical comments which were accepted and sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the Law on making international agreements and contracts (Journal official SFRJ, n. 55/1978), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for ratification.
Council of Europe/ERICarts, "Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 11th edition", 2010
