Azerbaijani society is characterised by cultural diversity, so all laws related to culture are designed to cater to a broad range of cultural needs. Some laws are general (e.g., the Law on Culture (No.506-IVQ of 21 December 2012), and others are more specific (e.g., cinematography, town planning, museums, and publishing). The Law on Culture outlines the state’s policy principles and aims and establishes the duties of the government and local authorities in this area. It guarantees the right of individuals to engage in creative activity, promotes international contacts and cooperation, prevents the monopolisation of culture, and covers the preservation and development of the cultural identity and heritage of Azerbaijan and ethnic minorities historically resident in its territory. The law aimed to legalise all trends and expertise in contemporary cultural policies and practices, such as art management, cultural marketing, fundraising, and production, and it provided measures to promote creativity and public agencies and organisations working in the cultural sphere. State interference is limited to prohibiting any material that is pornographic or which encourages violence, racial, national or religious intolerance or drug addiction. The development of legal guarantees for the arts and culture in the Republic of Azerbaijan involves the complex improvement of national cultural policy legislation, the enhancement of mechanisms for implementing international conventions and bilateral agreements, and the refinement of existing practices for protecting cultural and authors’ rights.
Table 2: List of existing cultural legislation
|
Title of the law |
Year of adoption |
|
On Culture |
№ 506-IVQ of December 21, 2012 |
|
On Copyright and Related Rights |
No.115-IQ of June 5, 1996 |
|
On the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments |
No.470-IQ of April 10, 1998 |
|
On Cinematography |
No.515-IQ of July 3, 1998 |
|
On Library Work |
No.611-IQ of December 29, 1998 |
|
On Museums |
No.839-IQ of 24 March 2000 |
|
On Publishing |
No.887-IQ of 30 May 2000-ci il |
|
On the Legal Protection of Azerbaijani Folklore Samples |
No.460-IIQ of 16 May 2003 |
|
On the Protection and Development of Azerbaijani Carpet Art |
№ 799-IIQD of 7 December 2004 |
|
On Theatre and Theatre Activities |
№ 222-IIIQ of 29 December 2006 |
Table 3: International legal instruments implemented by the Republic of Azerbaijan in the cultural field
|
Title of the act |
Year of adoption |
|
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights |
1992 |
|
Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its I and II Protocols |
1993 |
|
Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage |
1993 |
|
Black Sea Convention on Cooperation in the fields of Culture, Education, Science and Information |
1995 |
|
Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the Europe Region |
1996 |
|
Universal Copyright Convention |
1997 |
|
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property |
1997 |
|
European Cultural Convention |
1997 |
|
Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works |
1998 |
|
Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe |
1999 |
|
European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production |
1999 |
|
UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects |
2000 |
|
Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage |
2006 |
|
Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe |
2008 |
|
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions |
2009 |
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