Menu
THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION ON CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity was adopted unanimously at the UNESCO General Conference’s 31st session. It was an opportunity for States to reaffirm their conviction that intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee of peace. Twenty years on, the protection and promotion of cultural diversity has never been more important.
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Khalili Foundation published a landmark book with contributions from leading cultural figures, diplomats, scholars, faith leaders, heads of international organisations and other relevant dignitaries.
Download Introductory Articles
Editor
Chairman, Khalili Foundation
Secretary General, United Nations
The Convention for the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Expressions (2005)
Message from Sir David Khalili
Chairman, Khalili Foundation
Copies of the book are being donated by the Khalili Foundation to international organisations, charities and libraries worldwide. The book is also available for purchase here. All proceeds will go to charitable causes promoting cultural diversity.
Full List of Authors
Introductions
WAQAS AHMED
Editor
Preface (3)
PROFESSOR SIR DAVID KHALILI
Chairman, Khalili Foundation and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Introduction (10)
HE ANTONIO GUTERRES
Secretary-General, United Nations
Special Message (12)
ERNESTO OTTONE RAMIREZ
Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO
Foreward (13)
Featured Documents
The Universal Declaration on Culture Diversity (16)
The Convention for the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Expressions (20)
Images
Picture Credits (160)
THINK
PROFESSOR FELIPE FERNANDEZ-ARMESTO
World historian
Culture: An unconscionably brief history (26)
PROFESSOR FRITJOF CAPRA
Physicist, ecologist and systems theorist
Diversity, growth and development (30)
PROFESSOR VANDANA SHIVA
Environmental scholar and activist
Diversity as the organising principle of all life (32)
PROFESSOR WADE DAVIS
Anthropologist
Preserving our indigenous heritage (35)
PROFESSOR SEYYED HOSSEIN NASR
Philosopher
Finding a metaphysical unity in diversity (40)
PROFESSOR AKBAR S. AHMED
International affairs scholar
Beacons of light in the history of interfaith harmony (46)
PROFESSOR GAYATRI CHAKRAVORTY SPIVAK
Literary and political theorist
Toward a Truer diversity (52)
PROFESSOR HAMLET ISAKHANLI
Scholar, poet and founder, Khazar University
Regional diversity: A view from the Caucasus (54)
PROFESSOR TARIQ MODOOD MBE
Sociologist
Multiculturalism and the institutionalisation of cultural diversity (57)
PROFESSOR VERONICA BOIX MANSILLA
Cognitive scientist and educationalist
Perspective-taking as a way into each other’s worlds (62)
PROFESSOR ADAM HABIB
Political scientist and Director, SOAS
The intercultural approach to complex world problems (68)
CREATE
DEEYAH KHAN
Filmmaker and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
Diversity of thought and the freedom of expression (72)
DANIEL BARENBOIM
Composer and founder of the East-West Divan Orchestra
Music as a shared, lived and reflected practice (75)
PETER GABRIEL
Musician and founder of WOMAD
World music as an antidote to bigotry (79)
SUMI JO
Soprano and UNESCO Artist for Peace
A soprano’s song to the world (84)
SAMI YUSUF
Composer and musician
The last note: Preserving traditional music (86)
TAN DUN
Composer and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
The power of cultural synthesis in music (90)
SIR DAVID ADJAYE OBE
Architect
Architecture as the intertwining of cultures (94)
HARRIET WENNBERG
Executive Director, INTBAU
Safeguarding traditional building and urbanism (99)
AMIT SOOD
Director, Google Cultural Institute
Harnessing technology to explore humanity’s culture (104)
HARRY VERWAYEN
Executive Director, Europeana Foundation
Sharing and promoting Europe’s
cultural diversity online (108)
EUNICE OLUMIDE MBE
Model and activist
From cultural bias to cultural diversity in the fashion industry (112)
JEREMY GILLEY
Founder, Peace One Day
Making peace with our differences (114)
LEAD
HE MICHELLE BACHELET JERIA
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Cultural expression as a fundamental human right (119)
BARONESS PATRICIA SCOTLAND
Secretary-General, The Commonwealth
Harnessing a commonwealth of culture (120)
GUY RYDER CBE
Director-General, ILO
Valuing diversity in building a human-centred recovery (124)
DR CARLA BARNETT CBE
Secretary-General, CARICOM
Caribbean culture: A regional perspective (128)
JONATHAN TOWNSEND
CEO, The Prince’s Trust
Supporting young global citizens (132)
JIMMY WALES
Founder, Wikipedia
Towards knowledge equity online (134)
BARONESS VALERIE AMOS
Master, University College, Oxford
Influencing a culture of diversity (138)
MARC DE SWAAN ARONS
Founder, Institute for Real Growth
How corporations can foster cultural diversity (140)
LURRAINE JONES
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, The Open University
Tackling cultural inequalities in higher education (146)
PAUL OWENS
Director, World Cities Culture Forum
Word cities as beacons of culture (148)
ROB NAIL
Associate Founder and former CEO of Singularity University
The future of culture (152)
Comments & Reviews
"Culture transcends class, gender, age, occupation and so on, and embraces the diversity of people as members of the human society. This year, on the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Declaration of Cultural Diversity, I thank the Khalili Foundation for shining a light on this."
Sumi JoSoprano and UNESCO Artist for Peace 
“Our pioneering Faith in the Commonwealth project, delivered with generous support from, and in partnership with, the Khalili Foundation, is designed to promote global citizenship and religious literacy.”
Baroness Patricia ScotlandSecretary-General of the Commonwealth 
“The Prince’s Trust is proud to join the Khalili Foundation, UNESCO, the UN’s family of nations, and organisations worldwide in marking the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.”
Jonathan TownsendCEO of Prince’s Trust 
“My thanks to the Khalili Foundation for promoting a global discussion on cultural diversity and to UNESCO for continuing to promote dialogue on these matters.”
Baroness Valerie AmosMasters of University College, Oxford 
"On behalf of the World Cities Culture Forum, I would like to congratulate UNESCO on the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, and the Khalili Foundation on producing this milestone publication."
Paul Owens Director of the World Cities Culture Forum 
“It is not surprising that the Khalili Foundation is behind this milestone book on cultural diversity... Such initiatives must be fully supported if we are to achieve the harmonious future we long for.”
Professor Akbar S. AhmedChairman of Islamic Studies, American University 
"I welcome the initiative of Sir David Khalili, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and his Foundation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity through this publication. This is an important opportunity to reflect on where we have come from, where we are today, where we are going, and most importantly, where we want to go."
Ernesto Ottone RamirezAssistant Director-General for Culture UNESCO 
To participate,
please contact us
We encourage you to nominate your exhibition, performance, lecture or special event to be part of the World Festival of Cultural Diversity.
© 2024 Khalili Foundation. Proudly supported by: Nocturnal Cloud.
