This capacity-building exercise focused on three themes associated with effective implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005):

• Integration of Cultural Diversity in Sustainable Development
• Approaches to Promoting the Vision of the 2005 Convention in Other International Forums
• Cultural Policies in the Digital Age

PRESENTATION OF THE U40 AMERICAS PROJECT

BACKGROUND:

The June 2009 U40 World Forum in Paris brought together 50 young specialists hailing from the five continents. The U40 Program provides young cultural experts who are less than 40 years old namely intermediate-career stage cultural policy experts, cultural practitioners, jurists as well as post-graduate students, doctoral candidates and other qualified practitioners, with an opportunity to participate in an international debate on cultural diversity and on the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.

The U40 process was originally launched by the German National Commission in 2007.

GOALS OF THE MONTREAL MEETING:

The U40 Americas initiative in Montreal has as its goal to launch a regional network of inter-disciplinary practitioners at an intermediate stage in their careers who can contribute to advancing the dialogue and work around the 2005 UNESCO Convention. U40 Fellows originally selected for the June 2009 gathering were joined by an expanded group of similarly-qualified young practitioners; together, they debated themes relating to the Convention’s application, and developed specific proposals tailored to the context of the Americas.

U40 Americas held in Montreal from May 19 to 21, 2010, and featured plenary conferences and workshops for U40 fellows and participants.

Concluding on May 21, U40 Americas was also an occasion to celebrate World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

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Download the proposals and conclusions of the U40 Americas group here: