CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The
Federations and UNESCO Clubs gathered in Limassol, Cyprus, on the occasion
of the 6th Congress of WFUCA, held from 5th to 10th September 2003,
are very pleased about the adoption by the 31st session of the General
Conference of the “UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity”
and pledge get involved to continue in the field, increasing concrete
and innovative activities, particularly those following below, which
is aimed at putting in place a real dialogue between cultures and civilizations:
1.
Bringing on a local level a concrete help to the different minority
cultural communities in order for their rights to be respected, particularly
in the field of native language teaching, essential to any school programme.
2.
Encouraging the development of intercultural libraries in order to facilitate,
by reading and new media, access to representative works from different
cultures, continuing the efforts undertaken by the network of associated
libraries to UNESCO, particularly through the programme “Read
to build peace”.
3.
Continuing and reinforcing at any level, particularly at the local level,
the undertaken efforts for a better knowledge and a better protection
of material and intangible cultural heritage, in close link with the
UNESCO programmes.
4.
Multiplying
at any level, but particularly within school and associations, exchanges
between communities, beginning on a local level. One of the methods
to encourage these relations can be putting in place a network of correspondents
through new technologies of communication or through the traditional
means too.
5.
Celebrating
at a local level the international days recommended by UNESCO, particularly
those on Human Rights (10th December), Women (8th March), Fight against
all kinds of Discrimination (21st March), Cultural Diversity (21st May),
Environment (5th June), Literacy (8th September), Peace (21st September)
6.
Encouraging
training for adults, particularly for teachers, preparing for them a
pedagogical handbook in order for them to be aware of the richness of
cultural diversity through examples coming from the activities of the
different Clubs in the world
7.
Increasing
media awareness, particularly towards professionals on information,
associating them, at a local level, to the campaigns diffusing the ideals
of UNESCO relative to the cultural diversity.
8.
Obtaining the support of local Authorities in order for the cultural
rights, particularly those of minorities, to be recognized.
9.
Encouraging
cultural exchanges / sharing between North and South countries and between
South countries, in order to make more concrete the concept of cultural
diversity, organizing, between others, regional or sub regional seminars.
10.
Analysing
and including the concept of cultural diversity into the programmes,
from early childhood, to create an awareness in children from an early
age, so that they can begin to appreciate the value of this concept
and be better able to develop in their minds, tolerance and dialogue.
11.
Promoting activities between young and elder people, with a view to
spreading the concept of cultural diversity and increasing their attitude
of tolerance and dialogue.
12.
Helping, in countries where there is no cultural diversity policy, the
associations to enlighten the concept of cultural diversity.
13.
Encouraging digital creativity stimulating cultural dialogue through
the programme “Crossroads – Carrefours” of WFUCA and
the programme of UNESCO.
14.
Launching a WFUCA price “Best Practice Award”, offered by
the Honorary members, or some Advisers to WFUCA, to a Federation or
to a local UNESCO Club, Centre or Association, in order to reward an
exemplary activity on the topic: “UNESCO Clubs: a bridge for cultural
diversity”.
15.
In
order for the most efficient implementation of this Resolution, a “Committee
for the Promotion of Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue”
will be set up within WFUCA, as a co-ordination and supporting organ
in this field of priority action of WFUCA for the 4 in coming years.
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