CULTURE
Cultural Diversity Lens
Culture is a determining factor for the relevance, failure and success of development interventions. Efficient programming needs to take into account that cultural diversity is not only a reality, but also an engine for development and part of an international commitment.
In order to ensure that cultural diversity is taken into account at all stages of programme implementation and policy making, UNESCO is developing a cultural diversity programming lens. Together with partner agencies and organizations, UNESCO will use the lens to identify gaps and shortcomings of interventions and develop appropriate indicators for the promotion of cultural diversity.
The safeguarding of cultural diversity is an enduring and central theme of the United Nations system in general and, more particularly of UNESCO, which is entrusted with the mandate to ensure the preservation and "promotion of the fruitful diversity of cultures" by virtue of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.
Because "cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature", UNESCO stands firm in safeguarding and promoting cultural diversity as one of its principal objectives in the Asia-Pacific Region.
To translate these objectives into a reality at both national and international levels, UNESCO has developed practical tools and methodologies.
In particular, UNESCO Bangkok formulated a framework or mechanism, called "cultural diversity programming lens". This lens, aims to foster cultural diversity and mainstream its principles into programming at a more concrete level. Generally speaking, the cultural diversity lens is an interdisciplinary tool to systematically analyze and evaluate whether programmes, policies and practices do in fact incorporate and promote the principles enshrined in the adopted Declarations and Conventions.
To learn more about cultural diversity and the lens, click on the following links:
UNESCO and Cultural Diversity
The Cultural Diversity Programming Lens: what is it?
Cultural Diversity in 9 topics
Using the Cultural Diversity Programming Lens
Developing customized lens
News and Events
October 2008: Vietnam’s One UN team support cultural diversity
Following introduction workshops conducted in September 2008, and on-going advocacy efforts from UNESCO Hanoi office, the One UN team approved cultural diversity mainstreaming, along with human rights and gender mainstreaming, to support the development of the One UN Plan.