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Cultural diversityCultural diversity is the name given to the idea that all peoples should be able to develop in an international environment conducive to the expression of different cultures and ongoing dialogue. As a principle, cultural diversity underlies a modern view of the world based on respect for plurality. The Québec government was one of the first to officially declare its support for an international text on cultural diversity that would recognize the right of states and governments to support culture. Working with civil society and the cultural community, the government targeted its actions to ensure recognition of that right. Both within Québec and on the international stage, the Québec government has stressed the importance of promoting and preserving cultural diversity in the world. More specifically, it helped launch the Coalition pour la diversité culturelle (cultural diversity coalition) in Québec, an alliance of stakeholders in the field of culture that has now been extended to the rest of Canada and whose actions target the international stage. The Québec government has defended the cause of cultural diversity in international forums such as L'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, UNESCO and the International Network on Cultural Policy. On 10 November 2005, Québec became the first government in the world to approve the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. On 18 December 2006, the Convention passed the critical threshold of ratification by 30 States, and came into force on 18 March 2007, a milestone in the process leading to the international recognition of the right of states and governments to freely apply cultural policies. Québec intends to become even more active in this area. Through its new representative at UNESCO, it will contribute in various ways to the implementation of all the components of the Convention, from cooperation in the field of culture and promotion of the objectives of the Convention in other international forums to exchanges of information on cultural policies. For more information…
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