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World Press Freedom Day (3 May) pays homage to freedom of the press as an essential part of democratic, informed, and participatory societies. It calls for a reflection on its history, evaluation of the current state of press freedom around the world, and for remembrance of those journalists who have lost their lives providing access to information.
Libraries not only depend on human rights to deliver their services – they actively contribute to their realisation. The values of libraries and many aspects of their missions are interlinked with ensuring access to information and freedom of expression. Both of these fundamental freedoms are also aspects of cultural rights. For their many actions to enable participation in cultural life, libraries can be considered cultural rights defenders.
Every year, UNESCO invites the international community to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April. This day recognises books as a “link between the past and the future, a bridge between generations and across cultures” and calls for celebrations of the power and joy of books.
Qatar National Library held its second annual Libraries Lead Forum from 19-20 March 2023 in Doha, Qatar. This year’s forum explored how galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM institutions) carry out cultural diplomacy.
When any type of cultural property disappears, it is a great loss to humanity. However, around the world, cultural objects are at risk of illicit theft and trafficking. This is a complex issue, and working to counter these threats is not a task that one can take on alone. There is a need for collaboration between cultural institutions, like libraries and museums, and with law enforcement, customs organisations, and other stakeholders. IFLA is dedicated to helping protect the world’s cultural heritage, and we work with many partners to build capacity to counter the threat of trafficking.
Action at a local level has a key role to play in building an environment where reading and creativity is encouraged and supported, for all. The UNESCO World Book Capital Programme is there to highlight and celebrate great examples of cities and towns doing just this. Could yours be the next one? Nominations are open until 16 April 2023.
The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (UNESCO’s 2005 Convention) convened for their 16th session from 7-10 February in Paris, France.
UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day (3 May) acts as a reminder of the importance of respecting commitments to freedom of the press. It calls for reflection on how these freedoms were achieved, evaluation of the current state of press freedom around the world, and remembrance of those journalists who have lost their lives in pursuit of providing access to information.
The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (UNESCO’s 2005 Convention) will convene for their 16th session from 7-10 February in Paris, France.
The Culture 2030 Goal campaign, of which IFLA is a member, has urged UNESCO Member States to make good on their commitment to promote an explicit culture goal in future development frameworks, as made in the declaration from MONDIACULT 2022. The campaign's zero-draft for a culture goal provides an excellent starting point.
Global discourse on culture and cultural heritage in 2022 can be characterised by greater recognition of the powerful potential of culture to help solve great challenges, as well as calls for action to ensure its protection in the face of natural and human-caused disaster.
From 6-20 November 2022, 35,000 delegates from 190 countries, including more than 90 heads of state, came together in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference – COP27.
From 6-20 November 2022, 35,000 delegates from 190 countries, including more than 90 heads of state, came together in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference – COP27.
UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme celebrated its 30th anniversary from 27 October - 5 November 2022. This programme seeks to ensure that the documentary heritage of the world is preserved, protected, and accessible – for people now and in the future.
The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in October and November 2022 with the theme, Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies.
The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme is celebrating its 30th anniversary from 27 October – 5 November with the theme, Enlisting documentary heritage to promote inclusive, just and peaceful societies.
IFLA attended a meeting of the UNESCO World Book Capital Network in Wroclaw, Poland, on 22-23 September, bringing the perspective of the global library field as the participating cities formally signed the Network charter, and made plans for future actions.
Today, the Culture2030Goal campaign (also known as #Culture2030Goal) which unites a group of global cultural networks, launched a zero-draft of a potential development goal focused on culture.
IFLA is excited to bring the perspective of libraries to the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2022 with an official side event.