The Ministry of Culture (MinC) of Brazil and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently celebrated the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development in a meeting that reinforced the importance of respect for Brazil’s diversity, inclusion and strengthening of culture in the country.
“Culture is our greatest power, Brazil has a richness in its cultural diversity that should be a source of pride for all Brazilians and should reflect all this wonderful multiplicity that Brazil has”, said Marlova Noleto, Director and Representative of UNESCO.
World Day for Cultural Diversity was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations on May 21, 2002, following the approval by UNESCO of the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which recognizes the need to “increase the potential of culture as a means of achieving prosperity, sustainable development and world peaceful coexistence.”
“Brazil is a country that constantly reinvents itself in its cultural strength… This (cultural) diversity is essential, as it enriches our understanding of the world, promotes respect for difference and helps to guarantee the preservation of different cultural identities. However, it is important to recognize that cultural diversity can also be a source of conflict and discrimination and that we must work to promote inclusion and intercultural dialogue”, said Margareth Menezes, Minister of Culture in Brazil.
The event held by MinC and UNESCO reflects the importance of cultural diversity in the management of Brazilian public policies to give effect to the cultural rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Furthermore, it reinforces the partnership between the Ministry and the Organization.
Source: Unesco