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Asia-Pacific States prioritize culture for sustainable development at MONDIACULT 2025 consultation
The discussions centered around the six key themes laid out in the , namely cultural rights, culture and the digital transformation, the economy of culture, culture and climate action, culture and education, and culture, heritage and crises, along with two focus areas: culture for peace and the impact of artificial intelligence on culture.
We are working to build a future where diversity is not only respected, but cherished. Where our differences are not only tolerated, but celebrated. To achieve this, we need culture, creativity, and their power to open hearts and minds. Through its set of priorities, the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration provides a concrete roadmap to a world where everyone can freely exercise their cultural rights.
Building on the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration, participants reaffirmed the importance of rights-based cultural policies and recognized the essential role of culture in advancing social cohesion, economic growth, and environmental resilience. They also emphasized the importance of safeguarding cultural and linguistic diversity and supporting the socio-economic rights of cultural professionals. The integration of culture into education was prioritized, in both formal and informal settings, aligned with the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education (2024).
The consultation also examined the transformative potential of digital technologies, while addressing challenges such as bridging the digital divide, ensuring fair remuneration for artists, and balancing economic growth with respect for cultural rights. The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on culture was also raised, with delegates calling for guidelines to safeguard intellectual property and cultural diversity.
Participants stressed the positive contribution of culture for climate action, particularly in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the Pacific. They advocated for the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation strategies and disaster risk management. The impact of crises on culture and heritage was another central concern, with many emphasizing the need for policies that support the continuity of the work of artists and cultural professionals affected by crises.
In the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration of 2023, under India’s presidency, culture was unanimously endorsed as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development framework for the first time. We must strengthen our advocacy for culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 development agenda to catalyze efforts towards fully harnessing the economic and societal value of the cultural and creative sector for inclusive and sustainable development.
The consultation concluded with a commitment to championing culture as a stand-alone goal in the post-2030 agenda. Delegates agreed to work towards strengthened policy engagement, enhanced multilateral cooperation, and improved funding and cultural data frameworks, as well as for the recognition of culture’s multifaceted role in sustainable development.
Peace, culture, and development constitute an essential triangle that prevents conflicts. A primary goal of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development MONDIACULT 2025, hosted in Barcelona, is to advocate for culture as a standalone goal in the post-2030 development agenda.
World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development - MONDIACULT 2025 will be hosted by the Government of Spain in Barcelona from 29 September to 1 October 2025. This year’s edition will present an opportunity to assess progress achieved in implementing the key priority areas of the 2022 Declaration, as well as pave the way towards integrating culture in the post-2030 agenda.
