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Gender Equality at the Heart of Cultural Policies
Women hold 31% of arts executive roles, manage 25% of World Heritage sites, and represent 30% of the gaming industry workforce. Moreover, women with a public online presence face coordinated campaigns against them generating threats and violence, driving many to withdraw from digital spaces.
At MONDIACULT 2022 in Mexico, Ministers of Culture called for stronger policies to close gender gaps. As they reconvene in Barcelona in September 2025, UNESCO hosted the "Art for ALL at the Heart of Tomorrow’s Cultural Policies" consultation on International Women’s Day, bringing together Ministers of Culture, artists, and experts to define priorities for promoting women in the cultural and creative sectors.
Today, we honor the women driving culture—artists, filmmakers, musicians, architects, and more. Through their work, they preserve heritage and inspire future generations.
The global forum opened with the powerful voice of Rossy de Palma, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, who shared how her journey and the work of women artists worldwide reshape narratives and foster diversity of culture.
I decided, instinctively, to shake things up and break free from others' gaze. Instead, I embraced the unknown, exploring exciting new paths.
Shaping a Global Agenda for Culture
A high-level ministerial panel discussed how a stand-alone goal for culture could take shape in the post-2030 agenda, with gender equality at its core.
We must go further. Cultural policies that do not actively empower women and girls risk reinforcing existing inequalities and limiting the transformative power of culture itself
With this aim in mind, innovative policies and measures implemented to promote the full participation of women whether in tangible and living heritage or creative industries in Croatia, Mongolia and Kenya were shared.
Women are key to preserving our nomadic culture, yet the survey showed they were mostly in service roles, not leadership positions. This insight led us to create mechanisms to empower them.
Governments face the challenge of ensuring AI promotes inclusion rather than reinforcing discrimination. While digital tools democratize culture, AI often perpetuates gender stereotypes. There is also concern about fair remuneration and recognition for artists, particularly women.
The real challenge for governments is not just preserving human creativity, but ensuring artists, with special attention on women creators, can still live from their work in an AI-driven world.
AI and digital technologies are vital tools for safeguarding Kenya’s cultural heritage and empowering women artists by offering them new platforms in global markets.
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Cultural Policies and Measures
Experts scanned the horizon to tackle unresolved issues and newer challenges, proposing recommendations for the next generation of cultural policies on the road to MONDIACULT 2025.
From Bogotá’s initiative guiding men to rethink masculinity, to Malmö’s efforts to open doors for young girls in music, cities worldwide are rewriting cultural narratives and creating inclusive spaces.
Creating an inclusive cultural landscape for women requires a holistic approach in policies that includes ongoing mentorship, sustained funding, and targeted measures.
We need to ensure that support for women in culture extends beyond entry into the field, continuing throughout their careers with the resources and opportunities for long-term success.
Strengthening gender-disaggregated data collection is crucial to connecting women's needs with cultural policy and measuring progress.
Data proves that women tend to earn less and are often in less powerful positions. They are seen in front of the camera, while men dominate the director and producer roles.
The Role of Culture in Emergencies
In times of crisis, culture plays a vital role in preserving identity, fostering resilience, and serving as a platform for dialogue. Women artists and cultural professionals contribute significantly to this effort, not only as creators but also as documentarians of history and agents of change.
Amid war, amid conflict, amid violence, women are creating art. It is a cure. It is healing. And it is a way to document history.
Women’s creativity in conflict zones underscores the unique burdens placed on them. Artistic creation in such environments is not just expression but an act of resistance against erasure.
I was forced into exile for capturing the strength and beauty of Afghan women: forced to flee my home, just as countless Afghan women have.
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Promoting Ukrainian music means giving voice to a nation under attack. Music carries the soul of our people; it is both a form of resistance and a source of strength.
Women in the cultural sector during emergencies face a double burden—dealing with the challenges of war and displacement while confronting gender-based violence and structural inequalities.
Even if you survive a war, the scars remain. There is a psychological toll, depression, fatigue, burnout, that leads to the marginalization of women artists. It makes their voices tremble, their breathing shallow. And yet, they continue.
Global solidarity is key to supporting exiled women artists through funding, residencies, legal protections, mentorship, and safer digital platforms. Strong support networks at all levels are essential, along with gender sensitivity and trauma training for organizations to better support women artists.
Although more women artists are under threat, only 30% of those who apply for protection are women. And yet, when cities open their doors, more than 50% of those hosted are women. This suggests that when given a choice, communities prioritize protecting women artists.
Call to Real Action
As MONDIACULT 2025 approaches, the focus is on translating commitments and recommendations into tangible actions, particularly in advancing women’s full participation and recognition in cultural life. When women’s creativity is allowed to flourish, society thrives.
As the renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reminds us: 'Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.
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To make gender equality a reality in cultural spaces, there needs to be measurable indicators, the right technologies, and dedicated financial support.
Live illustrations
During the event, illustrator Victoria Grenier, a member of Cartooning for Peace, captured the key ideas of each panelist’s discussion through her illustrations.
