Fourth Civil Society Forum

Last update:2 February 2024

General information

Event date: 05/06/2023 - 10:00 to 17:30 (UTC + 2 hours)

Location: UNESCO - Rooms VI and IX, 7, Place Fontenoy, Paris, 75007, France

Background note on the 4th edition of the Civil Society Forum

The Civil Society Forum is a biennial event, held prior to each session of the Conference of Parties, which provides an interactive framework of exchange and dialogue among civil society actors in the areas covered by the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The Forum's main objectives are to:

  • To provide a space for civil society organisations and professionals interested and/or operating in the fields covered by the 2005 Convention to exchange on challenges and solutions relevant for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions;
  • To enable civil society representatives to formulate joint recommendations to inform the work of the governing bodies of the Convention;
  • To raise awareness on the objectives of the Convention and encourage its implementation among a larger community of civil society representatives.

The 4th edition of the Civil Society Forum was held on 5 June 2023 in hybrid format, online and in presential at UNESCO Headquarters. The participants of the Forum are civil society organization representatives who have requested to participate in the meetings of the governing bodies of the 2005 Convention.

The programme of the Forum is as follows:

10h-11h

  • Opening session in plenary (Room IX)
  • Keynote speakers introducing the themes of the Forum
  • [With interpretation]

11h-13h

  • Workshop 1 (Room IX)

    • Recognising culture as a global public good: implications for sustainable development and cultural rights
    • [Main thematic workshop with interpretation]

  • Workshop 2 (Room VI)

    • Diversity of cultural expressions in the digital environment: challenges and opportunities
    • [Parallel thematic workshop without interpretation]

13h-14h30

  • Break

14h30-16h30

  • Workshop 3 (Room IX)
    • Cultural governance, public policies and commitments to the 2005 Convention
    • [Main thematic workshop with interpretation]

16h30-17h30

  • Plenary session (Room IX)
    • Recommendations from the 3 workshops
    • [With interpretation]

Note: Live interpretation in English, French, and Spanish is provided for all sessions, with the exception of the thematic workshop on digital environment (Workshop 2).

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