Thematic Workshop of the UNESCO Inter Agency Platform on Culture for Reduced Inequalities

‘Leave no one behind’ is the overarching motto of the 2030 Agenda, in a world marked by increasing disparities characterized by inequitable access to jobs, basic services, education, health, culture or the digital realm. These inequalities are conducive to increased fragmentation of the social fabric as well as disparities within and between societies – a situation further exacerbated by the current pandemic. Culture can be a driving force towards a more inclusive world, by creating job opportunities – including for the most vulnerable – notably through the creative economy and cultural tourism. It also contributes to greater societal wellbeing, through upholding cultural rights and benefits linked with decent work. Boosting Technical and 3 Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in relation to the cultural and creative sectors, including in non-formal education settings, is thus particularly important in fostering youth employment and entrepreneurship in the cultural sector. The cultural sector is also particularly strategic to foster gender equality and active engagement of youth, especially as more young people 15-29 are employed in the sector than any other fields of economic activity.

 
Areas of focus

i) Job creation; ii) Sustainable and inclusive digital transformation; iii) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for youth engagement and for employment; iv) Social security, working conditions, including fair remuneration, equitable access to labour market, intellectual property; v) Intercultural dialogue, social inclusion and social cohesion; vi) Data and evidence (notably related to the afore-mentioned areas).

Expected outcomes

• Strengthen policy engagement and research to support a more sustainable and inclusive digital transformation, with a view to foster social cohesion through equal access to culture, the protection of online cultural and linguistic diversity, including through increased digital cooperation to provide appropriate regulation of online platforms so as to ensure equitable access and cultural diversity in the digital environment ;
•  Build on the cultural and creative economy to stimulate access to labour markets, job creation and promote sustainable and inclusive growth patterns, which are more embedded in local economies and more conducive to social inclusion, notably to engage informal workers; as well as marginalized groups such as women, migrants, refugees, IDPs, young people, rural communities, indigenous peoples , 
•  Strengthen regulation and public support schemes to ensure social protection and fair remuneration (online and offline) of cultural professionals, providing an enabling environment to cultural employment through training, income and tax conditions, mobility and enhanced freedom of expression, including by reinforcing the cooperation between labour and cultural institutions
•  Develop innovative partnerships to collect data and document the socio- economic weight and contribution of the cultural sector, thus opening-up pathways for more inclusive and sustainable economic models;
•  Expand synergies between culture and education by bolstering policy schemes and investment in TVET, artistic education heritage education and expand quality education with a view to spark the most needed adaptation and innovation skills and promote respect for human rights, thus preparing learners to adapt to fast-evolving labour markets and work patterns including in non-formal education settings
•  Build synergies across different policy areas to promote cultural tourism as a driver for sustainable development, notably by fostering inclusive, socially responsible tourism patterns as well as local and environment-based approaches.

Visit Inter Agency Platform: https://en.unesco.org/news/ipcsd-culture-reduced-inequalities