PH Participates in Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; Assumes Seat in the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention
PARIS 30 June 2025 — The Philippines marked its first participation in the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (“2005 Convention”), which was held at the UNESCO Headquarters from 18 to 20 June 2025.
The Conference of Parties was chaired by Mr. Mohammed Saleh Ahmed Jumeh, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Yemen to UNESCO. He was supported in his work by four Vice-Chairs: Austria, Armenia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Madagascar. The Philippines’ Ms. Marge Malang served as the Conference’s Rapporteur. The Bureau will continue its work until the 11th Session of the Conference of Parties in 2027.
The Conference of Parties welcomed the new States Parties to the 2005 Convention: Philippines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Zambia; reviewed 110 quadrennial periodic reports; examined the work of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD); approved the implementation plan on the issue of diversity of cultural expressions in the digital environment and; requested further reflection on the drafting of an additional protocol regarding the issue of preferential treatment for developing states.
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Deputy Executive Director Mr. Bernan Joseph Corpuz, in his intervention, noted that the Philippines is proud to sit among esteemed colleagues who advocate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions and who value equal dignity and respect for all cultures.
Mr. Corpuz also underscored that the Philippines looks forward to forging collaborative arrangements and benefiting from preferential support for developing countries that will enhance the access for creative and cultural sectors in the Philippines to both domestic and foreign markets. He also shared how the 2005 Convention aligns with existing Philippine cultural laws such as the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 which encompasses the protection, conservation, and promotion of intangible cultural heritage; and the Cultural Mapping Law, which mandates local government units to conduct a comprehensive cultural mapping for both tangible and intangible, and natural and built heritage; and supplements the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act aimed to create a nurturing environment for our creative culture to flourish.
Before the conclusion of the Conference of Parties, it was announced that the Philippines and Viet Nam are elected members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the 2005 Convention for the Asia Pacific group. The main work of the Committee is to examine project proposals to be funded by the IFCD and to monitor states parties’ implementation of the 2005 Convention. END
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