Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman will join nations worldwide tomorrow in celebrating the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, observed annually on 21 May.
The occasion aims to highlight the richness of global cultures and emphasize the vital role of intercultural dialogue in fostering peace and sustainable development.
Marking the event, the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, in collaboration with the working team of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) in Oman and the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), will organize a workshop on May 27-28.
The session will focus on mechanisms for preparing cultural projects to secure support from the IFCD.
Cultural diversity, as defined by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005), refers to "the manifold ways in which the cultures of groups and societies find expression, passed on within and among groups and communities."
Oman joined the convention in 2007, which seeks to promote diverse forms of cultural expression, create conditions for cultures to flourish and interact, encourage intercultural dialogue, strengthen cultural exchange among peoples, and foster respect for cultural diversity at local and global levels.
In this context, Oman formed a working team for the IFCD, comprising members from various cultural institutions. The team is tasked with identifying and analyzing cultural diversity initiatives, establishing a unified framework for related projects and programs, reviewing and approving proposals for IFCD funding, and preparing reports on the implementation of the UNESCO convention.
This year’s celebration coincides with UNESCO’s commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the convention’s adoption in 2005. The event seeks to raise awareness of the convention’s key achievements and engage policymakers in addressing challenges and opportunities to safeguard and promote cultural diversity.
