The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is an international legal instrument adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 20 October 2005, during the work of the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, ratified by Italy on 2 February 2007. The Convention complements previous cultural provisions established by UNESCO including the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of 2001.
The Convention intends to consolidate the link between the process of creation, production, distribution, diffusion, access and use of cultural expressions conveyed by cultural activities, properties and services; it supplements the legal instruments already used by UNESCO to promote diversity and a global environment in which the creativity of individuals and peoples is encouraged in their rich diversity, thus contributing to their economic development and the promotion and protection of world cultural diversity.
The aims of the Convention intend to strengthen culture as a bridge to sustainable social, economic and human development by encouraging creativity, cultural industries, cultural heritage in all its forms, social cohesion and mutual understanding between peoples and cultures thus creating new opportunities for international cooperation.