La Convención sobre la Protección y Promoción de la Diversidad de las Expresiones Culturales

The liberalization of trade and the widespread use of information and communications technologies have tended to standardize cultures, while some argue that countries are obliged to renounce the right to protect their cultural expressions due to the commitments they have undertaken as part of trade agreements. According to the author, these pressures on cultural diversity led to a heated international debate that finally gave rise to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, approved by the 33rd UNESCO General Conference, held in Paris in October 2005. Miranda Ortiz provides an introduction to UNESCO’s initiatives over the 60 years the organization has existed, during which time its main objective has been to “guarantee Member States the independence, integrity and rich diversity of their cultures”. The culmination of these efforts is reflected in the approval of the aforementioned Convention, from which a new international law that protects cultural heritage has emerged, one that guarantees each State the right to draw up policies to strengthen their individual cultural sectors. Miranda Ortiz goes on to describe Mexico’s interest and active participation in negotiations on the Convention, which was conducted with the necessary precautions and prudence to safeguard the country’s cultural and economic interests within the context of this instrument.