In her opening remarks Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director of UNESCO’s Tehran Cluster Office, expressed the hope that this would be the first in a series of short training workshops on different aspects of UNESCO’s mandate and work.
The workshop was facilitated by UNESCO’s regional cultural expert, Mr. Tim Curtis, who is based in the Regional Office in Bangkok.
Mr. Curtis provided an extensive overview of the six UNESCO Cultural Conventions related to the protection of heritage and fostering creativity. To date, I.R. Iran has signed five out of the six cultural conventions. Only the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions has not yet been signed.
At the end of the workshop, Ms. Kuisch Laroche discussed UNESCO’s global approach to Culture.
« To ensure that culture takes it rightful place in development strategies and processes, UNESCO has adopted a three-pronged approach: advocacy for culture and development; engaging with the international community to set clear policies and legal frameworks; and working on the ground to support governments and local stakeholders to safeguard heritage, strengthen creative industries and encourage cultural pluralism. »
She also provided a presentation of UNESCO’s cultural activities in Iran, which are centered on capacity-building, awareness-raising and events to promote a culture of peace.
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