IFCCD Maintains Strong International Presence
The International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity has maintained a strong presence on the international stage in recent months through the activities of its President and Secretary General.
First, Mr. Ouedraogo took part in a workshop on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and Sustainable Development put on within the framework of the summer session of the Center of Research and Information for Development in Nantes, France. This workshop, which took place July 4, 2008, and drew some 60 participants, was led by Mr. Ouedraogo, along with Diego Gradis, Vice Chair of the Swiss Coalition, and Claude Michel, Treasurer of the French Coalition.
Mr. Ouedraogo then headed to Paris in late August to deliver a presentation for a panel discussion on cultural diversity held as part of the summer session of MEDEF (Mouvement des entreprises de France). This forum served as an ideal opportunity to raise awareness about the IFCCD and importance of the UNESCO Convention among French, European and African decision makers.
In mid-October, Mr. Ouedraogo travelled to Algiers to attend the meeting of Ministers of Culture from the African Union (AU). On the occasion of this mission, he launched the process to have the IFCCD officially recognized as a partner of the AU and met with numerous African ministers of culture to impress upon them the importance of ratifying, and especially of implementing, the UNESCO Convention. The IFCCD President stressed, among other things, the need for these ministers to promptly commit to implementing and strengthening cultural policies within their respective countries.
Jim McKee, General Secretary of the IFCCD, conducted a mission to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in mid-September. While in New Zealand and Australia, Mr. McKee met with a large number of representatives from member organizations of both national coalitions to discuss the international campaign for the UNESCO Convention as well as strategies for ensuring the instrument’s effective implementation at the national level. In Australia, the General Secretary was joined by Ray Argall, representative of the Australian Coalition and President of the Australian Directors Guild, for a meeting with Australian Minister of Culture Peter Garrett. On the basis of that meeting, we remain hopeful that Australia will ratify the Convention within the coming months.
While in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jim McKee delivered a presentation to delegates of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) Congress. About two weeks later, on a similar mission to Marrakesh, Morocco, he spoke to members of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), who were also gathered for a world congress (see article below).
Lastly, Jean-Luc Pilon, the Canadian Coalition’s Manager of Operations and International Affairs, carried out a number of missions to English-speaking Africa and Asia. While in Tanzania and Zambia, he was able to strengthen ties forged with local professional organizations during the First Meeting of Coalitions and Professional Cultural Organizations from Commonwealth African Countries held in Johannesburg in September 2007. These meetings also enabled dialogue on the strategies that should be put in place to secure speedy ratification of the Convention by these countries.
Mr. Pilon also met with representatives of professional cultural organizations in the Philippines to speak with them about the coalitions movement and the Convention ratification and implementation campaign. This first mission to the country made it possible to establish initial contact with organizations in the field and to lay the groundwork for future cooperation.
