We recognize the new impetus given to the role of culture for sustainable development, peace and stability, as a driver of resilience, social inclusion and cohesion, environmental protection and sustainable and inclusive growth, and a promoter of people-centred and context-specific development, which lays the foundation for multicultural human societies. Integrating culture and its associated rights into development strategies is fundamental to the localisation of the 2030 Agenda and progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustainable development cannot be achieved without integrating full respect for human rights, and thus cultural rights. Cultural rights protect the rights of all people to develop and express their humanity, their worldview and the meaning they give to their existence and their development through, inter alia, values, beliefs, convictions, languages, knowledge and arts, institutions and ways of life. They also protect access to cultural heritage and to the resources that enable these processes of identification and development to take place.

Art is key to forming generations capable of reinventing the world they have inherited. It reinforces the vitality of cultural identities and promotes relationships with other communities, thus contributing to the construction of a common heritage. It helps to form tolerant and dynamic citizens in our globalised world.  We promote the GizARTE network, which brings together educators, creators and cultural managers linked to artistic and cultural education programmes and activities for social transformation.