Culture

According to the Mexico City Declaration on Cultural Policies (1982), UNESCO defines culture as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize societies. This definition encompasses heritage, the arts, traditions, beliefs, ways of life and human rights. From UNESCO’s perspective, culture is not only a source of identity and social cohesion, but also a foundation for human dignity, dialogue and sustainable development. UNESCO considers culture essential to building peaceful, resilient and inclusive societies, as well as a key driver of sustainable development in a rapidly changing world.

As the only United Nations agency with a mandate to address the links between culture and development, UNESCO works to safeguard heritage, promote creativity and support cultural diversity in the face of global challenges such as conflicts, climate change, inequality, technological transformations and economic instability. The Organization’s cultural mandate focuses on four main priorities: protecting culture in times of crisis; safeguarding cultural and natural heritage; adapting culture to contemporary challenges; and fostering inclusive, creative and sustainable societies.

Culture occupies a central place in UNESCO’s vision for the 2030 Agenda, given its contribution to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Through initiatives such as MONDIACULT 2025, UNESCO seeks to advance the objective of making culture a standalone goal in global development frameworks beyond 2030. MONDIACULT 2025 addressed six main priorities: cultural rights; digital technologies in the culture sector; culture and education; the cultural economy; culture and climate action; and culture, heritage and crisis. It also identified two areas of special focus: culture for peace, and artificial intelligence and culture.

Under the framework of the Fourth Medium-Term Strategy (2026–2029), the Culture Sector of UNESCO contributes to the achievement of the four strategic objectives set out in the Medium-Term Strategy (41 C/4) by mainstreaming culture into public policy; safeguarding tangible, intangible, underwater and natural heritage; strengthening creative industries and cultural economies; protecting culture in times of crisis; combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property; and promoting the rights and needs of Indigenous Peoples, youth, Africa and marginalized communities, as well as gender equality. The Sector also emphasizes the role of culture in education, climate action, digital transformation, and the ethical governance of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In addition, UNESCO supports Member States in implementing the six cultural conventions, three international recommendations in the field of culture, as well as the implementation and monitoring of the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education.