This message was sent to the signatories of the Declaration

Last round of negotiations on the UN post-2015 development agenda launched in NYC on January 19, 2015

Endorsement to Declaration reaches 2,200 signatories from 120 countries, including more than 800 organizations

• UN Secretary General synthesis report ”“The Road to Dignity by 2030“, released on Dec. 4 as a lead up the final round of negotiations on the post-2015 Development Agenda. It recognizes the enabling role of culture:

“We must also mobilize the power of culture in the transformative change we seek. Our world is a remarkable mosaic of diverse cultures, informing our evolving understanding of sustainable development. We still have much to learn from cultures as we build the world we want. If we are to succ governments. It must be embraced by people. Culture, in differenteed, the new agenda cannot remain the exclusive domain of institutions and aspects, will thus be an important force in supporting the new agenda.” (Para. 132)

• Global networks leading the campaign “The Future We Want Includes Culture” have responded to the report by calling for the outcome document to more fully embrace the transformative potential of culture. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has issued its own response with emphasis on access to information.
• Consultations with UN member states in preparation for the final round of negotiations indicate reluctance to reopen the outcome document of the Open Working Group containing 17 goals and 169 targets, if only to streamline it although there is no consensus on this.
• Focus is likely to shift to targets and indicators, with an emphasis on measuring tangible results and accountability. UNSG synthesis report calls for indicators to include other measures than GDP.
• ·      Global cultural networks have just issued their proposal of indicators “Recognizing the role of culture to strengthen the UN post-2015 Development Agenda”. They argue for taking into account the great strides accomplished by multilateral organizations such as the OECD, UIS, UNESCO, WIPO, UNCTAD and the World Bank in meeting the challenge of universal comparative data for culture.

Other news:

• The Third UNESCO World Forum and Cultural Industries adopted the Florence Declaration outlining recommendations for the incorporation of culture in the post-2015 development agenda. United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) members are to adopt a new Agenda 21 for Culture (see second draft) at their Summit of Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain) on 18-20 March 2015.
• The Red Latinoamericana de Arte y Transformación Social (Latin American network for the art and social transformation), with members in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and central America, joins the other global networks in the campaign “The Future We Want Includes Culture”.

What you can do:

• Read the proposal on cultural indicators and send us examples of cultural initiatives that have made a positive contribution to development with their indicators and measures of results to help us put forward a platform of universal reach and appeal to UN member states. The best examples received will be annexed to the proposal. Please be succinct and concrete. Write us at info@culture2015goal.net Forward the proposal on cultural indicators to your country’s permanent representative to the UN and to the persons in charge of defining your country’s position (Foreign Affairs / International Cooperation).
• Use the communications tools to ask organizations and individuals that have not yet endorsed the Declaration to do so.
• Share the Declaration in French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese and Russian.
• Follow #culture2015goal on Twitter