Measures to promote cultural expressions

Abstract

Article 7 is to be considered as one of the core provisions of the Convention. It is part of those rules of the Convention which establish an international legal framework for Parties’ cultural policies. Its provisions must be read with special regard to Article 6. While Article 6 is a specification of the Parties’ sovereign right to undertake measures on cultural policy with regard to the promotion and protection of cultural diversity in their territory at large, Article 7 focuses on the specific measures to be taken by the Parties to advance and stimulate the creation of cultural expressions, as well as to facilitate access to cultural expressions. The provision makes clear that the promotion of cultural diversity is not only to be considered as a guiding principle of Parties’ domestic cultural policy, but that it also contains a substantive obligation of the Parties to engage in the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in their territory.