Promoting reciprocal knowledge of the diversity of cultures.

Among the past achievements of UNESCO is the elaboration of regional histories and of a world history on the scientific and cultural development of humankind aimed at overcoming prejudices and ignorance. It is appropriate now to use the contents of these histories to reach out to the public at large through various abridged versions, translated in as many languages as possible, including local languages, and by informing with these contents the publication of new history textbooks, school curricula and media production. A set of new initiatives is to be undertaken to that end, both through regular budget and extra-budgetary funding. Bilateral, and multilateral academic cooperation for the revision of textbooks and the elaboration of new regional or sub-regional histories should also be energetically promoted, in order to get rid of hidden prejudices and facilitate the revisiting of official histories.

Since its inception, UNESCO has protected linguistic diversity, notably by promoting multilingualism as a bridge between cultures and civilizations and supporting a database on all translations published in the world and the translation and publication of major literary and philosophical masterpieces. It now maintains the Index Translationum, an online clearing house and monitoring tool which collects literary translations from and into lesser-used languages all over the world. UNESCO is also engaged in promoting public awareness and building local capacity for the promotion of language policies; it counsels Member States on measures to safeguard endangered languages, and to elaborate appropriate language policies (from education to culture, from administration to media and sciences), exploring the economic and social benefits of linguistic diversity as a stimulus for sustainable development. Through its Creative Content Programme, it supports creativity and innovation in lesser-used languages production in radio, television and the new media. The B@bel Initiative promotes universal access to multilingual information in cyberspace; formulating guiding principles; disseminating best practices; and developing online multilingual tools. 

UNESCO has always emphasized the importance of cultural heritage as a common good of humankind, which deserves to be preserved for future generations. Although culture is increasingly a prime conflict target, especially in intra-State conflicts, UNESCO coordinated complex operations to safeguard heritage damaged or threatened by conflicts, always emphasizing that it can become a rallying point for former adversaries, enabling them to rebuild ties and to redesign a common identity and future together. Successful illustrations of this objective, which tends to identify cultural heritage as a place of reconciliation, can be found in action carried out by UNESCO in South-East Europe, including in the dialogue Summits which have been held in different countries in the region every year since 2003 and which have resulted in important declarations and joint commitments by the Heads of State, the Caucasus region, the Middle East (including Jerusalem and Iraq), Cambodia and Afghanistan, and North and South Korea. Likewise, UNESCO highlights the importance of a shared heritage, which does not contradict plural identities, in the context of the Slave Route initiative.

Interreligious dialogue forms part of intercultural dialogue: its aim is to promote dialogue between individuals and leaders of different religions, faiths and convictions, with a view to increasing mutual knowledge about spiritual traditions and their underlying values and to support the objective of a secular agenda, thus enhancing the understanding among the wider cultural communities. In recent years, UNESCO has brought together eminent religious figures from the monotheistic faiths and from different spiritual and humanistic traditions, in thematic meetings, in order to analyse the complex issues of interfaith dialogue. The objective now is to raise awareness among educators and civil society representatives about the role and value of interreligious dialogue; to build a network of UNESCO Chairs in the field of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and to produce and disseminate pertinent guidelines and publications in view of mainstreaming their main principles into local, national and regional policies.