International organizations: UNESCO announces 2010 - International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures

The year 2010 will be celebrated as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. The goal of the International Year consists in making the rapprochement of cultures the hallmark of all policy-making at local, national, regional and international levels, involving the greatest number of relevant stakeholders

Entrusted with the mandate to contribute to build "the defences of peace in the minds of men" thanks to international cooperation in the fields of its competence, namely through education, sciences, culture and communication, UNESCO is designated to play a leading role for the celebration of the Year within the United Nations system. In fact, over the years and indeed in the past decade, the Organization has gained special experience and has won recognition through its efforts to demonstrate the beneficial effects of cultural diversity highlighting the importance of borrowings, transfers and exchanges between cultures.

In this framework and with a view to drawing up a draft action plan for Year 2010, the Director-General consulted Member States, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations maintaining relations with the UNESCO and other relevant partners to gather their comments and proposals. A significant number of specific activities are already being considered by Member States and by various partners.  An open-ended List of activities and the new proposals to be submitted throughout the Year will be available on the special web page of UNESCO dedicated to the Year.