– As delivered –
Remarks by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
26 May 2021
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to participate in the 2021 Africa Dialogue Series and celebrate the enormous impact Africa has on global culture.
Africa, the cradle of humanity, is universally recognized for its rich cultural diversity. I welcome the African Union’s recognition of the role that arts, culture and heritage can play in catalyzing socio-economic development and integration of the African continent.
The societal impact of culture cannot be overstated. Culture shapes our identities, both individual and collective. It gives meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging. It weaves the social fabric for communities and is imperative for social cohesion.
Culture is a key driver of sustainable development. It has a unique ability to shift human behavior. The culture around climate change has changed the global approach within a generation. In addition, the cultural and creative industries provide opportunities for fulfilling work, poverty reduction, and gender equality.
It is no exaggeration to say that protecting and strengthening the identity of peoples, their cultures and their diversity, is a crucial tool in our efforts to address global challenges. That must include collaboration with indigenous people, who have a rich cultural diversity and can meaningfully contribute to informed policy making.
Currently, culture’s contribution to the achievement of the SDGs is underestimated, in part because of a lack of robust data. A renewed focus on promoting the development of creative and cultural industries globally can unlock culture’s transformative potential to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Culture has received insufficient attention as an intrinsic component of sustainable development and must be translated and embedded in national and local development strategies. This is a strategic opportunity to realize the aspiration and goals of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda which we cannot afford to miss.
The COVID-19 pandemic has set back our achievement of the 2030 Agenda. In Africa it has pushed up to 40 million people into extreme poverty. And it has affected the most vulnerable the most as they lack access to social safety nets and income opportunities.
The resulting collapse in economic activity has dried up revenue for public expenditure, precisely at a time when more spending is needed to combat the pandemic and its impacts. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the region will need an additional 345 billion US Dollars through to 2023.
2021, the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, is an inflection point. African culture must be included in COVID-19 recovery plans on the continent. Culture can act as a transformative pathway to advance creative solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges.
The creative economy’s potential is enormous. It can diversify countries’ production and exports and support sustainable development.
Throughout the pandemic, when so many of us were stuck at home, the critical contribution of culture to our collective well-being was impossible to ignore. In this spirit, I call on African governments to engage artists and cultural professionals, not only as service providers, but as change makers and contributors. We need to build more strategic partnerships and capitalize on the knowledge and skills of this broad, dynamic and diverse group. Our people are our best resources.
Last week, in recognition of the impact of culture, I convened a High-level event on culture and sustainable development in the General Assembly, under the theme of “Building back better: towards a more resilient and impactful culture sector, throughout COVID-19 and the Decade of Action”. During this meeting, Member States showcased best practices to leverage cultural and creative industries in recovery plans, in order to support the delivery of the SDGs
In Africa, with the largest proportion of youth globally, investing in human capital and harnessing the demographic dividend are key to unleashing cultural and heritage potential. I am a firm believer in the power of young people to forge pathways for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.
Excellencies,
In Africa, with the largest proportion of youth globally, investing in human capital and harnessing the demographic dividend are key to unleashing cultural and heritage potential. I am a firm believer in the power of young people to forge pathways for a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future. Youth are currently driving the Fourth industrial revolution and are at the centre of the digital and energy divide. They hold the key to drive the development trajectory towards the Africa We Want so we leave no one behind.
Excellencies,
The pandemic has also highlighted the importance an effective multilateral system that meets the needs of populations and can facilitate cooperation on issues that affect the future of our common humanity.
If our efforts are effective, post-pandemic, our economies and cultural heritage will thrive.
Thank you.
