As part of the Culturelink Guest Lecture Series, on the 13th of October 2025, at the Library of the Institute for Development and International Relations, Dr Lilian Richieri Hanania, UNESCO Expert, Associate Professor at Université Paris Cité, attorney and researcher in international law and cultural diversity issues, held a lecture entitled “Twenty Years of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions: From Negotiation to Implementation”. The moderator of the event was Dr Aleksandra Uzelac, Head of the Department of Culture and Communication, IRMO. By organising this lecture, Culturelink marked twenty years of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
In her lecture, Dr Hanania provided an in-depth analysis of the Convention’s evolution — from its origins in the early 2000s “trade and culture” debates to its implementation in today’s digital environment. Reflecting on two decades of the Convention’s influence, Dr Hanania discussed its impact on cultural policy-making, international cooperation, and sustainable development. She also addressed current challenges related to digital context, such as algorithmic bias, data protection, and discoverability of diverse cultural expressions online. Particular attention was given to recent initiatives, including UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines on the Implementation of the Convention in the Digital Environment and the work of the Reflection Group on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the Digital Environment.
The lecture was followed by a discussion with researchers and cultural policy professionals, highlighting the Convention’s continuing importance as a cornerstone of global cultural governance.
The presentation and related references from Dr Hanania’s lecture can be found on the webpage of the Culturelink Centre Repository.
