The Second Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and High Level Authorities took place in Mexico City on August 23-24, 2004. Its main purpose was to discuss how culture can contribute to economic development and growth in the Americas. Specifically, it looked at three topics: (1) culture as an engine for economic growth, employment, and development; (2) challenges faced by cultural and creative industries; (3) culture as a tool for social cohesion and the fight against poverty. The two principal documents approved at this meeting were the Declaration of Mexico and the Plan of Action of Mexico.

Civil society organizations had convened a month earlier in Santiago, Chile to discuss ways they could contribute to the discussions at the meeting. Their recommendations were compiled into a report titled “Civil Society’s Perspectives,” using the three basic topics of the meeting as a guide. Regarding the first topic, civil society recommended the protection of the cultural sector in international trade treaties. In addition, they called for support of distribution of cultural goods and services throughout the Americas, while also combating piracy of the production of cultural goods. Also related to this first topic was the idea of assuring cultural richness and diversity through education programs; keeping in mind the contributions of indigenous peoples. With respect to the second topic, civil society advised governments to avoid commitments in trade agreements which jeopardize the ability of states to establish independent cultural policies. Also important is the development of policies and provision of funds to help micro, small, and medium-sized business in the cultural sector. Regarding the third topic, civil society urged for the creation of mechanisms which support the production and dissemination of cultural goods and services, and pushed for exemptions of these products in foreign trade agreements.

For the English version of the complete report, please click Here

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The 34 countries of the OAS celebrated on July 12-13, 2002, in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, the First Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High Authorities of Culture, where the Declaration and Plan of Action of Cartagena de Indias was adopted, placing this sector as the motor of cultural development. The meeting was inaugurated by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), César Gaviria, and by the President of Colombia, Andrés Pastrana.

The main themes of this meeting focused on the relationship between culture and development and on the challenges that cultural diversity presents. In this context, those responsible for culture proposed a series of goals aimed at increasing the number of Americans who have opportunities to develop their creativity in conditions of equality, liberty and dignity, and who have access to the goods and cultural services in an atmosphere of diversity. The Cartagena Plan of Action also included a feasibility study on the establishment, within the framework of the Inter-American Committee on Culture, of an Inter-American Cultural Policy Observatory.

In this meeting, the Ministers of Culture of the Americas created the Inter-American Commission of Culture, which will promote combined cultural politics for the region. At the meeting, high officials subscribed to the Cartagena de Indias Declaration, which includes the agreements reached and gives life to the Commission, which will "work to ensure a better understanding of the different focus of culture and political culture within the States".

In the framework of this meeting, approximately 20 representatives from civil society and four Ministers of Culture discussed the Plan of Action of Cartagena, especially the sections on cultural diversity and culture and equity. They also defined collaboration strategies in the formulation of politics for the sector. Finally, they agreed to collaborate on developing the idea of the Inter-American Cultural Policy Observatory.

In this meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat for the Summit Process, Mr. Jaime Aparicio, made a speech (Spanish only) regarding the Summit process and culture. In his presentation the Secretary General of the OAS, Cesar Gaviria, emphasized "the importance of culture as a fundamental and integral component for the development of the people". The Colombian Minister of Culture, Araceli Morales emphasized the importance of civil society participation in the culture industry, because the promotion of the cultural information of each country will depend on them.

To view additional documents on the Meeting of Ministers of Culture, please click here.

On June 13-14, 2002, high officials and representatives of the Permanent Missions to the OAS took part in the preparatory meeting of the First Meeting of Ministers of Culture within the framework of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), which will take place in Cartagena de Indias on July 12-13 of this year. These ministerial meetings respond to a direct mandate of the Miami, Santiago and Quebec City Summits. At the meeting, chaired by Mrs. Araceli Morales Lopez, Minister of Culture of Colombia, the participants adopted a draft Declaration and Plan of Action, which will be considered at the Ministerial Meeting of Culture.

Different mechanisms for the participation of civil society in the next ministerial were also analyzed. The meeting will seek to strengthen the importance of cultural diversity in the era of globalization and underline the significance of the cultural sector in the economic and social development of the member countries. For this purpose the Ministers will establish an Inter-American Commission of Culture.

On July 27, 2001, the Working Group of the Sub-Committee on Partnership for Development Policy of the CEPCIDI, which is preparing the First Hemispheric Meeting of Ministers of Culture, held a meeting to consider its Work Plan for carrying out preparations for the Ministerial session.

At the meeting, the Group accepted Canada's offer to develop one of the base documents on cultural diversity. At the same time, the Technical Secretariat for the First Meeting, as well as the Canadian government, will prepare a questionnaire to be distributed to and answered by countries in order to establish common areas among them. The Group also accepted Canada's offer to be the host of the First Preparatory Meeting of Experts on Cultural Diversity for the Meeting of Ministers of Culture.

Finally, the Technical Secretariat was entrusted to prepare a background document on cultural diversity.

The Working Group will continue to meet periodically in order to follow up on the preparatory work for the Ministerial meeting.