The protection of cultural diversity has become an important issue on the agenda of many international organisations and fora. The G8, the Council of Europe, the European Union and UNESCO have all expressed the need for the protection of cultural diversity. In October 2005, 148 countries signed the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This UNESCO Convention entered into force on 18 March 2007. With the adoption of this Convention, the international community has created a framework for protective measures dedicated to the diversity of cultural expressions against the influences of globalisation and free trade.
This book, published in the Maastricht Series in Human Rights, focuses on the room for national policies for the protection of cultural diversity. It considers the relationship between the protection of cultural diversity and international trade law and discusses the UNESCO Convention on different perspectives. The use of intellectual property rights as a mean for the protection of cultural diversity is also treated. Finally, this book gives an overview from the European Union law and policy on cultural diversity in general and more specific regarding mass media and the film industry.