Earlier this month, the International Authors Forum (IAF) participated in the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Paris.
Over the course of the four-day meeting, the committee invited two representatives from the Reflection Group on the Promotion and Protection of Cultural Diversity in the Digital Environment to present their recommendations. These included the proposal to add a protocol to the Convention specifically addressing this issue, as well as several other key recommendations: create a consultation and dialogue framework, support advocacy actions in collaboration with civil societies, establish a global network of experts in digital culture and artificial intelligence (AI) and raise public awareness on culturally responsible practices and behaviours in the digital environment through cultural education initiatives. The IAF took the opportunity to fully endorse these recommendations, emphasizing the importance of establishing a legal framework to regulate generative AI. The IAF reiterated that it is crucial to consider the concerns of both authors and their representatives when developing policies related to this matter.
The Committee reiterated its commitment to the vital role that civil society plays in protecting and promoting cultural diversity, stressing the importance of organising the 5th Edition of the Civil Society Forum. The IAF is actively involved in this forum, which serves as a platform for civil society to provide the knowledge necessary to ensure that the Convention is implemented in an inclusive, effective, and human rights based manner.
The IAF will continue to represent the interests of authors in this forum by strengthening its collaboration with other civil society organisations involved in the 2005 Convention and raising awareness about the importance of promoting and protecting cultural diversity worldwide.