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Resolution 2005 (2014) Final version
Identities and diversity within intercultural societies
1. The Parliamentary Assembly firmly
believes that cultural diversity is an essential condition for human society,
brought about not only by cross-border migration, but also by the
cultural effects of globalisation and the wide use of new technologies
and media that provide people with easy access to information and
platforms for communication.
2. The Assembly notes that relations with people from different
cultural backgrounds have become a common experience for a majority
of people at school, in the workplace, in residential neighbourhoods
and in a variety of public spaces, particularly in urban areas.
A growing number of individuals, especially young people, have multiple
cultural affiliations to enjoy, but also to manage, on a daily basis.
Their “composite identity” can no longer be restricted to a “collective
identity” related to a particular ethnic or religious group.
3. However, lack of understanding and fear of the “other” hamper
intercultural exchange and interaction. If not managed positively,
cultural differences lead to radicalisation, paralysing forms of
conflict and even violence. The Assembly is alarmed by the rise
of anti-democratic and xenophobic political parties in Europe and
calls for a radical change in political discourse and action: there
is a need to recognise the role of different cultures in the building
of national identities and of a European identity characterised
by diversity, pluralism and respect for human rights and human dignity.
4. The Assembly considers that this deep societal change urgently
requires a rethinking of the processes, mechanisms and relationships
that are needed to counter racism and intolerance and to strengthen
pluralism and democracy in European societies. In this respect,
the Assembly acknowledges the very different circumstances in which
national societies emerged and developed in western, eastern, northern
and southern Europe and insists that account should be taken of
these historic differences when discussing what cultural diversity
means in different parts of Europe and what implications it entails
for society.
5. The Assembly also underlines the importance of enhanced cultural
and educational policies intended to value, and make use of, the
potential of young generations with composite identities. This calls
for an in-depth review of national policies (not only restricted
to culture, youth and education policies, but taking a broader approach
to cover, in particular, employment, social cohesion, housing and
security policies), often characterised by a “defensive” approach,
and for the development of innovative tools. These policies should, on
the one hand, go beyond the simple recognition of diversity and
the promotion of tolerance, towards recognition of the originality
of each identity and the promotion of positive exchanges and interactions.
On the other hand, they should take account of the European and
even global nature of the phenomenon, and thus of the need to work
together as a precondition for achieving effective and sustainable
results.
6. Based also on its past work, related, inter
alia, to participatory governance, equality of rights,
non-discrimination, cultural rights, education, youth and the media,
the Assembly recommends that the parliaments and governments of
the member States of the Council of Europe:
6.1. concerning strategy and policy making:
6.1.1. recognise
cultural diversity as a factor for innovation and development and
make it a strategic long-term objective, taking political leadership
and building consensus among parties in order to advance the intercultural
agenda at national level;
6.1.2. develop a comprehensive intercultural strategy focusing, inter alia, on awareness raising
and public engagement (campaigns, ambassadors for intercultural
dialogue, etc.), cohesion among stakeholders (dialogue, cross-fertilisation
and collaborative project development), countering racism (monitoring
and deterrence), planning diversity (housing, urban development)
and building an intercultural economy (diversity as an asset for
innovation and competitiveness);
6.1.3. mainstream the issues of diversity and intercultural dialogue
into all relevant policy areas, and, in particular, cultural, education,
youth and media policies, and consider innovative ways to integrate
them from the intercultural perspective;
6.2. concerning policy implementation:
6.2.1. observe
the equality of rights and, in particular, harmonise civil rights
laws for all citizens regardless of ethnic background or cultural
origins; guarantee the freedom of any person to determine his or
her cultural affiliations and identity; ensure equal access to education,
culture and cultural expressions;
6.2.2. establish a sustainable climate of dialogue and understanding
through more equal power relations, interactive communication processes
and conditions for empowerment through the development of individual
self-confidence, alongside a sense of collective responsibility;
6.2.3. review the education system to enhance its capacity to
promote understanding of diversity and the development of intercultural
competences starting from a very early age; in this respect, support
the implementation of the Council of Europe Charter on Education
for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education and the use
of associated tools and manuals, including the results of the intercultural
education project (school curricula, teaching and educational resources);
6.2.4. promote plurilingualism in formal and non-formal education
and develop policies and programmes encouraging the sharing of international
experiences and mobility for young people and young adults to strengthen
intercultural competence;
6.2.5. promote the role of intercultural mediators and develop
targeted training of civil servants and educators aimed at building
up their intercultural competences;
6.2.6. introduce requirements for publicly financed institutions
to reflect in more concrete terms the diversity in their leadership,
governing boards, staff, users and programming (artists and audience);
develop “intercultural rules” as a principle of good governance
and a criterion for subsidies;
6.2.7. use public spaces (museums, libraries, cultural and arts
centres, etc.), cultural and other events (music and film festivals,
sports events, etc.), and virtual platforms to cultivate interculturality
and share a common vision of cohesive and plural society;
6.3. concerning partnerships and co-operation:
6.3.1. mobilise
partnerships with a large network of organisations, including youth organisations,
non-governmental associations, businesses, trade unions, the media,
locally elected leaders, cultural actors, educators and intercultural
“innovators”, and make use of the experience derived from successful
pilot initiatives;
6.3.2. encourage public media to contribute to this process by
setting up nationwide partnerships and programmes for a balanced
diversity of reporting, using stories to portray cultural diversity
as an asset rather than a threat to society;
6.3.3. recognise the increasingly important role played by local
authorities in promoting and implementing intercultural policy and
pilot initiatives, and, in this context, review the existing mechanisms
(allocation of powers, legal structure, co-financing, etc.) to facilitate
this process;
6.3.4. in co-operation with the Council of Europe and the European
Union, seek partnerships to develop transfrontier co-operation to
tackle regional specificities, develop shared diversity strategies
and pilot projects which stimulate cultural exchange and shape more
composite and nuanced identities, particularly in the areas of central,
eastern and South-Eastern Europe which have numerous minorities,
as well as cultural and historic interconnections across borders.