Held annually on the 21st of May, the first International Cultural Diversity Day took place in 2003 as a result of the United Nations adopting the Universal Declaration for Cultural Diversity.
Bridging the gap between cultures is essential for world peace, stability and development, and International Cultural Diversity Day aims to encourage people to develop an understanding of other ways of life. As Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, puts it, “cultural diversity is the lifeblood of vibrant societies.”
The four goals of International Diversity Day are:
- to support sustainable systems of governance for culture;
- to achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services, and increase the mobility of artists and cultural professionals;
- to integrate culture into sustainable development frameworks; and
- to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Since 1945, almost seven million people have migrated to Australia, creating a richly varied society that is one of our country’s greatest strengths and making us one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.
Wondering how you can play your part in developing cultural understanding and awareness? Why not check out how diverse your suburb is and learn about the different cultures around your home? The information is available thanks to data from the 2016 Census, and you can learn more about it here.
