Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is set to participate in the global celebration of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, observed annually on May 21. This occasion serves to underline the importance of global cultural richness and the critical role intercultural dialogue plays in promoting peace and sustainable development.

According to Oman News Agency, the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, along with the working team of the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) in Oman and the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), will organize a workshop on May 27-28. This session will concentrate on methods for developing cultural projects to obtain support from the IFCD.

The concept of cultural diversity is defined by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005) as the various ways in which cultural groups and societies express themselves and share their cultural heritage. Oman became a signatory to this convention in 2007, which aims to promote various forms of cultural expression, create environments for cultures to thrive and interact, encourage intercultural dialogue, enhance cultural exchange among peoples, and foster respect for cultural diversity both locally and globally.

In alignment with these objectives, Oman has established a working team for the IFCD, consisting of members from different cultural institutions. This team is responsible for identifying and analyzing cultural diversity initiatives, creating a unified framework for related projects and programs, reviewing and approving IFCD funding proposals, and preparing reports on the implementation of the UNESCO convention.

This year’s observance coincides with UNESCO’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the convention’s adoption in 2005. The event aims to raise awareness of the convention’s significant achievements and engage policymakers in addressing both challenges and opportunities related to safeguarding and promoting cultural diversity.