Why in News?

• After the meeting of G-20 Culture Ministers in Varanasi, the Outcome Document titled ‘Kashi Culture Pathway’ was unanimously agreed to by all G-20 members.
• The G-20 nations arrived at a consensus on cultural issues, however, there was no unanimity on “geopolitical issues” like the war in Ukraine.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Culture in the G20
• Culture under India's G20 Presidency
• Highlights of the Outcome Document ‘Kashi Culture Pathway’

Culture in the G20:

• At the global level, culture has been recognised as an enabler of growth and sustainable development.
  • The UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development - MONDIACULT 2022, adopted a Declaration affirming culture as a 'global public good'.
• The G20 Culture Ministers met for the first time in 2020 and highlighted culture’s cross-cutting contribution to advancing the G20 agenda.
• Recognising the synergies between culture and other policy areas, culture was integrated into the G20 agenda as a Culture Working Group in 2021.
• In 2021, the Rome Declaration of G20 Ministers firmly positioned culture as an engine for propelling sustainable socio-economic recovery.
• This historic declaration has anchored culture at the heart of public policy and international cooperation by -
  • Recognising its intrinsic value for sustainable development.
  • Considering the impact of culture, cultural heritage and the creative economy on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development.

Culture under India's G20 Presidency:

• India firmly believes in the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the earth is one family,and all individuals are collectively responsible towards each other and their shared future.
  • This shapes India's vision of sustainable living.
• India's G20 Presidency aims to nurture, celebrate, and incorporate the cultural diversity of the member states while striving towards achieving holistic living and building a pro-planet society.
• The G20 Culture Working Group stands among the 13 thematic Working Groups set up by the Indian Presidency to frame the G20 process in 2023.
• The Culture Working Group brings together representatives from G20 Member countries, etc., to discuss priorities and provide recommendations.
• Four culture-related priorities set forth by the Indian Presidency are -
  • Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property
  • Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future
  • Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and the Creative Economy
  • Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and the Promotion of Culture
• The working group is expected to meet 4 times across the working process in Khajuraho, Bhubaneshwar, Hampi and Varanasi, leading up to a G20 culture ministerial meeting.
• The outcomes of the Culture Working Group will also feed into the 18th G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. 

Highlights of the Outcome Document ‘Kashi Culture Pathway’:

• It highlights the need to address -
  • The destruction of cultural heritage in situations of conflict,
  • The curbing of illicit trafficking of artifacts,
  • The restitution of cultural property and
  • The need to protect living heritage, especially of indigenous people.
• The document said the nations were united against destruction of cultural heritage whether intentional or collateral, notably in situations of conflict.
• They called for a strengthened and effective global coalition to bolster the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
• The document sought cooperation among nations and strengthening of appropriate tools to increase the effectiveness of law enforcement collaboration through voluntary data and information exchange.
• It sought enhanced research, documentation, awareness-raising and capacity-building of specialised cultural professionals, judiciary and law enforcement authorities, etc., to the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property.
• The document also sought preventive action and regulation of illicitly exported cultural property specially in online trade.
• It sought an inclusive dialogue on the return and restitution of cultural property by enabling alternate dispute resolution mechanisms.
• The G-20 nations also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen institutional and policy frameworks to harness living heritage for sustainable development.
• The countries recognised the misuse and misappropriation of living cultural heritage, particularly of local communities as well as of indigenous peoples, especially for commercial use.