Remarks by UNESCO (knowledge partner), Ms Emmanuelle Roberts at the G20 4th Culture Working Group meeting, in Zimbali, KwaDukuza, 27 October 2025
Honourable Gayton McKenzie, Minister of Sport, Art and Culture of South Africa, His Worship M. Vusumuzi Cyril Xaba, Mayor of eThekwini, M. Mntomuhle Khawula, MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Liza Combrinck, Chairperson of the Culture Working Group, Dr Cynthia Khumalo, Director General of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Angela Martins, representative of the African Union, M. Bruno Melo, representative of Brazil as Troika member,
Distinguished delegates, dear colleagues,
On behalf of UNESCO, I would like to thank the South African Presidency for its leadership throughout this year’s Culture Working Group process, and for inviting UNESCO to act once more as a knowledge partner. The work of the Group underscores culture’s key contribution to sustainable development, backed by a renewed political commitment at the global level. The four priorities articulated by the Presidency closely align with the key areas of action identified by Member States in the MONDIACULT 2025 Outcome Document, including strengthening the protection of cultural rights; leveraging culture for climate action; harnessing the potential of the digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence for the cultural sector; and supporting the economy of culture.
UNESCO welcomes the progress achieved on the draft Declaration to date. The Organization commends the Presidency and the Membership for the advances secured, and stands ready to continue to provide technical advice and support to ensure convergence and consensus on the remaining paragraphs in view of the Ministerial Meeting. We also welcome the discussion of the Annex put forward by the Presidency, as a forward-looking aspiration for sustained and voluntary working mechanisms through this Group.
MONDIACULT 2025 confirmed that culture now stands at the heart of the global agenda, fully aligned with the ambitions of this G20 Workstream. In this regard, we wish to commend the South African Presidency for the side event it organized, which powerfully illustrated the G20’s role in advancing the economic dimension of culture. This strategic issue for the sector appears to benefit from broad convergence among Members and could offer a tangible avenue for collective exploration going forward. Indeed, developing shared approaches to measure the scale, structure and impacts of the cultural economy could be a key area for collective work, including the sharing of national methodologies and the alignment of statistical frameworks.
The G20 Culture Working Group has now become a distinctive platform for policy dialogue. Since the first G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting in 2020, and the formalization of the working group in 2021, the Group has grown into a shared space where Members shape common perspectives and exchange experiences. These combined efforts have enriched discussions and sustained knowledge building, consolidating a well-rounded ecosystem of cooperation among Members, one that would now seem ready to provide a solid foundation for a new phase of engagement focused on translating a shared vision from declarations into tangible and sustained outcomes, in line with other G20 tracks.
UNESCO, as a knowledge partner, has accompanied the Group, helping to ensure continuity. By leveraging its normative instruments, data frameworks and mobilizing its convening power to gather the expertise of diverse stakeholders, the Organization has helped sustain an informed policy dialogue and identify emerging priorities. This has notably also supported the reflection of the Membership on the development of potential practical approaches to advance the Group’s shared agenda.
Distinguished delegates, the Culture Working Group has succeeded in anchoring culture within the G20’s policy architecture. As we bring this cycle to a close, we have an opportunity to lay the groundwork for what lies ahead, building on our shared reflections and on voluntary, Member-driven engagement. UNESCO stands ready to continue supporting the Membership with policy advice, technical assistance and capacity-building, as the Group’s work evolves and continues to leverage culture for multilateralism and inclusive, sustainable development.
Thank you for your attention.
