In his message, the Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Viet Nam affirmed that the decision of the United Nations General Assembly to proclaim 2027–2036 as the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development marks an important milestone in advancing the recognition of culture as an integral part of sustainable development.
I warmly congratulate Viet Nam on this achievement. From Viet Nam’s initiative to advance the proposal, through broad support by UNESCO Member States at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to its adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, this initiative reflects both Viet Nam’s leadership in bringing this proposal forward and the shared commitment of UNESCO and United Nations Member States to strengthening the contribution of culture to sustainable development.
Jonathan Wallace Baker,
UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam
According to the UNESCO Representative, the proclamation of the Decade comes at a particularly important moment. Around the world, societies are facing mounting pressures from conflict, climate change, technological transformation and widening inequalities. In such times, culture can strengthen a sense of belonging and social cohesion, create space for dialogue and imagination, and enable communities to preserve their identities, knowledge and heritage while adapting to change.
The Decade also builds on the momentum of MONDIACULT 2025, where UNESCO Member States reaffirmed culture as a global public good and called for culture to be recognised as a goal in its own right in the post-2030 development agenda. The Decade provides an opportunity to carry this collective commitment forward and to further strengthen the place of culture in international development cooperation.
According to Jonathan Wallace Baker, the focus now turns to implementation. Over the coming decade, the task is to ensure that culture is not only better recognised, but also better supported, protected and sustainably financed, and more firmly embedded in the policies and decisions that shape our societies and our future. This includes strengthening cultural policies, supporting cultural and creative sectors, advancing cultural rights, safeguarding cultural diversity and heritage, and integrating culture more systematically across development strategies.
The Decade can also serve as an important bridge between the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the development of the post-2030 framework, helping to sustain the growing recognition of culture as an integral dimension of sustainable development and to inform future international development policies. Its implementation will take place alongside other international initiatives for 2027–2036, including those addressing peace, future generations and sustainable forest management, offering opportunities for greater coherence and complementarity across the United Nations system.
As Viet Nam and UNESCO celebrate 50 years of cooperation, I warmly congratulate Viet Nam on this important contribution to the global cultural agenda.
Jonathan Wallace Baker,
UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam
The implementation of the Decade will take place alongside a number of other international initiatives during 2027–2036, including initiatives related to peace, future generations and sustainable forest management. This presents an opportunity to strengthen coherence and complementarity across the United Nations system.
The success of the Decade will be measured by the difference it makes to people, communities and cultural life at national and local levels.
As the lead entity for the implementation of the Decade within the United Nations system, UNESCO will work closely with Member States, including Viet Nam, the United Nations system and other partners to develop its Action Plan and translate this shared ambition into meaningful action.
“As Viet Nam and UNESCO celebrate 50 years of cooperation, I warmly congratulate Viet Nam on this important contribution to the global cultural agenda. I look forward to our continued partnership, and to working together with Viet Nam and partners to ensure that culture is fully reflected in our collective efforts to build more peaceful, inclusive and sustainable societies, both towards 2030 and beyond,” the UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam emphasised.
