The work of the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO within the field of Culture
The World Commission for Culture and Development, that was created - basically on Nordic initiatives - in 1993 held their regional working meeting in Sweden in 1994. The report of the Commission - Our Creative Diversity - was first introduced to the Swedish audience at the 1996 Book and Library fair in Gothenburg. The report was translated into Swedish in 1996 and sent to more than 200 NGOs, local authorities etc. to gather ideas on how this report could be used in Sweden.
The intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for DevelopmentAs a follow-up to the work of the Commission the Swedish government hosted the The Power of Culture - the Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development in Stockholm in 1998 where aspects of culture and development were discussed by representatives from all Member States and where the Stockholm Action Plan on Cultural Policies for Development was adopted. A follow-up - Stockholm + 5 - an expert meeting was held in Stockholm May 2003. The meeting evaluated how the Stockholm Action Plan has influenced cultural policies etc.
The World Book and Copyright Day, April 23In 1996 the Commission initiated the introduction of the World Book and Copyright Day (April 23), by creating a working group with organisations for libraries, booksellers, authors, book publishers and schoolbook publishers among others.
The day is celebrated nation wide and several hundred activities take place. Most are arranged by the local libraries and other local actors. These range from exhibitions, speeches by local authors, readouts by the fireplace, competitions, ‘cake and cookies as from famous books’ served to all visitors at libraries to book gifts to school children.
For information in Swedish on Swedish celebrations of the World Book and Copyright Day, please visit
www.varldsbokdagen.nu(in Swedish, will open in a new window)