1-3 October 2020 | Rome, Italy – UCLG ASPAC joined city leaders and policy makers in a high-level discussion at the International Conference on the Rome Charter last 1-3 October 2020. The hybrid Conference, held face-to-face in Rome and on online mode, is an initiative of the UCLG World and the City of Rome to launch the Rome Charter.
Rome Charter is an invitation to participate fully and freely in cultural life as a condition for a better society. It was started in 2019 and it has engaged more than 45 cities and 95 advisors. Attended by 112 speakers and 1,500 registered participants, the Conference focused on the Right to Participate in Cultural Life from the perspective of local and regional governments. Asia-Pacific region was represented by Mayor Li Mingyuan of Xi’an, Mayor Abigail Binay of Makati, and Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, expressing their support to the integration of culture into city development. In his opening message, Mr. Li Mingyuan, Mayor of Xi’an Municipal People’s Government and UCLG Co-President, committed to “continue its work in promoting mutual learning and contributing to the sharing, prosperity, and sustainable development of culture with a joint effort of all member cities.” A testament to this is the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with UCLG ASPAC that will foster cooperation in priority areas, including culture.
Mayor Abigail Binay expressed that the Charter is important to Makati being a cosmopolitan city that blends innovation and cultural heritage. She concluded her statement with the hope that other local leaders will similarly “emulate our strong determination to preserve and conserve our culture and to rebuild a sustainable city for the coming generations.” Makati is a member of the UCLG and UCLG ASPAC Culture Committee. It is also the first city which ran a 2-day Culture 21 Lab workshop to self-assess the place of culture within its local policies in April 2017.
UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi lauded that the Charter is people-centered as the capability framework encourages cities to ensure that people can discover, create, share, enjoy, and protect culture. She added that the Charter is timely and much-needed “to keep culture alive in city policies and action as we move towards a future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.”
UCLG ASPAC has consistently promoted culture among its city networks, particularly through Culture Committee. Besides, development of public spaces programme, such as in Surabaya and Solo, has also incorporated the cultural values.
For more information on the 2020 Rome Charter, visit: https://www.2020romecharter.org/
Main picture: https://www.facebook.com/agenda21culture/
