Kuching signs Braga Manifesto to push for standalone goal for culture in post-2030 agenda

Wee (centre) signs the Braga Manifesto.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 17: In a significant stride towards integrating culture into global sustainable development, Kuching has joined 250 cities worldwide in endorsing the Braga Manifesto.

According to a press release, the endorsement took place during the XVI Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) held in Braga, Portugal, from July 1-5 this year.

Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng signed the document at a high-level Mayor’s Forum, affirming the city’s commitment to making culture a standalone goal in the post-2030 sustainable development agenda.

This follows Kuching’s successful completion of the Mondiacult survey, a comprehensive data collection exercise by Creative Cities to support the resolution adopted by 150 countries in 2022.

“We are very proud that Kuching has been represented in such an important international movement. In Sarawak, we recognise 34 ethnic groups, each with their own unique culture.

“We live together in harmony, recognised as multi-cultural Malaysia’s first city of unity. We believe we have a lot to offer this global discussion as to how culture can support sustainable development going forward.

“In Braga, it was an honour to stand with so many other mayors, discussing our shared opportunities and challenges, and then to put forward our commitment to supporting culture at our local level,” he was quoted as saying.

As per the release, the Braga Manifesto is a declaration by UNESCO Creative Cities, including Kuching, Malaysia’s first Creative City, endorsing the Mondiacult 2022 resolution.

This resolution calls for culture to be acknowledged as a global public good with its own standalone goal in the post-2030 sustainable development agenda.

This commitment encompasses the protection of cultural rights, promotion of culture and arts education, advancement of digital technologies, safeguarding of cultural heritage, and fostering of culture-driven practices to address environmental threats.

Meanwhile, Karen Shepherd, Strategic Director of UCCN Kuching and the UNESCO Focal Point, highlighted the city’s involvement in this global advocacy movement.

“As a Creative City, Kuching is already closely involved in this global advocacy movement. We have just completed the Mondiacult survey, a wide-ranging study which shares our city’s cultural policy.

“This was the collaborative work of multiple government agencies, under the umbrella of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak. As a result, our local context will now be included in these vital international discussions,” she said.

Kuching and Sarawak must now continue their efforts at the local level to progress their vision and mission as a creative and cultural city under UNESCO.

This initiative aligns with the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which promotes economy, society, and environment equally through innovation and data.

Sarawak is now positioned to play a more active role in demonstrating how its cultural context can shape the future of the nation and region.

Kuching’s experience as a multicultural Southeast Asian city is unique and important, and it will now be represented in the global framework defining communities and global society post-2030. — DayakDaily