The German Commission for UNESCO has launched a call for contributions and participation in the U40 World Forum, which will run from June 12 to 14, 2009, in Paris, France.
The forum is the high point of the U40 Capacity Building Program “Cultural Diversity 2030” (2008–2010) initiated by the German Commission for UNESCO. Held as a preconference, the U40 World Forum will run back to back with the Conference of Parties (June 15 to 18, 2009) of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The U40 process offers postgraduates, PhD students, young professionals, and similarly qualified experts under 40 the opportunity to take part in the international debate on cultural diversity and the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The German Commission for UNESCO and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) are looking for up to forty young specialists from Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, and the Arabic world.
Interested parties are invited to apply by sending a short paper (max. 800 words) and curriculum vitae no later than February 28, 2009, to Anna Steinkamp (steinkamp@unesco.de) with U40 in the subject heading. Candidates must report on the state of ratification and implementation of the Convention in their respective countries and answer the questions featured on the German Commission for UNESCO press release.