UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is the UN’s specialized agency for education, science, culture, and communication. Its mandate is to contribute to peace and security by promoting cooperation between countries in these four areas. UNESCO plays an important role in developing and monitoring international normative instruments. In the cultural field, there are several key conventions of global relevance that Norway has ratified. Norway is a member of UNESCO’s Executive Board for the period 2025–2029, and the Ministry of Culture and Equality contributes to this work.

Conventions under the Ministry of Culture and Equality’s responsibility

Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)

The Convention commits States Parties to protect and promote a diversity of cultural expressions. It emphasizes that cultural diversity, developed in a climate of democracy, social justice, and mutual respect between peoples and cultures, is essential for peace, security, and sustainable development. The Convention obliges states to facilitate diverse cultural expressions through national and international measures and encourages cooperation between states. It affirms that cultural activities, goods, and services have both economic and cultural value. Norway ratified the Convention in 2006. Norway served on the Convention’s Committee from 2021–2025 and marked its 20th anniversary in 2025.

Norway reports on implementation every four years, most recently in 2024.

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) 

Norway ratified the Convention in 2006. It was developed to ensure respect for and raise awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage and complements UNESCO’s 1972 World Heritage Convention. Intangible heritage includes oral traditions and expressions (including language), performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge related to nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship. Respect and recognition of practitioners and tradition bearers is a core principle.

The Norwegian Parliament has decided that Norway should focus particularly on the intangible cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and national minorities. Arts and Culture Norway is the expert body for implementation of the Convention.  

Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preenting the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970)

Norway ratified the Convention in 2007. It protects cultural property against illicit trade and obliges States Parties to respect each other’s cultural property laws. This means that anyone bringing cultural property into Norway must present a valid export certificate from the country of origin if required. The Convention is linked to the UNIDROIT Convention of 1995 on the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects, which Norway ratified in 2001. Several Norwegian agencies cooperate on implementation, including Arts and Culture Norway, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime (ØKOKRIM) and the Norwegian Customs.

Other UNESCO initiatives

Memory of the World Programme

The Memory of the World Programme highlights documentary heritage such as documents, archives, manuscripts, and audiovisual material. Particularly significant documentary heritage is listed in international, regional, and national registers. Norway has six entries in the international register and a national register called Norway’s Documentary Heritage. The Arts and Culture Norway serves as the secretariat for the Norwegian Committee for the Memory of the World.

MONDIACULT Conferences

Mondiacult is UNESCO’s global conference on cultural policy and sustainable development, and gathers cultural ministers from all over the world every four years.

Norway participated in MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona, promoting artistic freedom, freedom of expression, diversity, and fair remuneration for artists. Civil society contributed input beforehand. A Nordic side event emphasized the importance of culture and preparedness in times of crisis. Mondiacult is the most important global forum for cultural policy and gathered 3,000 participants from 167 member states in 2025. The final document calls for culture to be prioritized in global cooperation.

At Mondiacult in Mexico in September 2022, Norway also participated, and it was decided that such conferences for culture ministers will be held every four years. Culture ministers and cultural policymakers from around the world will meet regularly to contribute to the development of a sustainable global cultural policy for the future. In Mexico, a declaration was adopted that affirms the role of culture as a global public good.

G20

The Group of 20 (G20) is a strategic forum for the world’s leading and emerging economies, consisting of 19 countries plus the EU and the African Union. Norway participated as a guest country in 2017 (invited by Germany), and again under Brazil’s presidency in 2024 and South Africa’s in 2025. From 2020 to 2025, culture has been a topic in G20 cooperation. Norway took part in the Culture Working Group in 2024 and 2025 and in negotiations leading to joint cultural declarations under Brazil and South Africa.