Dear Minister, your excellencies and distinguished delegates,

Congratulations to South Africa on the G20 presidency this year. Norway highly appreciates the invitation to participate as a guest country. And congratulations to you, Minister Gayton McKenzie and your excellent team on the able leadership of the Culture Working Group.

My sincere thanks also to Saudi Arabia, Italy, Indonesia, India and Brazil for your continued commitment to include culture on the G20 agenda.

I am very happy that the African World Heritage Fund is here. We have been a partner for many years enabling the establishment of many World Heritage Sites across the African continent.

I warmly support the key priorities for the Culture Working Group. Norway firmly believes that promoting diversity, freedom of expression and artistic freedom, safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring fair pay for artistic work are all essential in fostering inclusive development across the cultural and creative sector

Access to culture is not only a common good, but also a fundamental human right. And culture is not only a soft power. It is a powerful driver of sustainable development and the core foundation of free, democratic and resilient societies.

That is why the protection and promotion of culture and cultural heritage, in all its richness and diversity, needs to be a central part of our multilateral dialogue

When culture and artistic freedom are silenced, democracy suffer – and we lose our ability to live free lives, to question, to image, to wonder and to hope.

At its core, arts and culture is about our shared humanity. It can bridge the gaps within ourselves, and build bridges across borders, beliefs and generations.

To truly unlock the power of culture, we need free and independent cultural institutions and media. And we need freedom to create and express our opinions.

Around the world, artists and journalists are being censored, harassed—even killed. At the same time, we are witnessing a troubling erosion of tolerance and respect for human rights. There is much at stake.

That is why this forum—and our shared commitment to advancing the role of culture in society and building a more inclusive and sustainable world—is more important than ever.

I am pleased we have come together and agreed on a strong declaration on culture.

 

Norway strongly supports multilateral cooperation, and we strongly defend international law, whether it be in countries in Africa, in Palestine or regarding Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. As of September, UNESCO has verified damage to 509 cultural sites in Ukraine caused by the Russian invasion.

I truly hope that future G20 presidencies will continue to place culture firmly on the agenda, because this vital conversation is far from over.

Congratulations again to the South African G20 presidency for a successful chairing of the Culture Working Group.

Thank you.