As part of the official program of the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development MONDIACULT 2025, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a special session titled: “Cultural Rights in the Digital Age: Inclusive Access, Fair Participation, and Rights-Based Governance.” The session highlighted the place of culture within the sustainable development agenda, cultural rights in the digital era, and the opportunities and challenges brought about by technological transformations.

The event, organized by ICESCO on Tuesday, 30 September 2025, in partnership with UNESCO, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and UN Women, aimed at strengthening international cooperation to guarantee fair and inclusive access to culture and to achieve fair participation in shaping rights-based governance policies.

The session addressed three main issues: emphasizing the centrality of cultural rights in the digital age; the cultural dimensions of digital divides related to language, accessibility, and representation; as well as presenting ICESCO’s digital initiatives, foremost among them the ICESCO Creative Platform and the ICESCO Index of Cultural and Creative Technologies.
In this context, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector, and Ms. Somia Djacta, Head of ICESCO’s Delegation to UNESCO, renewed the call for the adoption of a specific goal on culture within the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 18). They stressed the importance of recognizing culture as a strategic driver of social cohesion, innovation, and sustainable development. They also underscored the need to safeguard the rights of artists, promote the creativity of youth and women, and ensure fair and inclusive governance in the digital space.

Participants in the event unanimously emphasized the importance of bridging digital and cultural divides, protecting the rights of creators, and guaranteeing fair and inclusive access to cultural technologies. The inputs also highlighted ICESCO’s innovative contributions in this field. Joint recommendations were presented, which will be incorporated into the final documents of MONDIACULT 2025 and into future pathways of cooperation among international organizations.