Michaëlle Jean, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, will be in Hangzhou, China, from 14 to 17 May, invited at he International Congress of UNESCO, to be held on the theme "Culture: key to sustainable development".

These meetings will allow 450 participants from around the world to examine the integration of culture in its broadest sense, in programs of sustainable human development.

The member countries of the United Nations had set themselves, at the turn of the century, eight major objectives aimed among other theelimination of poverty and access to education for all by the end of 2015. The strategies put in place around the world to achieve these "Millennium Development" helped make significant progress in education and access to drinking water, but there is still long way to go to ensure a decent life for the most vulnerable populations.

UNESCO, among all international organizations, is the one that recognizes, supports and fully defends culture as an essential component of social development, economic and integrated of populations ; a means of social cohesion facilitating dialogue and peace ; a mobilizing and structuring factor.

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, said recently that "culture makes of us what we are, it provides answers to issues affecting our communities, it strengthens us and it stimulates creativity." A point of view to which subscribed Michaëlle Jean, who will speak on May 15 at the plenary session on "Culture in the Post - 2015 Sustainable Development Agenda".

"Haiti must remain on the radar screen of the world. I will speak at this conference of the hopes of a hard hit population, of the evolution of the reconstruction, and how, in the Haitian perspective, the the culture infuses everything and must be taken into account. Whether in the construction or rehabilitation of neighborhoods, public awareness campaigns, the educational reform, measures to stimulate the economy and to strengthen the collective mind..." Ms. Jean declared adding "Culture is never accessory in Haiti, it is one of the key levers to rebuild and unite the country."

HL/ HaitiLibre