The livelihoods of millions depend on cultural or creative industries of all shapes and sizes – from the weaver in a local cooperative to the crew of a major film production. Yet many countries lack the data to develop the policies to help these industries become engines for sustainable economic growth, as called for in Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8).
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is pleased to announce the release of a new database of internationally-comparable cultural employment statistics. The collection includes 195 indicators offering a new perspective on the economic contribution of cultural industries in 63 countries and territories.
The UIS Data Centre has been updated to include the results of the new UIS Survey on Cultural Employment, conducted in 2015, featuring data for the reference year 2014.
The UIS is the official source of data used to monitor progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) to ensure quality and equitable education for all. In particular, Target 4.a calls upon countries to “build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all”.
Around the world, culture is acknowledged as the cornerstone of identity, providing a sense of belonging and the social and economic cohesion of communities. It is also the foundation of sustainable development, a fact that has been in acknowledged in the Agenda for Sustainable Development. But how should the precise linkages between culture and development be measured?
The programme of the workshop, in particular, focused on the thematic and global statistics and indicators required to monitor the education targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Working with the UIS experts, the participants gained deeper understanding of the UIS role in the monitoring of SDG4 and its work, current and perspective, in this area.
In every society, women are guardians, creators and consumers of culture, but they still face barriers that prevent them from playing an equal role in the cultural sphere.
UNESCO’s standard-setting instruments provide a springboard for the implementation of cultural policies that promote gender equality in culture. However, there are few reliable measures to assess progress towards globally-recognised goals and aspirations.