UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies | Culture: The missing SDG. Paris, France: UNESCO.
UNESCO launched the first edition of the UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies | Culture: The missing SDG during the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development – MONDIACULT 2025, on 29 September 2025, in Barcelona, Spain.
Amid growing recognition of culture’s essential role in shaping inclusive, sustainable societies, the inaugural UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies | Culture: The Missing SDG presents a first global snapshot of cultural policies across regions and sectors. Based primarily on over 1,200 national and local reports submitted between 2019 and 2024, the report maps how countries are advancing culture through public policy.
The landmark publication is the first of its kind to cover all regions and cultural domains, offering the most comprehensive global analysis of cultural policies to date and providing an evidence base to guide new agendas and strengthen multilateral cooperation. The Global Report draws on 1,200 national and local reports and 200 case studies submitted between 2019 and 2024. It highlights key regional and global trends. It underscores the importance of culture for sustainable development, peace and security, and calls for an independent goal for culture in the post-2030 global agenda.
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 