Minister Of Culture Fadli Zon Affirms Culture Of Fundamental Rights And Economic Pillars At UNESCO MONDIACULT 2025

Menbud Fadli highlighted the importance of public access, participation, and community involvement. (IST)

BARCELONA - Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Fadli Zon emphasized that culture must be recognized as a fundamental right as well as a pillar of the global economy. He conveyed this message in front of the Ministers of Culture and international organizations in the 2025 UNESCO MONDIACULT world cultural forum in Barcelona, Spain.

Together with panelists from Bulgaria, Norway, Cabo Verde, China, and Austria, Menbud Fadli emphasized that culture is not just a legacy, but a life right guaranteed by the state. Indonesian constitution, Article 32 of the 1945 Constitution, requires the state to advance national culture and guarantee the freedom of the community to maintain and develop cultural values," said the Minister of Culture in a written statement received on Tuesday, September 30.

Menbud Fadli highlighted the importance of public access, participation, and community involvement, including protection of freedom of expression and recognition of local wisdom. "Culture should not be the privilege of a handful of people, but the right of every citizen," he said.

He also mentioned repatriation as fulfillment of cultural rights. The repatriation of the Dubois Collection last week from the Netherlands, contains more than 28 thousand fossils including the Homo-erectus Trinil, which he said was proof of Indonesia's seriousness in fighting for historical justice. "Repatriation of historical objects restores the dignity of the nation and connects identities with future generations," he explained.

Menbud Fadli added, Indonesia already has a Basic Regional Cultural Mind (PPKD) mechanism to ensure the voices of indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups are included in cultural policies. Cultural rights are human rights. The public is not only a beneficiary, but the main actor," he said.

On the economic side, Menbud Fadli emphasized that culture is able to create jobs, innovations, and social empowerment. He said the cultural and creative industry contributed USD 4.3 trillion or 6% of the world's economy. For this reason, Indonesia is developing financing instruments through Indonesia's cultural endowment funds, international production cooperation, to public-private partnerships in the development of cultural infrastructure.

"Our commitment is clear: to protect cultural rights, strengthen public participation, and open up space for financing so that culture can truly become a pillar of sustainable development after 2030," he said.

"Indonesia's participation in the 2025 MONDIACULT, according to Fadli, is part of cultural diplomacy. Indonesia brings the message that culture is a guaranteed right as well as a global economic power. Our presence emphasizes Indonesia's position as a large populous nation that is ready to lead the world's cultural dialogue," he concluded.