Push for ODS 18: Culture and Linguistic Rights

The Diputació de Barcelona has launched a campaign to establish a new United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) dedicated to culture, proposing the creation of ODS 18 – Culture and Linguistic Rights. This initiative coincides with the 11th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The proposed ODS 18 aims to position culture as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development, alongside economic, social, and environmental dimensions. It seeks to place cultural rights at the heart of public policy, ensuring equitable access, participation, and contribution to cultural life for all individuals, without discrimination.

Aligned with Regional Cultural Rights Plan

This push aligns with the Diputació’s 311+ Cultural Rights Plan, which prioritises people and their rights in cultural policymaking and promotes diverse cultural expressions across the region. The plan supports decentralisation, community focus, and strengthening local networks. In September 2025, the full council approved an institutional declaration supporting the inclusion of ODS 18 in the 2030 Agenda, reaffirming culture as a fundamental right and a tool for freedom and pluralism. The declaration was read by Second Vice President Dionís Guiteras i Rubio (ERC-AM) and agreed unanimously by all political groups.

The Diputació de Barcelona gives full support to the incorporation of Culture as a Sustainable Development Objective (ODS 18) driven by the international campaign 'Culture 2030 Goal'.

Part of Global 'Culture 2030 Goal' Movement

The proposal is part of the international Culture 2030 Goal movement, supported by United Cities and Local Governments (CGLU) and numerous cultural organisations worldwide. The campaign urges local and regional institutions to voluntarily adopt the goal. For the Diputació, backing ODS 18 means equipping local governments with tools to enhance cultural policies, thereby advancing social cohesion, citizen participation, equality, wellbeing, and democracy. The initiative also reinforces connections with existing UN goals, particularly ODS 4 (Quality Education) and ODS 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Primary sources: interaccio.diba.cat, diba.cat, Diputació de Barcelona. Reported by gavadigital.com, CatalunyaPress.es, culture2030goal.net, un.org, agenda21culture.net, badalonadigital.com.