Delegates to the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE), held in the UAE on December 9 at Expo 2020 Dubai, heard this compelling message from Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA).
The conference is a forum for policymakers and industry players to exchange ideas, resolve challenges and identify opportunities within the creative economy.
The last day of the conference was held on the eve of Human Rights Day, and the IPA President’s keynote address entitled “Embracing Humanity Through Books” stressed that the freedom to share our voices in the public space is a basic human right – a right that is sometimes denied.
“All of us have a role to play in defending this right, and to understand that social peace and justice are only achievable when everyone’s voice is heard,” said Bodour. “At the IPA we take this role very seriously.
“In fact, one of the main reasons the IPA was created 125 years ago, was to defend the freedom to publish. Today, the IPA continues to work with publishers around the world to support them in asserting this right.”
She also commended publishers for making serious attempts to add more inclusivity and diversity to the world of books. As more female and other minority authors are published, they gain a platform to share their voices, experiences, and their stories.
On the sidelines of the Conference, Al Qasimi, who also who chairs the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), attended the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sheraa and the UAE Ministry of Culture.
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