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Representatives of the Ministries of Culture and Education of the 8 countries of the Educational and Cultural Coordination of the Central American Integration System (CECC-SICA) reflected on the role of culture as a lever for SICA's regional integration and the relationship between culture and education, during two virtual consultation meetings on July 2 and 9, 2020, in order to prepare two regional strategies in this regard.

On Thursday, July 2, the consultation meeting was held on the concept note for a Culture Strategy as a Lever for Regional Integration, which aims to boost the integration process, taking advantage of the creativity and the cultural heritage of the SICA region as a powerful tool for mutual understanding between societies and a fundamental factor for regional and international cooperation. Likewise, on Thursday, July 9, the concept note for a Strategy to Develop the Relation Between Culture and Education in the SICA Region was presented. The purpose of this strategy is to guide the countries of the region in the development of educational models that integrate culture as an essential component for the construction of societies that are peaceful, sustainable and open to the diversity of cultural expressions, and to position intercultural dialogue as an essential factor in the process of regional integration.

Based on a request from the Councils of Ministers of Culture and Education, issued during a regular session in October 2019, UNESCO is providing technical assistance to CECC-SICA for the elaboration of these two strategies, which seek to reinforce the regional work in key areas for the development of the countries of the SICA region. Culture, education, and regional integration are the cornerstone of the cooperation relationship between both institutions and are approached in accordance with the integrative nature that defines the . The strategies will be presented for approval to the Councils of Ministers at their next session, in October 2020.