Special Rapporteur on cultural rights

Issues in focus

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Special Rapporteur on cultural rights

Issues in focus

About special procedures

2023

Joint policy position in relation to the protection of human rights in sport without discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics, by a group of United Nations Special Procedures mandate holders
31 October 2023

Joint policy position on the participation of LGBT persons in cultural life, from the Special rapporteur and the Independent Expert on Protection Against Violence and Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
27 October 2023

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in Kulturytringer, one of Norway’s main cultural event. Keynote address on freedom of artistic expression and creativity and discussion of the newly launched State of Artistic Freedom report, prepared by Freemuse.
19-21 June 2023

Keynote address by Special Rapporteur on the cultural rights of migrants, in the Festival of Migration, organised by Art.27 Scotland Art for Dignity, Justice and Peace, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
16-18 June 2023

Remote contribution of the Special Rapporteur in the Council of Europe International Conference on the Nicosia Convention on Offences related to cultural Property, organised in Riga, Latvia.
15-16 June 2023

  • See the programme
  • See the video message of the Rapporteur
  • Read the Q&A of the Council of Europe

Contribution of the Special Rapporteur in a workshop on the Protection of artists and cultural actors, organised by Culture Resource in Amman, Jordan
9 June 2023

Statement by the Special Rapporteur in the informal stakeholder dialogue contributing to the Zero Draft Political Declaration of the 2023 SDG summit, organised online by the two co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Ireland and of Qatar.
7 June 2023

Contribution of the Special Rapporteur in the Summer School on protecting and valuing heritage cultural diversity and creativity: a human rights based approach, organised by the Faculty of law of Université Laval (Quebec, Canada), together with its UNESCO Chair on the diversity of cultural expressions, the University of Fribourg UNESCO Chair on diversity and human rights (Switzerland), the Research Center on Culture – Arts-Societies (CELAT) and the Institute for cultural heritage (IPAC).
19 May 2023

9th World Summit on Arts and Culture, organised by IFACCA and the Swedish Arts Council in Stockholm. The Special Rapporteur contributed to the opening plenary on Artistic Freedom in an Age of Complexity, and in the closing plenary on Pathways, Tools and Resources to advance Artistic Freedom.
2-5 May 2023

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the launch of the OHCHR training guide Towards a human rights based approach to migration
4 April 2023

Dialogue between the Special Rapporteur and the Committee on the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families on the cultural rights of migrants
4 April 2023

Participation in the 3rd OHCHR-UNESCO Geneva Dialogue for enhancing cooperation and effectiveness, dedicated to cultural rights.
3-4 April 2023

Dialogue between the Special Rapporteur and the Global Athletes Commission on the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee concerning the Russian and Belarusian athletes
24 March 2023

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the first meeting of the human rights advisory board of the International Olympic Committee, discussing the consequences of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
16 March 2023

Questions and answers from the Special Rapporteur on the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international sports competitions
4 May 2023

Contribution of the Special Rapporteur to the public audience on the participation of athletes of the Russian Federation and Belarus from participating in international competitions leading to the next Olympic games, organised by the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and the Media of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
25 April 2023

Reply from the ICC Prosecutor regarding the Situation in the State of Palestine
26 April 2023

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the Salzburg Global Seminar On the Front Line: Artists at Risk, Artists Who Risk
25-30 March 2023

32 UN experts issue a joint letter to the ICC Prosecutor regarding the Situation in the State of Palestine and Annex
23 March 2023

The Special Rapporteur opens the panel on “Resilience in the face of crises through the lens of women artists”, organised within the framework of the UNESCO-Aschberg programme for artists and cultural professionals.
8 March 2023

Launch of a paper on the Incorporation of The Right To Take Part in Cultural Life in Scottish law, with the participation of the Special Rapporteur.
6 March 2023

Launch of the second edition of the Minority Artists Award, focusing on intersectionality, to which the Special Rapporteur is a member of the jury panel. Applications can be submitted until 15 May!
1 March 2023

The Special Rapporteur takes part in the CESCR's day of general discussion on the upcoming General Comment on sustainable development. 
24 February 2023

The Special Rapporteur participates in the European Union Conference on Artistic Freedom and Cultural and Creative Industries, held in Umea (Sweden).
16-17 February 2023

2022

The Special Rapporteur speaks at the session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, who then decides to work together with the Special Rapporteur to advance the observance of cultural rights in its mandate.
15-16 December 2022

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the first International days on cultural rights - Culturopolis, organised in Barcelona.
16-19 November 2022

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator 2022 Summit, in a session focusing on “Reviving the Human Right to Science”. In her intervention, the Special Rapporteur reminded of the importance of looking at all the human rights related to science, including access to knowledge, methodologies and benefits, access to scientific publications, participation in and direct contribution to scientific research, academic and scientific freedoms and the corresponding obligations of States and other duty bearers.
13 October 2022

Participation of the Special Rapporteur to the World conference on culture and sustainable development, Mondiacult, organised by UNESCO. During the 3 days of the conference, the expert participated in several side-events and a ministerial session advocating for 1) a stronger integration of a human rights approach, including cultural rights, to sustainable development, 2) more actions from all actors to ensure a transversal consideration of culture in all the SDGs, 3) stronger recognition and mechanisms to ensure inclusive participation of all, and in particular the most marginalized and 4) more involvement of cities and local governments in national and international sustainable development discussions, as a level of governance of particular relevance to ensure the inclusion and participation of all and the respect for cultural diversity
28 – 30 September 2022

Intervention by the Special Rapporteur opening the 2nd Argentinian Forum on cultural rights, organised by the academic working group.
13 September 2022

Intervention by the Special Rapporteur opening a cultural rights forum entitled “Experiences and challenges in the materialization of cultural rights for an inclusive society”, organised by the Colombian Ombudsman Office. The aim of the forum was to promote a space for dialogue and discussion between official representatives of Colombia and Ambassadors of various countries, to learn about the different international experiences to achieved full recognition of cultural rights
5 August 2022

Intervention by the Special Rapporteur in the opening panel of the Expert consultation on “violations and abuses of human rights rooted in harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks”, organised by the OHCHR, Geneva.
18-19 July 2022

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the second UNESCO and Human Rights: Geneva dialogues for enhancing cooperation and effectiveness, dedicated to the right to science.
25-26 April 2022

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the #Culture2030Goal campaign ResiliArt x Mondiacult event discussing a potential culture goal in the sustainable development agenda
28 February 2022

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the High Level opening of the International virtual conference Climate. Culture. Peace organised by ICCROM together with a consortium of 55 partner institutions, as a follow up to the COP26.
24 January 2022

2021

Side event Beyond symbolic reparations: Perceptions, expectations and challenges in the Al Mahdi case and in Mali, organized by the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court in the framework of the 20th session of the Assembly of States Parties.
10 December 2021

Online events celebrating artists from minorities, a virtual art and activism tour and a showcase of #Music4Faith4Rights, organised by the OHCHR and Freemuse.
16 and 25 November 2021

Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the Knowledge Sharing Workshop of the EU National Institutes for Culture on Artistic freedom and its place in international cultural relations, Paris.
22 November 2021

Launch of the Climate Heritage Network Race to Resilience Campaign, organized during COP26.
2 November 2021

Side event The Children of an "Infinity of Cultures*" A Human Rights Approach to Cultural Mixing, organised together with the Coalition for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development (CREID).
26 October 2021

Contribution of the Special Rapporteur in the session on Dynamics of Security & Development in Africa at the Global Security Forum, Doha, Qatar.
14 October 2021

Opinion piece from the Special Rapporteur on Cultural mixing and mixed identities – How to protect cultural rights for all, published online by the Institute of development studies
8 October 2021

Side-Event to the HRC 48 session, Afghan Women Human Rights Defenders Demand Justice and Accountability
5 October 2021

Contribution of the Special Rapporteur in the Donia Human Rights Center Panel on Twenty Years after 9/11: Challenges to Human Rights Protection from Terrorism and Counter-terrorism, together with the Special Rapporteur on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism, Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
14 September 2021

UCLG Culture Summit Culture: shaping the future, Izmir, Turkey
10 September 2021

Contribution on Preventing Cultural Catastrophe in the Pandemic: A Cultural Rights Approach, at the Fifth Annual Lecture of the Human Rights Centre, University of Essex
8 July 2021

Human Rights Council's Intersessional meeting on cultural rights and the protection of heritage, in the implementation of resolution 37/17
15 June 2021

Webinar on Speaking Truth to Power: Religious or Belief Minority Artists, Voice and Protest, organised by OHCHR and Freemuse.
26 May 2021

Contribution of the Special Rapporteur to the event of the European Alliance of Academies on Artistic Freedom in Europe – Mission (in)complete!?,9 May 2021

21 April 2021 – Contribution to the discussions on Far Right Extremism and Human Rights in the United States: Global Perspectives, organised at the UC Davis School of Law.

20 April 2021 – "Cities Are Listening' session on Upgrading Culture in Sustainable Development: The Time is Now, organised by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), UN Habitat and Metropolis.

19 April 2021 – Event on Resisting repression: How culture inspires the democratic movement in Belarus, organised by the Atlantic Council

30 March 2021 – Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the symbolic reparation ceremony for the victims of the destruction of Mausoleums in Timbuktu, organised by the Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court.

9 March 2021 – Webinar: Preventing "cultural catastrophe" in the pandemic: a cultural rights approach, organised by Artists at Risk Connection.

4 March 2021 – Opening address by the Special Rapporteur for the second of a series of three online webinars organised by the French national consultative commission for human rights (CNCDH) on women’s rights in France, focusing on culture and education and the transmission of gender stereotypes.

2 March 2021 – Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the panel discussion organised by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with State Secretary Jens Frølich Holte on artistic freedom and expression, in the framework of the review of its international strategy on freedom of expression. With the participation of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for artistic freedom, Deeyah Khan, and other artists.

11 February 2021 - Webinar: Human rights, art and protest: voice and expression in U.S. minority communities in the time of the pandemic, organised jointly by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and Freemuse.

3 February 2021, 10 am (EST) - Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the launch conference of a Safety Guide for artists, prepared by Artist at Risk Connection at Pen America.

2020

10 December 2020 – Intervention of the Special Rapporteur in "Celebration of life", event organised by Muslims for Progressive Values, in honour of Muslim human rights defenders.

8 December 2020 - keynote address of the Specila Rapporteur at the event: "Vandalism in the Name of God," analysing 2020 "war of the monuments" from a human rights perspective, organised by the Norwegian Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities.

3 December 2020 –Intervention and moderation by the Special Rapporteur of the round table 2, in the framework of the Safe Havens Global Stream, “Resource-givers and policy makers in fields pertinent to freedom of artistic expression and the protection and defense of at-risk artists”.

28 November 2020 – Keynote address by the Special Rapporteur in the webinar Les combats des femmes contre les obscurantismes : Instruments et actions, organized by Regards de Femmes.

25 November 2020 – Keynote address from the Special Rapporteur at the event In Our Own Words: Discrimination and Violence against Women of Religious Minority Backgrounds in Pakistan, organized by the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and the Center for Religious Equality and Inclusive Development.

November 2020 - Interview with the Special Rapporteur, “It’s difficult to imagine development without the arts and culture”, Christian Zeier, “One World” magazine, Dossier culture.

28-30 October 2020 – Closing remarks of the Special Rapporteur for the International Congress on Cultural and Creative Industries, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the State of Jalisco (Haleesco), Mexico, on “Cultural rights in the face of the covid crisis”.

26 October 2020 – Opening by the Special Rapporeur of the Oslo World Festival 2020 conference programme Solidarity, artistic freedom and resistance.

22 October 2020 - Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the side-event “Safeguarding the rights to freedom of religion or belief and cultural rights at a time of crisis” during the UN General Assembly, from 12:00 -1:15 pm EDT (via Zoom).

21 October 2020 - Participation of the Special Rapporteur in the webinar “Climate change and cultural extinction: A Human Rights Crisis” organized with Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College during the UN General Assembly.

3 October 2020 – Intervention of the Special Rapporteur for the conclusions of the conference “The 2020 Rome Charter”,

13 August 2020 – Participation of the Special Rapporteur in IANGEL’s 7th Annual Virtual Gala.

10 July 2020 – Intervention by the Special Rapporteur “Culture is the heart of our response to COVID19”, in the panel session on “Accelerating transformation from the ground up in the post COVID19 era”, in the framework of the Local and regional governments’ day of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

22 April 2020 - Intervention by the Special Rapporteur in the round table "Imagine the tomorrow", thematic session on "The cultural mobilization in the COVID19 pandemic", organised in the framework of the Live Learning Experience: Beyond the Immediate Response to the Outbreak by UCLG, UN Habitat and metropolis

28 February 2020 - Conference by the Special Rapporteur "Defending the Right to Freedom of Artistic Expression", in the framework of the Art-at-Risk conference on "Creative work in challenging contexts", organised by artasfoundation, Zürich, Switzerland

2019

17 October 2019 - Keynote address by the Special Rapporteur "Why cultural rights matter?", for "The Hour of Freedom – Facts, Fictions and Freedom of Expression", organized in the framework of the Frankfurter Bookfair, Frankfurt, Germany 

18 to 24 September 2019 - Official visit to Tuvalu

25 April 2019 – Video message of the Special Rapporteur, presented during the UNESCO International Conference on the 20th anniversary of the Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention, Geneva, Switzerland

12 March 2019 – Opening keynote speech by the Special Rapporteur at the 8th World Summit on Arts and Culture, organised by IFACCA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2018

6 December 2018 – Presentation of the Special Rapporteurreport on universality of human rights, cultural rights and cultural diversity, University of Malmö, Sweden.

5 December 2018 – Statement by the Special Rapporteur on the importance of article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Safe Havens conference, organized as part of the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Malmö, Sweden.

4 December 2018 – Keynote speech by the Special Rapporteur on the cultural rights approach to the universality of human rights and the close interrelationship between universality and cultural diversity at the Annual Seminar of the Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities entitled "What Is at Stake When Religion and Culture Bypass Human Rights & Who Pays the Prize?", Oslo, Norway. 

24 October 2018, Seminar on P.C. Chang and the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, New York, Colombia University

12- 13 September 2018 – Keynote address of the Special Rapporteur at the Climate Heritage Mobilization, on “A Human Rights Approach to the Intersection of Climate Change and Cultural Heritage”, San Francisco, USA.

24 May 2018 –24 May 2018 – Conference of the Special Rapporteur on “Les droits culturels: principaux enjeux actuels dans l’ensemble des droits humains” (in French), Freiburg, Switzerland.

23 May 2018 - Participation of the Special Rapporteur in a symposium on “Freedom of Religion or Belief, Cultural Rights and Women: promoting a Gendered Perspective on Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion”, together with the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religions or belief, Geneva, Switzerland.

22 May 2018 - Statement by the Special Rapporteur in the first panel of the UNESCO event “Towards Access to Culture for All” (in English and French), celebrating the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, Paris, France.

9-11 May 2018 – Keynote address from the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights at the first Americas Culture Summit, organised by the Ministry of Culture of Argentina and the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) hosted by the Canada Council for the Arts in Ottawa, Canada.

8 March 2018 - Keynote address by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights in the Symposium “Women in Culture and Science”, organised by the UNESCO Chair on Building Common Ground: Cultural Rights of the University of Copenhagen and the UNESCO division for gender equality, Paris, France.

22 March 2018 – Written contribution by the Special Rapporteur to the conference “Countering Violent Extremism: European Context and the Bangladeshi Diaspora”, organised by European Bangladesh Forum as a side-event to the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva.

2017

1 December 2017 - "What are cultural rights?" An interview with the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, in the series of UNESCO podcasts “Talking about culture”, Paris

7 July 2017 -  Keynote address from the Special Rapporteur Karima Bennoune opening the one-day intersessional seminar organised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on "Cultural Rights and the Protection of Cultural Heritage", Geneva, Switzerland. * for more information on the event, consult the dedicated page here

13 May 2017 - Video address from the Special Rapporteur Karima Bennoune opening the Europa Nostra European Heritage Congress entitled "Sharing Heritage - Citizens Participation in Decision Making", Turku, Finnland.

10 May 2017 - Keynote address by the Special Rapporteur Karima Bennoune opening the work of the 2nd UCLG Culture Summit on "Commitments and Actions for Culture in Sustainable Cities", Jeju, Republic of Korea.

27 April 2017 - Expert contribution of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights to the International Criminal Court case "The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi".

2015

16 December 2015, participation of Mrs Karima Bennoune in the launch of UNESCOs first global report on tracking the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

13-14 November 2015, interview by Mrs. Farida Shaheed on the lessons of 6 years as mandate holder, international conference "Negotiating Cultural Rights", Copenhagen. http://pf.ku.dk/negotiating-cultural-rights/

22 May 2015, keynote speech by Ms. Farida Shaheed, International conference on the Human Right to Science: New Directions for Human Rights in Science, Bern, Switzerland

6 May 2015, Video conference by Ms. Farida Shaheed, Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

18 March 2015, Keynote Address by Ms.Farida Shaheed, UCLG Culture Summit, Culture and Sustainable cities, Bilbao, Spain - Farida Shaheed, Reflections on culture, sustainable development and cultural rights

2014

November 2014, Mexico, Statement on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

  • English | Spanish (unofficial translation to Spanish by NGO UNESCO Etxea) | Arabic (unofficial translation)

26 September 2014, Integrating Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Transitional Justice Processes: A Vehicle for Reform in the Middle East and North Africa? Tunis

5 May 2014, General Assembly special thematic debate, Culture and sustainable development in the post 2015 development agenda

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