Joint statement: NGOS call for cultural rights defenders to be protected
The Human Rights Council (HRC) in session | Credit: U.S. Mission Geneva/Eric Bridiers
On March 4, 2020, Elizabeth O'Casey from Humanists International issued a joint oral statement on behalf of 12 civil society organisations in support of the UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights, Karima Bennoune’s, new report on Cultural Rights Defenders.
Thank you, President.
The 75th anniversary of the United Nations and the beginning of the SDG Decade of Action is a unique opportunity to reiterate the importance of Cultural Rights Defenders and recognize their work as being in the same category as that of other human rights defenders.
On behalf of 12 civil society organisations, it is an honour to be present at the Human Rights Council to express support for the work of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and commend her most recent report on Cultural Rights Defenders.
Cultural rights defenders (or CRDs) are human rights defenders who fight for the respect, protection, and fulfilment of cultural rights. Their work is often used to defend human rights more broadly. According to data from Front Line Defenders, CRDs defended more than 25 other human rights, including those of indigenous peoples, minorities, refugees and migrants, women and LGBTQI persons, and more. They are thus critical for making progress on the SDGs and vice versa.
President, CRDs are critical to a free and open society, but often face threats from both state and non-state actors for their work. However, CRDs are often ignored as a subcategory of human rights defenders and receive insufficient attention, support, and protection. The present report does not create a new category but rather calls for a more comprehensive approach to implementing the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Therefore, we encourage the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights to continue to work for the recognition and protection of cultural rights defenders and call upon member states to fully implement the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations.
Thank you for your attention.
Signed,
Arterial Network
Artist Protection Fund
Bahá'i International Community
Cartoonists Rights Network International
Front Line Defenders
Humanists International
Minority Rights Group International
PEN America and its Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) program
PEN International
Penn Cultural Heritage Center, University of Pennsylvania
UNESCO Chair "Cultural Policy for the Arts in Development," University of Hildesheim and its Arts Rights Justice program
Urgent Action Fund