A/74/255 increasing use of personal electronic devices while in public spaces has also affected human interaction therein. 15. Because they are accessible to all, public spaces fulfil many functions, including providing access to resources, offering a location for cultural practices and allowing for the building of relationships with the spaces. They are used differently by people depending on the day and time. 12 Individuals, depending on their age, gender and cultural background, gather in public spaces, alone or in groups, for many different reasons. For example, they travel from their homes to other places, engage in rest and leisure, interact with their environment, play and practise sports, take part in cultural, traditional and religious events, spend time with their families or socialize, or gather to claim their rights. 16. It is important to consider the conditions of accessibility, including financial accessibility, which can maximize participation and equality in such spaces. While most public spaces are and should be accessible for free, some, like museums and libraries, may entail entrance or usage fees, necessary for the funding of certain programmes. Even if reasonable, these fees can limit access for marginalized sectors of the population and so should be carefully considered. Fees must not be applied in a discriminatory manner or with an intent to exclude certain groups. Where fees cannot be avoided, policies should be developed to minimize potential exclusions, such as by providing free access on particular days or during public holidays and offering free or low-cost entry for the unemployed, youth, students and elderly persons. 17. The multiple dimensions of public space reflect the interdependent and indivisible human rights framework. The civil, or civic, dimension refers to the set of conditions that allow civil society and individuals to exercise their citizenship and influence the cultural, political and social structures around them freely. 13 It is linked to the political dimension, which emphasizes the expression of opinions, public debate and democratic exchange. Parks, squares and streets have been the site of many landmark demonstrations (and attendant repression), which highlights the potential of public spaces as a powerful political tool. Public spaces also have an important social dimension, as they are spaces which are shared, managed and built for common or collective use and where people socialize and learn about others. 14 The economic dimension relates to issues such as access to resources, including land, food and water, and exercise of economic activities in public spaces. 18. From a cultural rights perspective, or cultural dimension, public spaces respond to the need to encounter others and convey important social and cultural meanings. 15 They facilitate a diversity of cultural expressions and social participation. This includes visiting educational and historical sites; enjoying symbolic and architectural landscapes; attending, observing or taking part in art, performances and cultural practices; and interactions with others. The right to take part in cultural life and the right to freedom of artistic expression both imply the possibility of a public, shared dimension. It is necessary to preserve existing public spaces, as well as to creat e new ones, for people to learn, develop their creativity and experience the humanity of others, and to foster civic engagement. 16 __________________ 12 13 14 15 16 19-13014 See, for instance, the spontaneous and organized uses of Zizhuyuan Park, Beijing, in Linnea Hagenbjörk, “An analyse of Chinese urban public space” (2011). See definition of “civic space” by CIVICUS at https://monitor.civicus.org/FAQs. See contribution by Colombia. Luc Gwiazdzinski, “Les nouveaux arts du faire” in Fédération nationale des arts de la rue, Manifeste pour la création artistique dans l’espace public (2017), pp. 47–51. A/HRC/34/56, para. 25. 7/24