A/HRC/46/34 cultural losses. “L” is for legal obligations, a reminder that States are legally required by international human rights law to guarantee cultural rights for all during and after the pandemic. “T” is for twenty-first century, a reminder that the choices made now about defending cultural rights and the right to science during and after the pandemic will be defining of how these rights are enjoyed for years to come, and whether they will be available to young people and future generations. “U” is for upping the funding for culture and avoiding budget cuts. “R” is for rights-based approaches, and the necessity of considering the cultural rights of all in applying and making cultural policies, and supporting at-risk cultural rights defenders whose efforts are essential for guaranteeing these rights. “E” stands for everyone, a reminder to focus on inclusion and combat discrimination in the enjoyment of cultural rights during the pandemic. “S” represents solidarity, a core human rights value we need in order to guarantee cultural rights and the right to science, nationally and internationally, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 78. As grave as the challenges are, the Special Rapporteur ends the report on a note of vigilant optimism. Optimism is not about denying reality. It is about affirming that if – and only if – needed policies are implemented, the future can be bright. As an Afghan woman told the Special Rapporteur: “Optimism is key to survival.” So, let us together use culture and cultural rights and the right to science, to foster hope as we move forward. Vigilant optimism recognizes the gravity of today but also says, tomorrow, together, with our cultures and cultural rights to sustain us, if we and our Governments take effective science-based, rights-respecting action, we shall prevail. B. Recommendations 79. To guarantee cultural rights and the right to science for everyone, without discrimination, during and after the pandemic, States and other relevant actors should: (a) Carry out full inventories of the cultural and cultural rights damage inflicted by the pandemic, with participation of Government and civil society, so as to inform effective responses; (b) Increase funding for culture and avoid budget cuts in the culture sector; (c) Ensure that culture and arts funding is integrated into all COVID-19 relief and stimulus packages, and specifically that all recovery packages allocate at least 2 to 7 per cent of the overall fund to provide relief to artists, cultural workers and cultural institutions; (d) Include all artists and cultural practitioners in government furlough or unemployment schemes, and ensure that such programmes take account of the needs of those who work part-time or as freelancers or are self-employed; (e) Recognize the public health value and social contributions of the cultural sectors in responding to the pandemic, and highlight these beneficial aspects as an advocacy tool for building support for these sectors; (f) Support and promote cultural initiatives as an integral part of pandemic and post-pandemic responses; (g) Strengthen structures and mechanisms for collaboration among culture and health sectors and authorities, such as introducing programmes co-financed by arts and health budgets;162 (h) Commit to reopening and supporting artistic and cultural spaces and institutions and promoting their renewal as soon as possible, subject to public health guidance; (i) Fully consult and ensure the participation of a diversity of artists, cultural practitioners, cultural rights defenders, representatives of cultural institutions and 162 20 See www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/419081/WHO_Arts_A5.pdf, first page.