A/HRC/17/38/Add.1 significance as many interlocutors stressed that effective implementation remains a major challenge. 57. The independent expert wishes to stress that the right to take part in cultural life encompasses the right to create cultural values and products, together with the right to benefit from such cultural expressions as authored by the individual or the community. In this regard, some communities expressed concern that while their cultural expressions are used to identify Brazil (such as certain food, dances or sports) and for tourism, members of the concerned communities do not share in the benefits. In fact, sometimes their contributions in shaping cultural expressions, which are commercialized by the State and other actors, are not even be recognized. 58. While there are challenges to more effective implementation of some of the laws, plans and programmes, during her visit, the independent expert saw and learnt about many examples of good practices of implementation, such as the CPP, NCP, and the tax incentives law, all of which have encouraged the fostering and strengthening of partnerships between stakeholders, including local communities, CSOs, artists, traditional masters, as well as youth, the private sector, the United Nations and others. 59. Building on progress made, the Ministry of Culture should continue to emphasize inter-sectoral coordination and the expansion of its programmes, projects and priority actions to all states and municipalities of Brazil. Information available in 2008 indicated that out of 5,507 municipalities, 600 were still in need of a public library – 440 of them in the northeast of Brazil – and over 90 per cent of municipalities did not have cinemas, theatres, museums and cultural centres. The situation has improved with the programmes on access to culture, such as the itinerant libraries, the promotion of cultural points in remote areas, and commendable steps to ensure access by and the creative contribution of persons with disabilities. However, popular expectations are high and disparities remain regarding the right to take part in cultural life, including the lack of basic infrastructure to access culture in a number of places. 60. Similarly, cultural diversity, rightly seen as a key asset for social integration, mediation and citizenship as well as development, is being widely promoted. As pointed out by several stakeholders, it is important not to reduce culture, as it constitutes a way of life and defines how people perceive, relate to and live with others and the environment. In this regard, a number of stakeholders pointed to the negative implications of seeing people only as consumers of culture, and of culture being reduced to a consumable commodity. Concern was expressed about a possible privatization of the cultures of specific communities. The importance of projects that promote culture within, rather than for, communities was underlined as the best way to make plurality visible. B. The right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications 61. The right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications is essential for the realization of human rights, including but not limited to, the right to education and the right to seek, receive and impart information. This right, whose full scope and dimensions are yet to be defined at the international level, presupposes an enabling environment conducive to the freedom indispensable for conducting ethical scientific research, and for equal access to scientific progress by all. Bridging the digital divide, which is still a challenge in Brazil as well as in many countries of the world, is an important measure to fully realize this right. 14