A/73/227 I. Introduction: universality, cultural diversity and cultural rights in 2018 and beyond 1. The universality of human rights is one of the most important principles codified in international law during the twentieth century. It is the central idea of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a foundational aspect of the entire human rights system. Universality greatly enhances the lives of all human beings everywhere and advances equality, dignity and rights, including cultural rights, and will continue to do so in this twenty-first century and beyond if fully implemented, nourished and revitalized. 2. Universality means that human beings are endowed with equal human rights simply by virtue of being human, wherever they live and whoever they are, regardless of their status or any particular characteristics. Universality must be understood as closely related to other core human rights principles of interdependence, indivisibility, equality and dignity. In practice, it is a critical tool for the Un ited Nations human rights system, diverse regional human rights mechanisms and human rights defenders around the world. 3. However, universality is currently under sustained attack from many directions, including from some Governments, from some on the political right and left, from some non-State actors, including extremists, fundamentalists and populists around the world, and even from some quarters in academia, including those who misuse culture and cultural rights justifications. This poses many challenges for the enjoyment of all human rights, including cultural rights. Cultural rights are a critical component of the universal human rights system, and that system provides their greatest guarantee. Cultural rights are a vital component of universality, and universality is essential to defend the foundations of cultural rights: the flourishing of cultural diversity, cultural mixing and openness, and the right of everyone to take part in a dynamic cultural life without discrimination. 4. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, asked in his farewell address to the Human Rights Council at its thirty eighth session: “why is the Universal Declaration, and the whole body of human rights law that followed it, the object of so much attack now …?” He attributed this to an instrumentalization of history, to political self-interest and narrow-minded nationalism, and appealed to the members of the Human Rights Council, and indeed to all of us, “to speak louder and work harder for the common purpose and for universal human rights law …” noting rightly that “the human rights ideal has been the most constructive movement of ideas in our era”. 1 5. We must heed High Commissioner Zeid’s appeal. In view of the attacks, we need more than platitudes. We need a foundational renewal of universality, and one which looks back to key standards, histories and achievements, but also forward to sustaining and reinvigorating itself in the future with a broad youth constituency. Human rights advocates and experts must redouble their efforts both to defend the universality of human rights, including cultural rights, and cultural diversity, in accordance with international standards. They must enhance their strategies in both regards. 6. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity stresses that “culture takes diverse forms across time and space. This diversity is embodied in the uniqueness and plurality of __________________ 1 4/26 Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, opening statement and global update on human rights concerns to the thirty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, Geneva, 18 June 2018. 18-12312