A/HRC/17/38 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 21 March 2011 Original: English Human Rights Council Seventeenth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Report of the independent expert in the field of cultural rights, Farida Shaheed Summary The independent expert in the field of cultural rights submits the present report in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 10/23. The report investigates the extent to which the right of access to and enjoyment of cultural heritage forms part of international human rights law. Stressing the need for a human rights-based approach to cultural heritage matters, the independent expert explores the concept of cultural heritage from the perspective of human rights and presents a nonexhaustive list of human rights issues related to cultural heritage. A compilation of references in international law on the rights of individuals and communities in relation to cultural heritage and a summary of information received regarding national initiatives are included. The report further contains an analysis of the right of access to and enjoyment of cultural heritage, in particular regarding its normative content, related State obligations and possible limitations. The report’s final section contains conclusions and recommendations. GE.11-12204