A/HRC/40/53 rights,37 and the systematic inclusion of women in activities and projects, and decision making positions. 20. Increased investment in the field of culture and in institutional resources is unfortunately the exception. In a number of countries, the Special Rapporteur has witnessed cuts – sometimes severe – in the overall budget dedicated to culture. She notes however that, as many of the policy measures mentioned in this section indicate, sometimes increased political will is as significant as financial means to improve implementation and the conditions for all to exercise their cultural rights. 21. Regional organisations have also played a role in developing the policy framework for cultural rights. The Special Rapporteur hopes to receive further information about this and to collaborate with diverse relevant regional mechanisms. She notes that in the Europe region, the European Union adopted in 2014 the Conclusions on participatory Governance of cultural heritage38 and in 2017 the conclusions on Promoting Access to Culture via Digital Means. These standards invited member states to “recognise the importance of creators' rights while aiming at the broadest possible access to content”, promoted public access to digital heritage resources and services, and sought to increase participation in the governance of cultural heritage by members of all social groups. 39 2018 was the European year on cultural heritage.40 The Council of the European Union’s Work Plan for Culture for the period 2019-2022 includes thematic priority on gender equality in the culture and creative sectors. 22. In 2017, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights invited international experts to a high-level meeting in Vienna to explore the connections between arts and human rights. Several references were made to the mandate’s report, including concerns about how “the increasing privatisation of public space inhibits creativity in this arena”.41 D. Developing alternative offers and services 23. The implementation of cultural rights can also be improved through the action of individuals, groups and organisations, which increase the range of opportunities to take part in cultural experiences and contribute to cultural life by developing a wider diversity of offers and services. 24. One critical initiative consists in making existing material and information about cultural rights and the mechanisms for their protection available in local languages. This task often falls to national human rights institutions and civil society organizations which translate such materials into the local language(s). More should be done to ensure that these capacities are supported and developed. 25. In the field of heritage and historical narratives, the Special Rapporteur received information and witnessed herself during her country visits how some stakeholders have organized guided thematic visits of cities and sites that offer the possibility to hear other narratives about the past and discover different places and perspectives, such as that of women. In some cities, these offers are available through smartphone applications or include the possibility for participatory contributions to the content. 42 37 38 39 40 41 42 Defensoría del Pueblo de Venezuela, p. 6, 12-13 about indigenous peoples; Colombia, about the strategy to promote the recognition of the cultural manifestations and identities of Afro-descendent people, with active participation of Afro-descendent collectives and organizations; Guatemala, about the participation of Mayan people in religious activities in archaeological sites, ceremonial centers and sacred sites. Council of the European Union, C463/01, 23 December 2014. Council of the European Union, C425/03, 12 December 2017. European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 2017/864, 17 May 2017. http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2017_arts-and-human-rights-report_may2017_vienna.pdf. Emek Shaveh, p. 3-5. See also RASHID, p. 8-9. 25