A/HRC/31/59
29.
The Special Rapporteur believes that this innovative approach to the question of
women’s rights is valid for many other groups that are the victims of human rights
violations justified in the name of tradition, religion, or culture. It paves the way for future
similar work to be done concerning other subordinated groups, be it persons with
disabilities, migrants, indigenous peoples, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex
persons or people living in extreme poverty, for example.
D.
Methodological commitments and challenges
30.
The Special Rapporteur is committed to cooperation and dialogue with States and
other stakeholders, including inter alia national human rights institutions, non-governmental
organizations, intellectuals, artists, scientists and professionals in relevant fields, such as
cultural heritage professionals, teachers and educators and representatives of relevant
professional associations and the private sector.
31.
The Special Rapporteur recognizes the need to centre the issue of State
responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil cultural rights, but also to find innovative ways
to speak directly about the impact on cultural rights of a wide range of non-State actors, and
not only through the lens of State due diligence.
32.
As mandated by the Council, the Special Rapporteur plans to consult with other
relevant human rights bodies and mechanisms, in particular UNESCO, the treaty bodies,
other special procedures and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. She would also
like to interact with relevant regional mechanisms, such as the Unit on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Working
Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights.
E.
Priorities for the mandate holder: 2015-2018
33.
The present section identifies some urgent concerns of high priority based on the
Special Rapporteur’s initial consideration. However, it is also critical to leave room for
flexibility to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities.
34.
One priority theme that the Special Rapporteur will address in her first report to the
General Assembly is the intentional destruction of cultural heritage, as exemplified by the
demolitions of the Baalshamin Temple and the Temple of Bel in Palmyra in 2015. That
issue is introduced below. The Special Rapporteur hopes to also take up the question of the
destruction of cultural heritage in the name of “development” in the future, taking into
consideration the particular impact on indigenous peoples.
35.
In line with the emphasis placed on the issue by the Secretary-General and the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur also intends
to produce a body of work on diverse forms of fundamentalism and extremism, which have
now reached devastating proportions in many regions of the world and have had grave
repercussions on cultural rights, resulting e.g. in widespread attacks on art and artists, on
schools, on curricula, on women, on cultural practices and heritage and on freedom of
thought, conscience and religion.13 Conversely, science, education and culture, including
13
See e.g. Secretary-General remarks at General Assembly presentation of the United Nations plan of
action to prevent violent extremism, 15 January 2016 (noting inter alia the destruction of cultural
institutions).
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