A/HRC/14/36 2. Media pluralism, information technologies and cultural rights 53. Although globalization processes afford unprecedented conditions for interaction between persons and groups,50 and although information technologies may be emancipatory in many ways,51 enormous imbalances have emerged in terms of access to, and control of, the means of information and communication, such that some specific world visions appear to be in a dominant position. Some increasingly feel that the room available to enable true intercultural exchanges and discussion is progressively shrinking. Collating the trends that are inimical to the development of information technologies as open spaces respectful of cultural rights and cultural diversity could be a first step to open the debate on these issues. B. Participation, access and contribution to cultural life, without any discrimination 54. One particular aspect the independent expert proposes to address is nondiscrimination in the implementation of the right to take part in cultural life. She is interested in particular in the issue of the inclusion and exclusion of individuals and groups willing (a) to be involved in creating the spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional expressions of the community they belong to and (b) to take part in the development of that community and in the definition, elaboration and implementation of policies and decisions that have an impact on the exercise of their cultural rights. 55. This matter entails a discussion of the following issues: whose identity is at stake, that of individuals or that of communities? Whose definition of shared values and cultural heritage shall we rely on? Is such a definition elaborated in a participatory way, without any discrimination based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status? What measures, if any, should be adopted and implemented to accommodate cultural diversity and to ensure the enjoyment of cultural rights on the basis of equality, and with which safeguards? In addressing this theme, the independent expert will pay particular attention to identifying best practices and obstacles in terms of structures, policies and measures that promote pluralism in State institutions and public life. 56. 1. The independent expert proposes to focus in particular on the following. Cultural rights within the education system 57. The independent expert proposes to explore further what measures should be adopted to ensure the full respect of cultural rights within the education system. A set of particular issues, much debated in numerous countries today, arises in this respect. Such issues relate to, inter alia, intercultural and multicultural education, as well as linguistic rights. 58. The independent expert proposes to analyse further the content of the right of all persons to “quality education and training that fully respect their cultural identity”, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (art. 5), taking into consideration general comment No. 13 (1999) of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights on the right to education. In that general comment, the Committee stressed that education in all its forms and at all levels shall exhibit several interrelated and essential features, including, among others, the following: 50 51 18 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, preamble. Anita Gurumurthy, “Cultural rights and globalization of exchanges and of information”, working paper submitted to the seminar on implementing cultural rights: nature, issues at stake and challenges. GE.10-12440