United Nations General Assembly A/HRC/20/26/Add.2 Distr.: General 2 May 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth 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 Addendum Mission to Morocco* (5 – 16 September 2011)** Summary The present report contains the main findings of the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights during her official mission to Morocco from 5 to 16 September 2011. In the report, the Independent Expert examines different aspects of the promotion and the protection of cultural rights in Morocco, focusing on the right to take part in cultural life, the right to have access to and enjoy cultural heritage, and the implementation of cultural rights in the areas of education and the media. She also addresses the issue of the realization of cultural rights of various groups, including persons with disabilities and the Amazigh and Jewish communities. In compliance with the request made by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 10/23 establishing the mandate, the Independent Expert integrated a gender and disabilities perspective into her work throughout the mission. The Independent Expert looks at the normative and institutional framework in place to promote cultural rights and cultural diversity, as well as the challenges and achievements in the realization of these rights. She concludes the report with a number of recommendations to strengthen the promotion and protection of cultural rights for all in Morocco. The report includes a separate chapter on the realization of cultural rights in Western Sahara. * ** GE.12-13378 The Independent Expert also visited Dakhla, Western Sahara, on 14 September 2011. The summary is circulated in all official languages. The report, which is annexed to the summary, is circulated in the language of submission and in Arabic and French only.