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industry, made up of small-scale, largely rural, family-run businesses, that use
traditional artisan practices and locally sourced or recycled materials to produce hand made goods. In spite of its scale, it has one of the lowest carbon footprints of any
major industry. However, it is characterized by precarious livelihoods, with
enterprises operating outside labour laws, reducing access to legitimate credit. Those
working in the sector, the majority of whom are women and marginalized individuals
and communities, remain low-paid and largely invisible, with few or no social
protections. Cultural barriers often prevent artisans’ access to business information.
The lack of culturally sensitive practices, underpinned by systemic discrimination,
leads to reduced trust in official economic channels. For women from minority
groups, cultural barriers are further exacerbated by gender-based discrimination.
IV. Sustainable Development Goals in practice
37. The Sustainable Development Goals can make a clear contribution to real
sustainable development if the principles laid out in the previous section are put into
practice. The political and economic model of each State is, of course, not in question;
it is the degree of respect for the very human rights that States have undertaken to
respect in operationalizing sustainable development that is under scrutiny. Policy oriented and problem-driven policies are often implemented in reaction to panic about
economic sustainability but do not help the realization of the Goals in the long run.
Peoples’ own identities must be reflected in the Goals, and homogenized solutions
must be pushed aside by States and by international organizations.
A.
Domestic practice
38. The Special Rapporteur appreciates that several Governments acknowledge t he
cultural element of the Sustainable Development Goals. Benin, grounding its
approach in the Fribourg Declaration of Cultural Rights, stresses that integrating the
cultural dimension into the implementation of the Goals adds dynamism and
synergies among actors. 34 Argentina also recognizes the importance of culture. 35 In
Denmark, a transnational innovation project related to citizen -driven sustainable
cultural development has been put in place. 36 In Greece, culture is officially
recognized as the fourth pillar of sustainable development, 37 while for Portugal,
culture is part of a comprehensive approach to the sustainable development agenda. 38
39. Different States emphasize different aspects of cultural rights. Some place
emphasis on the equal provision of cultural services at all territorial levels, 39 and
others on greater support to the cultural sector. 40 Jordan adopted measures to promote
the role of libraries in encouraging reading and preserving heritage. 41 Cyprus and
Mauritius underscored the importance of education systems in developing a culture
of sustainability. 42 In Nepal, cultural resources are leveraged in eradicating poverty,
providing quality education and mainstreaming gender equality, as well as with regard
to creative capacities, to increase inclusion and eradicate caste discrimination. 43 Italy
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34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
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Contribution of Benin, p. 9.
Contribution of Argentina, p. 7.
Contribution of Danish Cultural Institute, p. 6.
Contribution of Greece, p. 2.
Contribution of Portugal, p. 2.
Contribution of Lithuania, p. 2.
Contribution of Spain, p. 5.
Contribution of Jordan, pp. 2–8.
Contributions of Cyprus, p. 4, and Mauritius, p. 3.
Contribution of Nepal, p. 6.
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