A/HRC/43/50 the cultural rights dimensions of such cases, and the particular needs and work of cultural rights defenders. 22. Artistic events are organized to highlight contributions of those facing discrimination or invisibility in cultural sectors and provide a forum for discussion of human rights. For example, in October 2019, Harare was the site of a three-day pan-African “Women, Wine and Words Festival”, the second such event organized by Theatre in the Park, one of the first independent theatre spaces in Zimbabwe. The festival brought together women artists from 51 African countries for performances, readings and debates about women’s rights. The goal was to advocate for Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics for a continent whose development is people-driven.11 Language rights 23. Patricia Sánchez Santiago of the Alliance for Indigenous Women in Central America and Mexico is preserving her language (Tu’un ñuu savi) through storytelling and poetry. 12 Women cultural rights defenders have also striven to achieve gender-inclusive language, such as by ensuring that laws and constitutions are not written in entirely masculine terms. For example, deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Carmen Calvo, advocated in 2018 to make the country’s constitution gender neutral.13 The cultural rights of persons with disabilities 24. Working for inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of cultural life is a global and vital part of cultural rights work. Such efforts are undertaken by a variety of non-governmental organizations such as the Stars of Hope Society in Palestine, which focuses on the rights of women with disabilities, and Bizchut, the Israel human rights centre for persons with disabilities, which defends the human rights of persons with disabilities, including in relation to education and public transportation. 14 It is also carried out by individual advocates including Ukei Muratalieva from Kyrgyzstan, who campaigned successfully for her country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and trained as a wheelchair dancer.15 25. Cultural institutions such as theatres, museums and libraries are central repositories of cultural knowledge; it is essential for persons with disabilities to access these places to enjoy their cultural rights. Those working to promote the equal cultural rights of persons with disabilities sometimes work within such cultural institutions to promote both accessibility and representation of persons with disabilities. The Special Rapporteur notes with admiration the emergence of a specialized field around arts, culture and disability, in particular in the last 20 years, and the work of related organizations such as Arts Access Victoria16 in Australia, which advocates for inclusive arts practice, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability in the United States, which brings together professionals from cultural institutions to promote accessible cultural environments. Such constituencies also seek acknowledgement of the creative potential of disability through an understanding of disability arts and artistry. The Special Rapporteur hopes these issues will receive further attention from the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and from both cultural rights organizations and those working on the rights of persons with disabilities. 11 12 13 14 15 16 6 Robert Tapfumaneyi, “Theatre in the Park hosts biggest pan-African Women, Wine and Words Festival”, New Zimbabwe, 19 October 2019. Bérengère Sim, “Meet the women poets preserving indigenous languages in Mexico”, 9 August 2018. eldiario.es/politica/PSOE-llevara-igualdad-reforma-Constitucion_0_708679782.html. untf.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2018/07/new-funding-to-prevent-and-end-violenceagainst-women-and-girls-with-disabilities. United Nations Development Programme, “Ukei Muratalieva: don’t betray your dreams and yourself”, 11 October 2019. Available at kg.undp.org. See also urgentactionfund.org/2017/12/ give2courage-ukei-muratalieva/. See, e.g., “Art for Everybody: Approaches to Inclusive Practice”. Available at www.artsaccess.com.au.