A/77/290 I. Introduction 1. Cultural rights are indispensable to sustainable development. Development will only be sustainable if it is shaped by the values of the people that it involves and the meaning that they ascribe to it, protects their resources and uses their heritage in all its dimensions – tangible, living and natural. A human rights approach with a strong consideration for cultural rights is both a framework for and a guarantee of success for any development agenda. 2. However, cultural rights have been sidelined in sustainable development strategies. Cultural development is not recognized as a pillar of sustainable development, alongside the social, economic and environmental pillars. The impact of development on cultural rights is rarely measured. Development projects are rarely community led. Plans on poverty eradication and social development rarely incorporate cultural rights elements and often neglect cultural diversity. The cultural sector is often considered restrictively as a source for further income. Research has shown that United Nations monitoring bodies rarely comment on the effects of development on cultural rights except in specific cases, mainly concerning indigenous peoples. This is a very restrictive understanding of the link between development and cultura l rights. 3. The basis for the discussion on sustainable development at the international level is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopted in September 2015, this ambitious agenda pushes all countries to reduce poverty and hunger, protect the planet, ensure that economic, social and technological progress contributes to prosperity for all, and foster peace, justice and inclusiveness. As the 2030 Agenda is firmly anchored in human rights, achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals included therein can only be done in a manner that contributes to the exercise of human rights and refrains from having a negative impact on them. 4. Culture has not been included as a fourth pillar in the 2030 Agenda on the grounds that it transcends all goals. This is true, but the recognition of the crucial role of culture throughout all Sustainable Development Goals is unfortunately not evident thus far in either discussions or implementation. The only Goal that explicitly refers to culture is Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities. 1 Out of the other 168 targets of the 17 Goals, culture is explicitly noted in just three: under Goal 4 on quality education, 2 Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth 3 and Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production, 4 and even in these contexts, culture is scarcely discussed. 5. The Special Rapporteur believes that it is critical to emphasize the importance of cultural rights in sustainable development processes, to set out the principles that cultural rights and cultural diversity require from development that is sustainable, identify positive examples, give a voice to marginalized people affected by development processes and find ways to promote cultural rights through sustainable development. These elements are the focus of the present report. 6. In preparation for writing the present report, the Special Rapporteur held two expert consultations in Geneva on 27 April 2022 and online on 30 May 2022, with __________________ 1 2 3 4 4/24 Target 11.4 on strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Target 4.7 on ensuring that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development, among other things. Target 8.9 on devising and implementing policies to pr omote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. Target 12.b on developing and implementing tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and pr oducts. 22-12659