Member States provided examples of good practices, such as representing national
minority languages in public services, including television and radio programmes, and
collaborating with local media outlets for the promotion of minority cultures and languages.
Member States emphasized the importance of collaborating with the UN system to integrate
and mainstream minority issues into UN mechanisms. They highlighted that financial
resources should be allocated for textbooks, training, schools, and NGOs that represent
minorities.
Item 4: Minority representation in art and culture
Participants were invited to address the representation of minorities in various forms
of art and culture, and to evaluate the biases and prejudices that may be conveyed through
these representations and their impact on shaping a collective imagination that fosters
discrimination. Discussion under this item also aimed at assesings the opportunities for
minorities to engage in their own cultural and traditional activities, as well as the importance
of self-portrayal in empowering minorities and preventing cultural appropriation, ensuring
that their voices and stories are authentically represented.
Presentations on the topic under discussion were made by the following panellists: Ms.
Bianca Battle Nguema, Artist and Laureate of the 2023 International Contest for Minority
Artists; Dr. Gülsah Stapel and Ms. Müge Avar, Co-Founders of the TAM Museum; and Ms.
Fatma Serag, Secretary-General of Kandaka Heritage and Comprehensive Development
Association.
Ms. Bianca Battle Nguema provided a critique of the lack of representation in art and
the dominance of white perspectives in visual culture. She highlighted how Black people have
historically symbolized modernity and sexuality in music, sports, and entertainment but have
been marginalized in fine art. She also emphasized that African and Afro-descendant artists
face financial barriers and exclusion from major art fairs and galleries, which remain
overwhelmingly white. Ms. Battle Nguema called for a shift in power, stating that while
minorities are discussed, they are not given actual decision-making roles. She argued that
cultural appropriation and performative inclusivity persist. Questioning the Forum’s
effectiveness and expressing skepticism about her presence there, she advocated to give up
the chair, change the format, and take real action instead of symbolic discussions.
Dr. Gülsah Stapel and Ms. Müge Avar emphasized the need for a new museum in
Germany to challenge the dominant narrative surrounding Turkish minorities. They
highlighted how stories shape identity and belonging, warning against the dangers of a "single
story" that paints Turkish-Germans as perpetual "guest workers" painting them as perpetual
newcomers. Museums, rather than dismantling these reductive narratives, often reinforce
them. Dr. Stapel and Ms. Avar stressed the urgency of challenging the dominant discourse,
especially in the face of rising far-right movements. They explained that the TAM Museum in
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