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Report on access to cultural heritage as a human right

Summary

The report investigates the extent to which the right of access to and enjoyment of cultural heritage forms part of international human rights law. Stressing the need for a human rights-based approach to cultural heritage matters, the independent expert explores the concept of cultural heritage from the perspective of human rights and presents a non-exhaustive list of human rights issues related to cultural heritage.

A compilation of references in international law on the rights of individuals and communities in relation to cultural heritage and a summary of information received regarding national initiatives are included. The report further contains an analysis of the right of access to and enjoyment of cultural heritage, in particular regarding its normative content, related State obligations and possible limitations. The report's final section contains conclusions and recommendations.

Learn more about the rights related to cultural heritage on the page dedicated to this issue.

Methodology

To prepare that report and to initiate a constructive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders on the recognition, access and protection of cultural heritage, the Special Rapporteur widely disseminated the questionnaire below.

Read the questionnaire (Word): English | French | Spanish

The mandate holder also held a public consultation in Geneva on 10 February 2011. Read the Note Verbale (PDF): English

Inputs received

Member states

1. Austria | Note Verbal
   
2. Azerbaijan
   
3. Canada | Note Verbal | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2
   
4. Croatia
   
5. Cuba
   
6. Cyprus | Appendix 1
   
7. Dominican Republic
   
8. Georgia | Note Verbal | Appendix 1
   
9. Germany
   
10. Greece | Note Verbal
11. Italy
    
12. Japan | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2
    
13. Kazakhstan
    
14. Malaysia
    
15. Mauritius
    
16. Monaco
    
17. Morocco
    
18. Nepal
    
19. Poland
    
20. Portugal
    
21. Slovakia
    
22. Spain | Note Verbal | Appendix 1
    
23. Switzerland
    
24. Syria
    
25. Turkmenistan | Pictures 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
26. United Kingdom
    
27. Ukraine
    
28. Uzbekistan
    
29. Venezuela
    

Submissions received after the deadline

• Burkina Faso
  
• Ecuador
  

National Human Rights Institutions

1. Defensoría del Pueblo Colombia
   
2. Defensoría del Pueblo Ecuador | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2 | Appendix 3
   
3. Ombudsman Kosovo | Appendix 1
   
4. Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos de México
   
5. Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos de Nicaragua
   
6. Defensoría del Pueblo Perú
7. Provedor de Justiça Portugal | Note Verbal
   

Civil society stakeholders

1. ATD quart monde
   
2. Catedra UNESCO
   
3. Council of Europe
   
4. Dr. Oscar A. Forero
   
5. IIMA and VIDES | Note Verbal
   
6. International Campaign for Tibet
   
7. International Steering Committee on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas Protected Areas      | Appendix 1
   
8. World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA)
   
9. Kirant Kamal
   
10. Ministry od Endowments – Aqsa-UNISCO
    
11. Partners for Law in Development – India
    
12. UNESCO Etxea
    
13. World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry | Appendix 1 | Appendix 2
    
14. World Blind Union