Purpose of the mandate
Cultural rights are fundamental for the respect of human dignity, in the diversity of its expressions. This mandate was created to:
- Give greater visibility to cultural rights in the human rights system; and to
- Foster a better understanding of the severity of their violations, and of the opportunity of their realisation for all.
Learn more about how the implementation of cultural rights is critical for sustainable peace, equality and development through the
Issues in focus section.
About the mandate
In 2009 the Human Rights Council decided to establish, for a period of three years, a new special procedure entitled "independent expert in the field of cultural rights" through resolution
10/23.
This mandate was extended for a period of three years in 2012, through resolution
19/6; in 2015, through resolution
28/9, in 2018, through resolution
37/12, and in 2021, through resolution
46/9.
Learn more about the
mandate
Current mandate holder
Alexandra Xanthaki was appointed UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights in October 2021. Ms. Xanthaki is Greek and lives in the United Kingdom where she works as a Professor of Laws at Brunel University London, United Kingdom. Throughout her academic career, Ms. Xanthaki has published over 50 publications relating to the cultural rights of minorities and indigenous peoples, cultural diversity, cultural heritage, balancing cultural rights with other rights and interests, and multiculturalism and integration in international human rights law. She has worked with NGOs, civil society and has consulted States on such issues.
Read Alexandra Xanthaki's full biography.
Key documents
Cultural rights: tenth anniversary report
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The universality of human rights, cultural diversity and cultural rights
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Latest thematic reports
Capturing the state of the art: In her first report as newly appointed Special Rapporteur, Ms Alexandra Xanthaki presents an overview of her vision for the mandate. Building on the important work conducted by her predecessors, the Special Rapporteur recalls important aspects in the evolution of the nature and scope of cultural rights and reflects on the corresponding States’ obligations, highlights the positive nature of culture and the empowering force of cultural rights and identifies a preliminary list of issues she intends to address during her tenure. Read the Unedited version of the report.
Cultural mixing and cultural rights: In this report, the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights calls for greater recognition of human rights-respecting cultural mixing and syncretism and increased respect for mixed cultural identities, all of which is necessary for the implementation of cultural rights. View the report page | View document
A/76/178 and its
annex.
COVID-19, cultures and cultural rights: In this report, the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights surveys the negative impacts of COVID-19 on culture and cultural rights worldwide, and the positive potential of culture and cultural rights, and the right to science, to enhance rights-respecting solutions and build resilience. The report also contains relevant recommendations for action.
View issue in focus page |
View the report page | View document
A/HRC/46/34.
Climate change, culture and cultural rights: In this report, the Special Rapporteur addresses the cultural and cultural rights dimensions of the current climate emergency, which have too often been overlooked. She considers the negative impacts of climate change on human cultures and on the enjoyment of cultural rights, and the positive potential of cultures and the exercise of cultural rights to serve as critical tools in responding to the climate emergency.
View issue in focus page |
View the report page | View document
A/75/298 and its
annex.
Latest country reports
Mission to Maldives (9 to 18 June 2019)
View document
A/HRC/43/50/add.2
Mission to Tuvalu (18 to 24 September 2019)
View document
A/HRC/46/34/Add.1
