 thereby improving conditions for the full and equal enjoyment of their human rights in general. “This requires a shift in perspective,” said Shaheed, “from seeing culture as an obstacle to women’s human rights to ensuring women’s equal cultural rights.
She added that women’s perspectives and contributions must move from the margins of cultural life to the centre of the processes that create, interpret and shape culture. “Women must be recognized as, and supported to be, equal spokespersons vested with the authority to determine which of the community’s traditions are to be respected, protected and transmitted to future generations.”
In her report, Shaheed called on States take into consideration their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the cultural rights of women, on the basis of equality with men.
Cultural rights protect the rights of each person, individually and in community with others, as well as groups of people, to develop and express their humanity, their world view and the meanings they assign to human existence and development through values, beliefs, convictions, languages, knowledge and the arts, institutions and ways of life. They also protect access to tangible and intangible cultural heritage as important resources enabling such identification and development processes.
Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, everyone has the right to take part in cultural life.
On 10 December we celebrate Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is inclusion and the right to participate in public life.
8 November 2012
- Syria & Bosnia Women Confer on Importance of Women-Driven Peace
- Campaigners welcome 'milestone' agreement at UN gender equality talks
- Rollback of Women's Rights: Not Just in Afghanistan
- Reflections on Transgender Day of Remembrance
- GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SUPPORT STRONG INTERNATIONAL RESOLUTION ON WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
- Call for Action: Include women in the Syrian peace-building process now!
- DRAFT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION ON WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS UNDER ATTACK!
- STATEMENT FROM ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS IN SOLIDARITY WITH FEMALE EGYPTIAN ACTIVISTS
- Rights Must Be At the Center of the Family Planning Summit: Civil Society Declaration
- International: Statement of Feminist and Women's Organisations on the very Limited and Concerning Results of the 56th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women
- Factsheet: Violence Against Women - the Missing MDG?
- How to follow up on UN Human Rights Recommendations: A practical guide for civil society
- Austerity Measures in Developing Countries: Public Expenditure Trends and the Risks to Women and Children
- Gender-Sensitive Media: A Voluntary Code of Ethics
- Islam, Land, and Property: Muslim Women and Property