A/HRC/RES/58/4
cultural rights, and for participatory and inclusive approaches to the prevention and
mitigation of damage caused to cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible;
11.
Also calls for the recognition of the protection of cultural heritage as an
important component of humanitarian assistance, including in armed conflict and with regard
also to displaced populations, and for enhanced cooperation between the Office of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the mandate of the Special Rapporteur in the
field of cultural rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
and other relevant agencies and stakeholders, with a view to mainstreaming the protection of
cultural heritage into humanitarian actions, security strategies and peacebuilding processes
and in post-conflict reconciliation initiatives;
12.
Encourages States to adopt a gender-sensitive and inclusive approach to the
protection of cultural heritage and the safeguarding of cultural rights that is respectful of
cultural diversity and includes consideration of the human rights issues of persons belonging
to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, as set out in the Declaration on the
Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, and
of Indigenous Peoples, as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples;
13.
Also encourages States to promote and safeguard the diversity of cultural
expressions, to foster intercultural and intracultural dialogue and to support traditional
practices and creative productions of Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent and
persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities;
14.
Calls upon States to seek to enable the access and/or repatriation of ceremonial
objects and human remains in their possession through fair, transparent and effective
mechanisms developed in conjunction with the Indigenous Peoples concerned;
15.
Calls for the safety and security of cultural rights defenders involved in the
protection of cultural heritage to be protected, including by investigating and, where
appropriate, bringing to justice anyone alleged to have harmed them;
16.
Invites States to adopt effective strategies to prevent the destruction of cultural
heritage by, inter alia, ensuring accountability, establishing and/or maintaining inventories
documenting the cultural heritage within their jurisdiction, including through digital means,
addressing specific challenges affecting documentary heritage, implementing educational
programmes on the importance of cultural heritage and cultural rights, training military forces
and humanitarian actors and other relevant stakeholders in all applicable rules concerning the
protection of cultural heritage, both during and in the aftermath of armed conflict, and
developing preparatory measures and risk preparedness plans during peacetime in order to
ensure that there are procedures and processes in place to mitigate the destruction of cultural
heritage;
17.
Also invites States to address all digital divides in addressing digital heritage,
including both digitized and born-digital materials, with a view to enabling full and
meaningful access to and participation in cultural life and promoting meaningful consultation
with heritage communities regarding the meaning they convey to their heritage;
18.
Encourages States to address limitations of cultural rights, to take the measures
necessary to prevent the destruction of historic monuments, works of art or places of worship
that constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples, both in conflict and non-conflict
situations, and to promote respect for cultural diversity;
19.
Encourages States, the international community, the United Nations and civil
society to consider implementing the relevant recommendations contained in the reports of
the High Commissioner on the intersessional workshop on cultural rights and the protection
of cultural heritage,3 as well as those made by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural
rights in her relevant reports presented to the Human Rights Council and to the General
Assembly;
3
A/HRC/37/29, A/HRC/48/40 and A/HRC/58/35.
5