Cultural Rights are an Essential Part of Human Rights

ifa: Mrs. Xanthaki, why are Cultural Rights so important for sustainable development?

Alexandra Xanthaki: Cultural Rights are crucial because they relate to our identity, our way of life, traditions, and values. Sustainable development isn't achievable without considering everyone's cultural visions and priorities. Cultural Rights influence how we live and perceive the world, making them integral to any sustainable development initiative. Without incorporating these aspects, development efforts would not be genuinely sustainable.

ifa: What are the prerequisites for sustainable development to take place?

Xanthaki: Sustainable development requires considering everyone's visions, priorities, traditions, and customs. Organizations and policymakers must integrate these aspects into their strategies to achieve truly sustainable development. If I only had the power to convince all actors to include Cultural Rights in their policies, I would, but until then I have to rely on organizations like ifa, to spread the word.

Sustainable development isn't achievable without considering everyone's cultural visions and priorities.

ifa: How can we improve cultural policies and cultural relations for sustainable development?

Xanthaki: Sustainable development often focuses on economic and social dimensions, neglecting the cultural element. Understanding that sustainable development includes a cultural dimension is crucial. Sustainable development started as a concept based on environmental law, but is nowadays looked at mainly as an economic development. If we focus only on economic or social development, people's customs and livelihoods may be destroyed. Public bodies must acknowledge and integrate the cultural element in sustainable development. This means going beyond token references to education or culture and truly understanding its deep and far-reaching impact on sustainable development goals.

ifa: How can Cultural Rights become accelerators of environmental responsibility?

ifa: And which role could Europe and its network of National Cultural Institutes play in this respect?

Xanthaki: They play a very essential role. First of all, European cultural institutes should acknowledge past mistakes and create safe spaces for dialogue and solutions. So they are the ones that are going to ensure inclusivity and fair discussions, and they are the ones that are going to support solutions that may not come necessarily from Europe. These bodies have the resources to address the inclusivity gap in sustainable development. They have the means and the resources to do something about it in a way that other actors outside from the Global North may not have. By fostering inclusive cultural dialogues, they can help integrate diverse cultural perspectives into sustainable development policies.

ifa: What is the relationship between Cultural Rights and the universal approach to Human Rights?

Xanthaki: Cultural Rights are an essential part of Human Rights which include civil, political, economic, social, and Cultural Rights. Cultural Rights are treated like the ‘Cinderella’ of Human Rights because we have not paid much attention to them. But Cinderella is going to the ball. And even more: Cinderella is changing how the ball is. We cannot emphasize one right over the other. All rights have to develop and be implemented together.

ifa: Can you give an actual example?

Xanthaki: For example, the war in Ukraine has been justified by the Russian Federation on the denial of a Ukrainian identity. This is an assault on Ukrainian cultural identity and has resulted to assaults on cultural heritage, not only Ukrainian but also of minorities – in the territory of Ukraine, violating Cultural Rights and self-determination. Another example is Gaza. The dehumanization of Palestinians and the denial of their history, in other words the violation of their Cultural Rights paves the way for the genocide of the Palestinian people. Cultural Rights shape our vision of humanity and societal cooperation. So, both wars, as well as other wars taking place at the moment, are in their core about Cultural Rights.

Cultural Rights are treated like the ‘Cinderella’ of Human Rights because we have not paid much attention to them.

ifa: What are your reflections about Cultural Rights in respect to migration?

Xanthaki: In my report to the Human Rights Council, I highlighted the lack of attention to migrants' Cultural Rights. But migrants have the right to celebrate and practice their culture. The European states must educate non-migrants about migrant cultures. With increasing migration, integration requires the majority to learn about migrants and migration, ensuring their Cultural Rights are protected.

ifa: In what way were you personally involved in a refugee project in Athens?

ifa: What are the obstacles from a global or regional perspective towards the promotion of Cultural Rights? Are there countries or regions that are more supportive than others?

Xanthaki: Discussions in Europe often touch on cultural visions and traditions but not in the context of Cultural Rights. And it is the priority of my mandate to ensure that Cultural Rights are more visible. Some states are formal ‘friends’ of Cultural Rights at the UN, but it's crucial to prevent states from hijacking the concept of culture to perpetuate patriarchy or look only at the past. Culture does not necessarily mean traditional values. Liberal states should protect the way culture is evolving and support an inclusive understanding of Cultural Rights. And that's what we've been trying to suggest by having reports in science and sports. This involves recognizing that culture is forward-looking and not static. We should not essentialize it.

ifa: Who defines Cultural Rights? How can we come to a universal definition of Cultural Rights?

Xanthaki: Cultures vary globally, like layers of an onion, from family to regional, state, continental, and human cultures. Humanity must protect all these ‘layers’. Cultural diversity is essential, but we should not be kidding ourselves. There are limits. Universal Human Rights principles, such as women's visibility and participation, set limits. Cultural Rights are defined by the groups themselves but must align with universal Human Rights values. We must ensure that we don't dehumanize the culture of for example migrants, indigenous people or other vulnerable groups. But there must be a balance between protecting cultural diversity and upholding fundamental Human Rights, ensuring no culture justifies Human Rights violations.

There must be a balance between protecting cultural diversity and upholding fundamental Human Rights, ensuring no culture justifies Human Rights violations.

ifa: Which sort of cultural dialog do you think is the most efficient to promote Cultural Rights on the ground? On a state level or city level, who should be the key actors?

ifa: The constitution of Ecuador has defined good life as a central objective. Some of its nine subsections include the rights to nutrition, health, education and water. Is Ecuador leading the way here to a good life?

Xanthaki: I like this idea of giving good life an important place. But the definition varies by individual needs. Cultural Rights allow people to define their good life themselves, making their inclusion in constitutions crucial. Many constitutions protect arts and culture but not Cultural Rights. Ensuring every individual's right to define their well-being is vital. Ecuador's approach could serve as a model, but it must ensure that Cultural Rights are fully integrated and protected in practice.

Editor's note: The ICJ's decision on the lawsuit against Israel for violating the Genocide Convention in the Gaza War is still pending. Israel denies the genocide allegations. The country is invoking its right to self-defense after Hamas and other extremist groups attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the USA, the EU, Germany and other states.