The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking input from organizations, experts, and individuals worldwide on how countries and communities are working to promote human rights and cultural diversity. This is your opportunity to share experiences, challenges, and good practices that can help shape international policy.
Why This Matters
Cultural diversity—the presence of different cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups within societies—is a core part of human rights. The United Nations General Assembly recently adopted Resolution A/RES/78/201, which recognizes the importance of cultural diversity and calls for action to protect it. The resolution also highlights the need to ensure that everyone, especially marginalized groups, can participate fully in society without discrimination.
The UN Secretary-General will present a report to the General Assembly in 2025 on how this resolution is being put into practice. The report will include input from governments, UN agencies, and civil society organizations. Your contributions can help ensure that the voices of artists, cultural workers, and human rights defenders are heard.
What Input is Needed?
OHCHR welcomes short written submissions (up to 2,500 words) on any of the following topics:
Promoting cultural diversity and human rights: How are you working to respect and celebrate cultural diversity while also upholding universal human rights and fighting discrimination?
Inclusive institutions: What steps are being taken to make political and legal systems more inclusive and representative of all cultural groups, including indigenous peoples?
Freedom of expression and access to culture: How is freedom of expression protected in your context? Are there efforts to support media diversity, multilingualism, and equal access to art, science, and technology?
Cultural policies: Are there specific policies or programs that help protect and promote cultural diversity? How do these align with international standards?
Public spaces and solidarity: How are public and intercultural spaces being maintained as open, safe, and diverse? Can you share examples of how cultural diversity strengthens cooperation and solidarity?
Diversity in institutions: How is cultural diversity reflected in the media, public spaces, workplaces, and educational or cultural institutions?
International agreements: What progress has been made towards ratifying and implementing key international agreements on cultural diversity?
How to Participate
Deadline for submissions: 11 July 2025
Submission format: Written input (maximum 2,500 words), with the option to include links or annexes to supporting materials.
Who can contribute: Individuals, organizations, and networks working on human rights, cultural diversity, and related issues.
Find more details and submission instructions on the official OHCHR call for inputs page.
We encourage everyone in our network to contribute and to share this call widely. Your experiences and insights are vital for shaping a more inclusive and culturally diverse world.
