UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

52^nd session

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur cultural rights

15 March 2023

EU Intervention

Mr President,

The European Union would like to thank to the Special Rapporteur for presenting her report.

We remain firmly committed to promoting cultural rights and ensuring the inclusive participation of persons in vulnerable situations, including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, in decision-making processes in line with international human rights obligations under international law and standards and through existing policy and legislative frameworks.  As set out in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, EU Member States support measures to improve integration, social cohesion and access to quality basic services, fully respecting national competences.  

At the EU level, for example, the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund[1] supported, over the period 2014-2020, Member States' specific actions for integration of third-country nationals projects, including for their participation in cultural life. More recently, the Creative Europe programme supported specific projects on refugee cultural integration and fostering inclusion for people with disabilities and socially marginalised groups. Further, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) promotes, for  example, social inclusion and integration of third-country nationals or marginalised communities such as Roma minority, based on principles of gender equality, equal opportunities and non-discrimination.

Special Rapporteur,

How can education systems be used to enhance intercultural understanding and dialogue between host communities and migrants, refugees and persons in vulnerable situations, in particular young persons?

[1] Regulation (EU) No 516/2014