About the Statement:

Issued by the Union Association for Human Rights in cooperation with an organization holding consultative status, the written statement was submitted under document number A/HRC/59/NGO/329 to the United Nations Human Rights Council at its 59th session (June–July 2025). It addresses a core issue: the protection of human cultural heritage and the fight against related racial discrimination.

Contents of the Statement:

First: The importance of cultural and human heritage

• The statement affirms that cultural heritage is an inseparable part of human identity and national affiliation, and it must be respected and safeguarded as a human right.

The statement draws on international legal texts, such as:

• Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Articles 18, 19, and 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
• Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
• The UNESCO Conventions (1972 and 2003) on the protection of cultural and natural heritage and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.

Second: A call to enhance international protection of heritage

• The statement commends the efforts of the Special Rapporteurs on combating racism and racial discrimination.
• It calls for the establishment of an international mechanism dedicated to protecting the right to practice arts linked to cultural and human heritage.
• It stresses the need to combat all forms of discrimination that may affect this heritage, especially through media and digital spaces.

Third: Violations against Gulf cultural heritage

• The statement draws attention to violations and abuses targeting the art of Al-Ayyala, particularly female performers in the Al-Na’asha tradition, a component of the cultural heritage of the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman.
• It regards these abuses as a form of gender-based discrimination (against women) and calls on the Human Rights Council to intervene for their protection.

Fourth: A call for a new international treaty

• The statement calls for the launch of an international convention to protect cultural heritage in the digital and media spheres, to ensure respect for cultural diversity and prevent abuse or distortion.

Fifth: Commendation of the UAE

• Reviving and documenting cultural heritage.
• Protecting human rights and individual dignity.
• Enacting legislation to combat discrimination, racism, extremism, and hate speech.

Importance of the Statement:

This statement reflects a modern trend that links cultural heritage with the protection of human rights. It expands the concept of “discrimination” to include what is known as “symbolic cultural defamation” in media and digital platforms. It also expresses a collective rejection of violations targeting women’s traditional artistic practices in the Gulf, marking a growing sensitivity to discrimination based on gender and cultural identity.