ARC @ 62nd Session of UNHRC: Artistic Freedom Under Pressure

16 June 2026 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm CEST
Room Concordia 5, Building A, Palais des Nations
Geneva, Switzerland
Simultaneous interpretation available in English, French, and Spanish.

ARC – Artists at Risk Connection is honored to co-sponsor the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for a discussion on artistic freedom, emerging trends, and responses to threats.

Artistic freedom is a fundamental human right, firmly grounded in international human rights  law, including the right to freedom of expression and the right to take part in cultural life as guaranteed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the  International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). It is further  elaborated through the work of UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteurs in the field of cultural rights1and on the promotion and protection of the right to  freedom of opinion expression, as well as UNESCO standard-setting instruments. 

These standards require States to respect, protect and fulfil the right of everyone to create,  perform, disseminate and enjoy artistic expressions without discrimination or undue  interference, and to ensure safe and enabling environments for artists and cultural workers.  

Despite these obligations, reports from UN mechanisms, UNESCO, and civil society document a growing gap between normative standards and realities on the ground. Trends include increasing censorship, attacks and legal harassment, shrinking civic and cultural space, and  persistent structural inequalities and economic precarity in the cultural and creative sectors. 

Digital platforms, artificial intelligence (AI), mobility barriers and inequitable access to  resources are reshaping creative practices and value chains, raising questions around visibility,  ownership, labour rights, and equitable participation. These developments intersect with  broader risks to civic space, including restrictive legislation, “foreign agent” laws, online  disinformation, and targeted smear campaigns, which create chilling effects and limit public  debate. 

This side event seeks to take stock of current trends, share experiences and promising practices,  and discuss policy, legal, and funding measures to strengthen artistic freedom as a pillar of  democratic, inclusive, and sustainable societies.

Program

Official Opening Remarks (10 minutes)

• Ms. Katja SALSBÄCK, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent
  Mission of Sweden to the UN Office and other international organizations in
  Geneva
• Mr. Pradeep WAGLE, Chief, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights section,
  Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Panel discussion (25 minutes)

• Mr. Ruphus Matibe, Director for International Relations, Department of
  Sports, Arts and Culture, South Africa
• Ms. Maria Rosario Soraide Duran, UNESCO
• Ms. Sarra Maali, Mawred

Interactive discussion with floor (20 minutes)

• Q&A
• Closing remarks from panelists

Expected outcomes

• Evidence-based understanding of global trends and risks affecting artistic freedom.
• Identification of concrete legal, policy and funding measures that States and partners
  can undertake to better protect and promote artistic freedom, in line with international
  human rights standards and UNESCO instruments.
• Strengthened dialogue and cooperation between States, UN mechanisms, cultural
  institutions, and civil society, supporting follow-up action and sustained advocacy.