Contribution to UNSR report on human rights of migrants

February 2024

PEN International, PEN America, and Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) are pleased to submit a contribution to the Special Rapporteur’s report on migrants’ contributions to societies from a human rights-based approach and relevant facilitating and hindering factors.

PEN International and ARC observe that artists and cultural figures in exile can assume diverse roles in influencing and engaging with both the creative community and the people of their host countries. Some artists, like the artists from Hong Kong interviewed by ARC, believe that their work can help shape the socio-political development of their new homes, stirring debate and questioning the status quo around issues such as equal opportunity. Many cultural figures are forced to flee their countries of origin and become migrants precisely because of their ability to influence public discourse at home through art and writing, which they often continue in exile. While displacement brings a myriad of challenges for artists and their families, ARC notes that not all artists view displacement as a negative experience. Bart Was Not Here, an artist living in exile interviewed by ARC for “Art is Power: 20 Artists on How They Fight for Justice and Inspire Change”. He views his displacement as a response of resilience and an acknowledgement of his pro-democratic efforts in an authoritarian country.

In May 2024, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gehad Madi, published his report examining migrants’ sociocultural, civic-political and economic contributions. He presented the report to the UN Human Rights Council on June 24, 2024.