Jurisprudence studies and cultural law

Jurisprudence studies and cultural law

Analyzing the Link between Cultural Heritage and Human Rights: Examining the Position of the Right to Cultural Heritage in International Documents

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohadeseh Ghavami pour Sereshkeh 1
Amirreza Mahmoudi 2
1 PhD student in criminal law and criminology, Lahijan branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.
10.22034/cjls.2025.2051262.1022
Abstract
The protection of cultural heritage is recognized not only from a cultural and historical perspective, but also as a fundamental right in the international human rights system. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this study examines the link between the protection of cultural heritage and human rights and analyzes the position of the right to cultural heritage within the framework of international documents, including the UNESCO Conventions and the Faro Convention. The findings show that the right to cultural heritage, as part of the right to participate in cultural life, is directly related to principles such as human dignity, cultural diversity, and minority rights. In addition, a review of international practices indicates that the UN human rights mechanisms, especially the Human Rights Council and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, have increasingly addressed the concept of the right to cultural heritage in recent years. However, challenges such as the lack of binding obligations for states, the lack of adequate enforcement guarantees, and the instrumental exploitation of cultural heritage in domestic and international policies are considered obstacles to the full realization of this right. The present study, through a comparative analysis of existing legal mechanisms, emphasizes the need to formulate comprehensive, participatory, and binding policies for the protection of cultural heritage.
Keywords
Cultural heritage
human rights
human dignity
cultural diversity
Committee on Economic
Social and Cultural Rights
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Jurisprudence studies and cultural law
Volume 2, Issue 1
June 2025
Pages 188-167