Assessing the implementation of cultural rights

Abstract

In October 2026, the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights will propose guidance to the UN General Assembly on how to assess efforts to uphold cultural rights. This should help States, institutions, and decision-makers to set benchmarks for accountability and measure progress in the implementation of cultural rights for all. The Special Rapporteur recognises and supports the work of the Culture2030Goal Campaign to propose a Culture Goal with targets and indicator, but notes remaining challenges due to the transversal nature of cultural rights. The Special Rapporteur is building on the existing body of work to propose elements that should help States, institutions, decision-makers and other stakeholders set benchmarks for accountability and measure progress in the implementation of cultural rights for all. This publication is a response by IFLA to the call for submission circulated in April 2026 to support this work, and provides input from the global library field, as well as builds on the work of the Culture2030Goal Campaign's Culture Goal.