A/HRC/37/29 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 33/20, the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene a one-day intersessional seminar on ways to prevent, contain and/or mitigate the detrimental impact of the damage to or destruction of cultural heritage on the enjoyment of human rights, including cultural rights, by all and on best practices in this regard. On 7 July 2017, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) convened an intersessional seminar on cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage. 1 The seminar was preceded by an expert meeting held in Geneva on 6 July. 2. The seminar was designed to build on the recommendations already available in three reports issued by the Human Rights Council mandate in the field of cultural rights (A/HRC/17/38, A/HRC/31/59 and Corr.1 and A/71/317), the relevant study of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (A/HRC/30/53), Council resolution 33/20 and Security Council resolutions 2199 (2015) and 2347 (2017), and to discuss concrete actions that should be taken towards their implementation. 3. The panel discussion was moderated by Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, of Europa Nostra. Opening statements were made by Peggy Hicks, OHCHR; Anna Korka, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations Office at Geneva; and Karima Bennoune, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. The panellists were Ms. Bennoune; Giovanni Boccardi, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); Patty Gerstenblith, De Paul University College of Law (United States of America); Christiane Johannot-Gradis, Traditions pour demain; Omara Khan Masoudi, former Director of the National Museum of Afghanistan; Mikel Mancisidor, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Peter Stone, UK Committee of the Blue Shield (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Rita Izsak-Ndiaye, former Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Daouda Keita, Université des sciences sociales et de gestion, Bamako; and Tui Shortland, Te Kopu, Pacific Indigenous and Local Knowledge Centre of Distinction (New Zealand). 4. The present summary was prepared by OHCHR pursuant to paragraph 14 of Council resolution 33/20. II. Opening statements 5. In her opening statement, Ms. Hicks noted that the work of cultural rights defenders was the glue binding our ancestors and our children. In recalling the work of the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, she noted the significance of cultural heritage as a resource for the identity and development of individuals and groups, and the negative impact that its destruction had on several human rights and on people’s capacity for resilience and peace. 6. Ms. Hicks underscored that respecting, protecting and realizing human rights, especially cultural rights, was the best and most sustainable way to protect and preserve cultural heritage. She stressed that earlier generations had entrusted us with their cultural heritage, and we had to ensure that it was transmitted to future generations. Cultural rights could and should guide us in that endeavour. 7. Ms. Korka took the floor on behalf of the core group of States that had sponsored Council resolution 33/20. She noted that destruction of cultural heritage was not a new phenomenon, but that terrorism, war and upheaval in various parts of the globe had caused a marked increase in the number and frequency of those incidents. 8. Ms. Korka recalled that in adopting resolution 33/20, the Council unconditionally condemned such destruction and expressed deep concern at the organized looting, theft, 1 See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/ESCR/Pages/CulturalRightsProtectionCulturalHeritage.aspx. 3