1. Reaffirms that cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent; 2. Recognizes the right of everyone to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; 3. Reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of the States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 4. Recalls, as expressed in the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, that no one may invoke cultural diversity to infringe upon human rights guaranteed by international law, nor to limit their scope; 5. Reaffirms that States have the responsibility to promote and protect cultural rights; 6. Takes note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity (A/HRC/10/60); 7. Expresses its appreciation to the States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations that responded to or participated in the consultations held pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2002/26 of 22 April 2002, 2003/26 of 22 April 2003, 2004/20 of 16 April 2004 and 2005/20 of 14 April 2005, and pursuant to Council resolution 6/6 of 28 September 2007; 8. Recognizes that respect for the cultural diversity and cultural rights of all enhances cultural pluralism, contributing to a wider exchange of knowledge and understanding of cultural background, advancing the application and enjoyment of human rights throughout the world and fostering stable, friendly relations among peoples and nations worldwide; 9. Decides to establish, for a period of three years, a new special procedure entitled “independent expert in the field of cultural rights”, as set out in the relevant United Nations human rights instruments, with the following mandate: (a) To identify best practices in the promotion and protection of cultural rights at the local, national, regional and international levels; (b) To identify possible obstacles to the promotion and protection of cultural rights, and to submit proposals and/or recommendations to the Council on possible actions in that regard; (c) To work in cooperation with States in order to foster the adoption of measures at the local, national, regional and international levels aimed at the promotion and protection of cultural rights through concrete proposals enhancing subregional, regional and international cooperation in that regard; (d) To study the relationship between cultural rights and cultural diversity, in close collaboration with States and other relevant actors, including in particular the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, with the aim of further promoting cultural rights; 2