Emergencies tend to exacerbate vulnerabilities people who work in the arts have experienced, like them, face many threats such as online and offline harassment, loss of income, legal prosecution, violence, censorship and silence.
Advertising is also often lacking minimum safety net due to their precarious legal status, according to the report.
The artist was assaulted
In 2021, a record 39 artists were killed in 12 countries and 119 imprisoned in 24 countries, UNESCO said, citing data from Freemuse, an independent international NGO (NGO) that advocates for freedom of artistic expression and cultural diversity.
In addition, more than 1,200 violations of artistic freedom worldwide was recorded that year.
Monitored by UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressionsentered into force in 2007.
Although 152 countries have ratified the treaty, only 27 percent developed or supported safe space for artists.
Just over half, 53 percent, have independent agencies receive complaints or Violation monitoring and restriction to artistic freedom.
Strengthening the legal framework
The report proposes new emergency support and supervision policies for artists at risk.
States are encouraged to develop appropriate assistance to protect and promote artistic freedom in the event of an emergency, based on UNESCO’s experience in protecting artists in conflicts – most recently in Iraq, Ukraine and Yemen.
The study also calls for United Nations Comprehensive Monitoring of Artistic Freedoms in Emergency recognize artists as a vulnerable group need special attentionwhile highlighting the need to support, safe, and protect artists and artworks and cultural spaces.
In addition, it is also necessary to strengthen the capacity of the judicial and legal sectors to protect artists through investigations and prosecutions, in addition to stronger legal frameworks, with recognition better legal status of artists.
“Recent cases have demonstrated the importance of urgent practical measures such as arts freedom training, temporary art residency, temporary financial support for cultural professionals, granting expedite visas and prioritize artists in evacuation and resettlement programs with special attention to female creators.” UNESCO said.
Raise millions of dollars
The UN agency also announced a new $1 million investment to fund projects supports artistic freedom in more than 25 countries. Of the projects, 13 are government-led and others are run by NGOs.
Governments will receive technical assistance to develop relevant laws, regulations or policies, including those in Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Chile, Djibouti, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Niger , Mongolia, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
Some civil society organizations will benefit from financial support to conduct training, advocacy, supervision or research on the artistic freedom and status of artists based in these countries. such as Georgia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Rwanda and South Sudan.
