ABSTRACT
International law and human rights theory are unequivocal in including cultural rights as an essential component in the indivisible and irreducible body of human rights. Yet serious discussion of the concept of cultural rights in plural, democratic societies is still relatively rare. Many states are signatories to the legally binding International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) but most have ignored its requirement that they take steps to achieve the full realisation of the cultural rights of their citizens. Surprisingly, cultural institutions have also shown little interest in addressing the issue, being fearful, perhaps, that they would have to divert resources from other (and perhaps in their view, higher) priorities. The public at large is almost entirely unaware that, as citizens, they have cultural rights for which their governments are required by law to provide.
