Consultant_Culture Sector - Research Paper on Disability Inclusion

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Other cities

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 10-FEB-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The culture sector has an important role to play in supporting disability inclusion. Through challenging stereotypes, raising awareness, removing barriers and achieving equal opportunities, the sector can contribute towards empowering people with disabilities and enhancing their quality of life.

Cultural rights are fundamental human rights, upheld by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilitiess[1]. These frameworks recognize everyone’s right, including persons with disabilities, to participate in cultural life, enjoy the arts, and benefit from scientific advancements. However, people with disabilities face many barriers, inter alia, in exercising their cultural rights, accessing cultural and natural heritage sites, museums, concerts, theaters, cinemas and other cultural events, participating in intangible cultural practices, and in creative and cultural industries, and finding employment in the cultural sector. Such barriers, whether physical, attitudinal, or systemic, hinder the full enjoyment of a fundamental human right, and must be removed.

Globally, about 16% of the population experiences significant disability (WHO, 2023), making access to culture a critical issue in promoting diversity and human rights. In addition, more than 46% of persons aged 60 years and over have disabilities[2]. The right for everyone to equally access culture, exercise their cultural rights and participate in cultural life is at the core of inclusive and participatory cultural policies and strategies. All individuals and groups should be included in the ambitions of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development “irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”, as specified in Target 10.2.

The 2022 UNESCO MONDIACULT Conference reaffirmed culture’s role in sustainable development and reducing inequalities. The resulting MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration emphasizes a rights-based approach to culture, vital for sustainable development. Similarly, the UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education, adopted in 2024, stresses the importance of inclusion for persons with disabilities, including through digital tools, to fully engage in cultural and arts education.

Ensuring the accessibility of museums, cultural venues and events, heritage sites and other cultural institutions for persons with disabilities is a critical endeavour, as is ensuring full cultural participation, including in living heritage and the cultural and creative industries, and employment in the culture sector. This fosters equity, well-being and mental health, while also shifting more broadly the narrative and visibility of persons with disabilities in societies.

Long Description

It is imperative to understand the current situation. A desk study is being commissioned to assess the landscape today for persons with disabilities in terms of the right and access to, and participation and employment in culture. The findings of the desk study will help the UNESCO Culture Sector to mainstream disability inclusion across its programmes, ensure impactful projects at the regional, national and local levels, and facilitate upscaling of promising initiatives.

[1] Additionally, see for example the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) and the Convention concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (1989), as well as all instruments aimed at specific groups concerning nondiscrimination in the exercise of the right to take part in cultural life; at UNESCO the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001), the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005), the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums ad Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society (2015) together with the other Conventions or Recommendations relating to heritage.

[2] UN DESA

Desk Study Objectives

The desk study will identify barriers, explore good practices and propose solutions to improve the situation of persons with disabilities in the culture sector around the world. The objectives of the desk study are:

• To explore and analyze the upholding of cultural rights, the participation in cultural life and employment, in intangible cultural practices and in creative and cultural industries and accessibility of cultural and natural heritage sites, museums, concerts, theaters, cinemas, and other cultural events and institutions, for persons with disabilities.
• To examine the implementation of international rights, conventions, and norms on the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the culture sector.
• To identify barriers to inclusiveness in and access to culture for persons with disabilities.
• To provide case studies and standards from diverse regions worldwide that highlight both challenges and good practices in promoting cultural access, inclusion, participation and employment for persons with disabilities.
• To recommend policy, practical measures (including capacity building) and strategies that the UNESCO Member States could promote in order to overcome barriers and enhance cultural access, inclusion, participation and employment for persons with disabilities.

  Long Description

  WORK ASSIGNMENT
  In that framework, under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, and the general supervision of the Culture Sector Focal point for Disabilities and Rights, the consultant shall prepare the Desk Study with:

  Key Areas of Research

  
  1. International Legal Frameworks and Norms
  Review and analysis of key international instruments that protect and promote cultural rights for persons with disabilities, including but not limited to:

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – Article 27 on the right to freely participate in cultural life.
  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) – Article 15 on the right to take part in cultural life.
  • UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) – Article 30 on participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport.
  • UNESCO Conventions and Recommendations:

    Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)
    Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
    Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)
    Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)
    Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970)
    The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
    UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society (2015)
    UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001).
    

    
    2. Inclusiveness in the Culture Sector

    • Analysis and examples of inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in cultural life, including consideration of Living Heritage.
    • Study of policy frameworks and national cultural strategies aimed at promoting inclusiveness and accessibility.
    • Evaluation of the role of digital technology in improving accessibility to cultural content and participation for persons with disabilities.
    • Recommendations for enhancing inclusiveness and participation, particularly in light of the

      UNESCO MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration,
      UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education,
      UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators
      UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

      Long Description

      3. Equal Opportunity to Work in the Cultural and Creative Industries and broadly the Culture Sector

      • Examination of the representation of persons with disabilities within the cultural and creative industries, and broadly in the culture sector (e.g., arts, media, entertainment, heritage conservation).
      • Identification of policies and initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion of persons with disabilities in the cultural workforce.
      • Exploration of the challenges related to employment, training, and career advancement in the cultural sector for persons with disabilities and case studies of successful integration.

        4. Accessibility of Heritage Sites, Concerts, Theatres, Cinemas and other Cultural Events, Cultural Institutions and Museums for Persons with Disabilities

        • Development of case studies from different regions to examine how heritage sites, museums, cultural events, venues and institutions are adapting to be more accessible and inclusive.
        • Analysis of challenges (e.g., physical barriers, lack of sign language interpreters, limited visual and digital accessibility) and innovations (e.g., tactile exhibits, virtual museum tours).
        • Identification of specific UNESCO World Heritage sites as good practices of accessibility standards.

          Desk Study Methodology

          Desk Research:

          • Review of international conventions and recommendations, rights frameworks, projects, policies and guidelines, from both the public and private sectors.
          • Analysis of scholarly literature, reports, and case studies.

            Case Studies:

            • Selection and summary of diverse case studies from all regions to provide a global perspective. This should include examples of good practices of access and inclusion, public and private sector employment examples etc.
            • Interviews with key stakeholders such as policymakers, cultural professionals, disability advocates, and persons with disabilities.
              

              Qualitative and Quantitative Data:

              • Collection of statistical data on participation rates, employment in cultural industries, heritage sites, cultural institution or museum visitation numbers, and accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
              • Qualitative interviews with cultural institutions, policy-makers and persons with disabilities to demonstrate barriers and successes of persons with disabilities in exercising their cultural rights.

                Key Stakeholders and Target Audience

                • UNESCO Member States
                • Cultural institutions such as museums, galleries, and heritage sites
                • Persons with Disabilities
                • Disability rights organizations and advocates

                  Key Documents in the Review:

                  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
                  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
                  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),
                  • United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS)
                  • Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)
                  • Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
                  • Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)
                  • Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)
                  • Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970)
                  • The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict
                  • UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society (2015)
                  • UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001)
                  • UNESCO MONDIACULT Declaration (2022)
                  • UNESCO Framework for Culture and Arts Education (2024)
                  • UNESCO Executive Board documents 219 EX/32 and 220 EX/5.IV.A
                  • UNESCO’s draft Disability Inclusion Strategy which is due to be presented at the 221st session of the Executive Board (if available)
                  • Recommendations for key players in the cultural tourism ecosystem (UN Tourism)

                    TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLES

                    
                    The contractor will submit the following deliverables, for validation by UNESCO, within the expected duration of the contract, as indicated below:

                    A comprehensive Desk Study of 50-60 pages, in English or French, including:

                    • Executive Summary.
                    • Introduction and background on cultural rights and the situation of persons with disabilities.
                    • Research and analysis of:
                      • International legal frameworks and norms specific to culture and the situation of persons with disabilities;
                      • Equal opportunity for employment in the cultural and creative industries and broadly the culture sector;
                      • Inclusiveness in the culture sector, including participation in intangible cultural heritage practices;
                      • Accessibility of heritage sites (cultural and natural), concerts, theaters, cinemas and other cultural events, cultural institutions and museums;
                      • Representative policies and strategies (public and private sectors) fostering cultural access, inclusivity, participation and employment.
                      • Seven to ten case studies from all regions of the world demonstrating challenges and innovative practices relating to cultural access, inclusivity, participation and employment.
                      • Key takeaways for UNESCO Member States for policies, strategies and practical actions that enhance disability inclusion in the culture sector.
                      • Annexes with interviews, data, and resources (not counted in the 50-60-page limit of the desk study).

                        Timetable

                        1. Desk Study Outline and 20 page preliminary draft, for UNESCO comments, due one month following signature of the contract
                        2. Desk Study document with Annexes, to UNESCO for comments, due two months following signature of the contract