Defending Creative Voices Report

May 5, 2023

UNESCO has recently published a report called Defending Creative Voices which highlights the need for increased protection for artists who have been affected by armed conflicts, political instability, and natural calamities. This report comes in light of the dangers that artists are facing around the world.

Key Findings of the Report

In 2021, 39 artists were killed in 12 different countries, while 119 were imprisoned in 24 countries.
Over 1,200 violations of artistic freedom were reported globally in a year, which shows the extent of the problem.
Individuals working in the arts face various threats such as harassment, income loss, legal prosecution, violence, censorship, and silencing.
Emergencies such as armed conflicts, political instability, and natural disasters can further exacerbate these vulnerabilities.
The Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions became effective in 2007, and 152 countries have ratified the treaty. However, only 27% of these countries have created or supported safe environments for artists.
UNESCO has allocated $1 million to fund projects that promote artistic freedom in over 25 countries. The financing will aid 13 projects led by the government and several other initiatives administered by non-governmental organizations.
International cooperation is critical to protect artists and their freedom of expression, especially in regions that are currently facing conflicts or natural disasters

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