ICESCR concluding observations 2025, paragraph 59
Plain English recommendation
Government should:
(a) Take the steps to protect cultural rights and respect for cultural diversity, especially in Northern Ireland. This includes spending more on the promotion and sharing of scientific and cultural advancements, in line with UN advice on the right of everyone to take part in cultural life;
(b) Increase resources and improve access to recreational, art and leisure spaces in both rural and urban areas and for all types of disabled people. Ensure existing sports and recreational infrastructure is also accessible to all disabled people, in line with the right to independent living;
(c) Ensure there is no discrimination in cultural activities or sports, especially based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Ensure all people, including transgender people, are supported to participate in sports in a way that is reasonable, proportionate and equal;
(d) Quickly set up the organisations and policies needed to protect and promote the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture and heritage. Ensure minority language groups and their representatives are actively involved in this process.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State Party:
(a) Take the steps necessary to strengthen the protection of cultural rights and respect for cultural diversity, in particular in Northern Ireland, by increasing the budget allocated to promote the development and dissemination of science and culture, guided by the Committee’s general comment No. 21 (2009) on the right of everyone to take part in cultural life;
(b) Increase resources and improve programmes for the development of accessible recreational, art and leisure spaces, in both rural and urban areas, for persons with all types of disabilities and make the existing sports and recreational infrastructure accessible to all persons with disabilities, in line with the promotion of independent living;
(c) Ensure non-discrimination in cultural participation and sports, particularly based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and guarantee that all individuals, including transgender persons, are supported in sports participation, in line with the principles of reasonableness, proportionality and equality;
(d) Expedite the establishment of the institutions and policies envisaged for the protection and promotion of the Irish language and Ulster-Scots culture and heritage, ensuring the meaningful participation of minority language groups and their representative organizations.
Date of UN examination
12/03/2025
Original UN document
Download the original ICESCR concluding observations 2025 on the UN website.
Last updated on 21/08/2025