18 Sep 2019

UN cultural rights rapporteur in Tuvalu

4:02 pm on 18 September 2019

A UN special rapporteur is in Tuvalu studying how climate change threatens culture.

Karima Bennoune.

Karima Bennoune. Photo: UN OHCHR

Karima Bennoune, the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights, will be in the country until next Wednesday.

Ms Bennoune said she wanted to learn how Tuvalu's new government would combat discrimination.

"I will also assess policies designed to mitigate the grave threat climate change poses to the culture and cultural heritage of Tuvalu, and how culture is and can be used to respond to the existential challenges resulting from climate change."

Ms Bennoune will produce a report that makes recommendations to the government and the international community.