A song can take us back to a moment in our childhood, a book can help us understand feelings we have never known how to express, and a work of art can move us without a single word. From the moment we are born, culture accompanies us in ways that often go unnoticed. It is present in the stories our grandparents told us, in our local celebrations, in museums, in libraries and in the traditions we share with those we love. It is also present when we discover something new, ask questions or find scientific answers that can improve our lives. Culture and knowledge are not distant things reserved for a privileged few. They are part of what allows us to understand the world and feel connected to others.

Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises everyone’s right to participate freely in the cultural life of their community, enjoy the arts and share in scientific advancement and its benefits. It also recognises everyone’s right to the protection of the moral and material interests arising from the scientific, literary or artistic works they create. Behind these safeguards lies a profoundly human idea. We should all have opportunities to enjoy culture, benefit from advances in knowledge and have the value of our own creations recognised, because the ability to imagine, discover and share is part of our dignity.

Think of a child entering a library for the first time. They may not yet be able to read fluently, but they discover shelves filled with stories, illustrations and characters that awaken their curiosity. Through imagination, they can travel to places they have never visited, learn about other times and discover experiences different from their own. For that child, a book can become a doorway to an unfamiliar world. What truly matters is that this opportunity should not depend solely on how much money their family has or where they were born. Culture can awaken abilities and dreams that might remain hidden if we never had the chance to encounter it.

Culture also lives in the most ordinary places. We can find it in a town square where different generations gather for a traditional celebration, in a small community organisation that arranges musical activities or in an older person sharing stories of their youth with their grandchildren. It is present in traditional crafts, languages, food and the forms of popular expression that are part of our communities’ memory. Many of these expressions need neither grand stages nor prestigious institutions to have value. Their importance lies in allowing us to share knowledge, preserve memories and keep alive the connections that help us understand where we come from.

But participating in cultural life does not mean preserving every tradition without question. Societies change, people develop new perspectives, and some customs may need to change to respect everyone’s rights. Culture is not something fixed that belongs exclusively to the past. It also develops when a generation contributes new ideas, when different communities exchange experiences or when someone finds a new way to express their feelings. Respecting cultural diversity means recognising the value of different forms of human expression while remembering that no tradition should be used to justify violations of fundamental rights.

Art holds a particularly important place in our lives because it allows us to communicate emotions that can be difficult to explain. A painting can express the pain of loss, a film can bring us closer to the experiences of people facing discrimination, and a play can help us understand conflicts we have never experienced ourselves. Music can accompany a celebration or comfort us in a moment of sadness. These experiences do more than entertain us. They can also deepen our sensitivity and help us recognise feelings we share with people very different from ourselves.

Think of someone who has never had the opportunity to attend a concert, visit a museum or take part in an artistic activity because they live far from cultural venues or lack the necessary resources. They may have tremendous curiosity and creative abilities they have not yet had the chance to develop. Financial, geographical and accessibility barriers can severely limit the exercise of this right. That is why public libraries, cultural centres, community spaces and initiatives that bring art to different areas play such an important role. They allow culture to reach people who might otherwise be excluded from experiences that could enrich their lives.

People with disabilities must also be able to participate in cultural life on equal terms. A person with a visual impairment may need accessible resources to enjoy certain works, while someone with a hearing impairment may need subtitles, sign language interpretation or other appropriate support. Physical and communication barriers can prevent many people from enjoying activities that should be open to everyone. A society committed to human rights must work to ensure that personal differences do not become reasons for cultural exclusion. Art and knowledge do not lose their value when presented in different ways. They can become richer by reaching more people.

Article 27 also recognises the right to share in scientific advancement and enjoy its benefits. This safeguard takes on extraordinary significance when we consider the advances that have transformed our lives. Vaccines, medical treatments, communication technologies and countless scientific discoveries have helped prevent disease, improve living conditions and explain phenomena that seemed incomprehensible for centuries. Behind every advance are people who research, study and devote years of effort to finding answers. But scientific knowledge becomes especially valuable when its results contribute to human wellbeing.

Think of a family learning that a treatment exists that could improve a relative’s medical condition. For those who have spent years facing medical appointments, uncertainty and worry, a scientific advance can offer hope that once seemed impossible. Yet that hope may be limited when the benefits of science remain inaccessible for financial, geographical or social reasons. The right to share in scientific advancement reminds us of the importance of working to ensure that its benefits reach people fairly, within the possibilities, obligations and safeguards provided by law.

Science also helps us better understand the planet we inhabit. Research gives us a clearer understanding of the effects of diseases, changes in the environment and natural phenomena that may threaten our safety. This knowledge allows us to make better informed decisions and develop measures to protect people. But it also calls for responsibility, because scientific advances are not always used for beneficial purposes. Progress must be guided by ethical principles and respect for human rights, especially when its applications may affect our health, privacy or freedom.

Access to scientific knowledge is also essential to prevent misinformation from shaping our decisions. When we understand how evidence is gathered, why research needs to be checked and how conclusions may change in light of new discoveries, we are better equipped to make sense of the world. Science does not ask us to accept every claim without question. It teaches us to distinguish between opinions, hypotheses and knowledge supported by evidence. A society that promotes scientific education helps people participate more independently in debates that affect their lives.

But Article 27 does not protect only those who enjoy other people’s creations or benefit from scientific discoveries. It also recognises the rights of those who devote their talent and effort to creating. Think of a writer who spends years working on a novel, a musician composing a piece or a researcher making a discovery after countless hours of study. Behind these works lie knowledge, creativity, time and an important part of their creators’ identities. Recognising their moral and material interests means understanding that their contributions deserve protection and that others should not unfairly claim or take them as their own.

Creators’ moral interests concern their personal connection to their work, including recognition of their authorship under the applicable law. For someone who has spent years writing a book or conducting research, seeing their work falsely attributed to another person can be a deeply painful injustice. It is not simply a matter of losing public recognition. Part of their effort and personal history is also being disregarded. Respecting authorship means recognising the people behind ideas and creations, and acknowledging that their work deserves consideration.

Material interests also matter because many people depend financially on their scientific, literary or artistic work. A writer, composer, photographer or any other creator may need to earn a legitimate income from their work to continue doing it and support themselves. Protecting these interests does not mean that every creation must remain inaccessible or that copyright has no limits. The challenge is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting creators and serving society’s interest in access to culture and knowledge. Both aims reflect the human purpose of this article and must be reconciled in accordance with the law.

Sometimes we forget that creativity does not belong exclusively to those who achieve fame or international recognition. A person writing poems in their spare time, someone painting after work or a young person beginning to compose music also participates in cultural life. Their work may never reach a large audience, but that does not diminish its personal value or remove any rights they may hold. Culture is enriched precisely by the diversity of those who create, experiment and share new ways of expressing their view of the world.

Childhood also deserves an important place in this reflection. When children draw, invent stories, sing or make something with their own hands, they are developing their imagination and discovering abilities that may stay with them throughout their lives. Artistic and cultural activities can encourage emotional expression, curiosity and connections with others. Not every child will become an artist or a scientist, nor do they need to for these experiences to matter. What counts is that they can explore their interests and enjoy opportunities that contribute to their personal development.

We must also recognise the richness older people bring to our cultural life. Many preserve knowledge, experiences and traditions that could hardly be passed on through books alone. Their stories can help us understand how earlier generations lived, the difficulties they faced and how our communities changed over time. Listening to their memories does not mean idealising the past. It means recognising that memory is also part of our human heritage. When an older person shares their knowledge with younger generations, they may be passing on a part of history that would otherwise disappear.

Cultural diversity also offers an extraordinary opportunity to connect with others. We can discover new forms of music, learn about different traditions or read works shaped by experiences far removed from our own. These opportunities remind us that no culture has a monopoly on creating beauty, knowledge or meaning. Every community can contribute valuable forms of expression to humanity’s shared heritage. Learning to appreciate them does not require us to abandon our own roots. It means understanding that our identity can be enriched by discovering what others have created.

Sometimes conflict, poverty and discrimination threaten the cultural heritage of entire communities. The destruction of libraries, monuments, archives and places of historical significance can cause losses that affect present and future generations. But an important part of collective memory can also disappear when languages or traditions are no longer passed on. Protecting culture often means preserving the evidence and stories of our past, and working to ensure that people can maintain and develop their forms of cultural expression without discrimination.

Access to culture and science also presents new challenges in an increasingly digital society. The internet allows us to explore libraries, visit museums virtually and access knowledge that once required travel or resources that were difficult to obtain. But not everyone has an internet connection, suitable devices or the skills to use these tools. The digital divide can become a new form of cultural and scientific exclusion. Expanding opportunities to access knowledge therefore requires attention to those who face the greatest difficulties in benefiting from available technologies.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons of Article 27 is that culture and science should not be considered secondary aspects of our lives. We need food, housing and healthcare, but we also need to understand, imagine, create and share experiences that give our lives meaning. A society may achieve considerable economic development yet become poorer in human terms if it dismisses knowledge, arbitrarily restricts cultural expression or excludes certain people from its benefits. True progress must take account of both our material needs and our capacity to develop intellectually, artistically and emotionally.

Article 27 helps us understand that culture, art and science are part of human rights because they contribute to our personal development and our participation in society. It reminds us that we should all be able to enjoy the cultural life of our community, access artistic expression and share in the benefits of scientific progress, while the moral and material interests of creators are protected. But it also teaches us that knowledge finds its greatest purpose when it is shared respectfully and helps improve people’s lives. No society should measure its greatness solely by what it produces, but also by the opportunities it offers to learn, discover, create and pass on what makes us human.

Every book someone has the chance to read, every work of art that moves us and every scientific discovery that improves a life reminds us that humanity advances when it protects creators and opens the doors of culture, imagination and knowledge to everyone.

Let us never allow knowledge to be locked behind the doors of privilege, or anyone’s talent to be overlooked because of their background, poverty or circumstances.

Because knowledge moves us forward.

And culture brings us together.

(Escrito en 🇪🇸🇲🇽– Written in 🇬🇧🇺🇸)

🇪🇸ESPAÑOL🇲🇽

Una canción puede devolvernos a un momento de nuestra infancia, un libro puede ayudarnos a comprender sentimientos que nunca habíamos sabido expresar y una obra de arte puede emocionarnos sin necesidad de pronunciar una sola palabra. Desde que nacemos, la cultura nos acompaña de maneras que a menudo pasan inadvertidas. Está presente en las historias que nos contaban nuestros abuelos, en las fiestas de nuestros pueblos, en los museos, en las bibliotecas y en las tradiciones que compartimos con quienes queremos. También aparece cuando descubrimos algo nuevo, cuando nos hacemos preguntas o cuando la ciencia encuentra respuestas que pueden mejorar nuestra vida. Porque la cultura y el conocimiento no son realidades lejanas reservadas a unas pocas personas, sino parte de aquello que nos permite comprender el mundo y sentirnos unidos a los demás.

El artículo 27 de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos reconoce que toda persona tiene derecho a participar libremente en la vida cultural de su comunidad, disfrutar de las artes y participar en el progreso científico y en los beneficios que de él resulten. También establece que toda persona tiene derecho a la protección de los intereses morales y materiales que le correspondan por las producciones científicas, literarias o artísticas de las que sea autora. Detrás de estas garantías existe una idea profundamente humana. Todos debemos tener oportunidades para disfrutar de la cultura, beneficiarnos de los avances del conocimiento y ver reconocido el valor de nuestras propias creaciones, porque la capacidad de imaginar, descubrir y compartir forma parte de nuestra dignidad.

Pensemos en un niño que entra por primera vez en una biblioteca. Quizá todavía no sepa leer con soltura, pero descubre estanterías llenas de historias, ilustraciones y personajes que despiertan su curiosidad. Puede viajar con la imaginación a lugares que nunca ha visitado, conocer otras épocas y descubrir experiencias diferentes de las suyas. Para ese niño, un libro puede convertirse en una puerta hacia un mundo que desconocía. Y lo verdaderamente importante es que esa oportunidad no debería depender exclusivamente del dinero que tenga su familia ni del lugar donde haya nacido. La cultura puede despertar capacidades y sueños que permanecerían ocultos si nunca tuviéramos la posibilidad de acercarnos a ella.

La cultura también vive en los lugares más cotidianos. Podemos encontrarla en una plaza donde varias generaciones celebran una fiesta tradicional, en una pequeña asociación que organiza actividades musicales o en una persona mayor que transmite a sus nietos las historias de su juventud. Está presente en los oficios artesanales, en las lenguas, en la gastronomía y en las expresiones populares que forman parte de la memoria de nuestras comunidades. Muchas de estas manifestaciones no necesitan grandes escenarios ni instituciones prestigiosas para tener valor. Su importancia reside en que permiten compartir conocimientos, conservar recuerdos y mantener vivos vínculos que nos ayudan a comprender de dónde venimos.

Pero participar en la vida cultural no significa que tengamos que conservar todas las tradiciones sin cuestionarlas. Las sociedades cambian, las personas desarrollan nuevas sensibilidades y determinadas costumbres pueden necesitar transformarse para respetar los derechos de todos. La cultura no es algo inmóvil que pertenezca exclusivamente al pasado. También se construye cuando una generación aporta nuevas ideas, cuando diferentes comunidades intercambian experiencias o cuando alguien encuentra una manera distinta de expresar aquello que siente. Respetar la diversidad cultural significa reconocer el valor de las diferentes manifestaciones humanas, sin olvidar que ninguna tradición debería utilizarse para justificar la vulneración de los derechos fundamentales.

El arte ocupa un lugar especialmente importante en nuestra vida porque nos permite comunicar emociones que a veces resultan difíciles de explicar. Una pintura puede reflejar el dolor de una pérdida, una película puede acercarnos a la realidad de quienes sufren discriminación y una representación teatral puede ayudarnos a comprender conflictos que nunca hemos vivido personalmente. La música puede acompañarnos durante una celebración o consolarnos en un momento de tristeza. Estas experiencias no solamente nos entretienen, sino que también pueden despertar nuestra sensibilidad y ayudarnos a reconocer sentimientos compartidos con personas muy diferentes de nosotros.

Pensemos en alguien que nunca ha tenido la oportunidad de asistir a un concierto, visitar un museo o participar en una actividad artística porque vive lejos de los centros culturales o carece de recursos suficientes. Quizá tenga una enorme curiosidad y capacidades creativas que todavía no ha podido desarrollar. La existencia de barreras económicas, geográficas o de accesibilidad puede limitar profundamente el ejercicio de este derecho. Por eso, las bibliotecas públicas, los centros culturales, los espacios comunitarios y las iniciativas que acercan el arte a distintos territorios desempeñan una función tan importante. Permiten que la cultura llegue a personas que, de otro modo, podrían quedar excluidas de experiencias capaces de enriquecer su vida.

Las personas con discapacidad también deben poder participar en la vida cultural en condiciones de igualdad. Una persona con discapacidad visual puede necesitar recursos accesibles para disfrutar de determinadas obras, mientras que alguien con discapacidad auditiva puede requerir subtítulos, interpretación en lengua de signos u otras medidas adecuadas. Las barreras físicas y de comunicación pueden impedir que muchas personas disfruten de actividades que deberían estar abiertas a todos. Una sociedad comprometida con los derechos humanos debe procurar que las diferencias personales no se conviertan en motivos de exclusión cultural. Porque el arte y el conocimiento no pierden valor cuando se presentan de maneras diferentes, sino que pueden enriquecerse al llegar a más personas.

El artículo 27 también reconoce el derecho a participar en el progreso científico y a disfrutar de sus beneficios. Esta garantía adquiere un significado extraordinario cuando pensamos en los avances que han transformado nuestra existencia. Las vacunas, los tratamientos médicos, las tecnologías de comunicación y numerosos descubrimientos científicos han permitido prevenir enfermedades, mejorar condiciones de vida y comprender fenómenos que durante siglos parecían inexplicables. Detrás de cada avance existen personas que investigan, estudian y dedican años de esfuerzo a encontrar respuestas. Pero el conocimiento científico alcanza una dimensión especialmente valiosa cuando sus resultados contribuyen al bienestar humano.

Pensemos en una familia que recibe la noticia de que existe un tratamiento capaz de mejorar la enfermedad de uno de sus integrantes. Para quienes han vivido durante años entre consultas médicas, incertidumbre y preocupación, un avance científico puede representar una esperanza que parecía imposible. Sin embargo, esa esperanza puede verse limitada cuando los beneficios de la ciencia resultan inaccesibles por motivos económicos, geográficos o sociales. El derecho a participar en el progreso científico nos recuerda la importancia de procurar que sus beneficios lleguen a las personas de manera justa, dentro de las posibilidades, obligaciones y garantías que establece el Derecho.

La ciencia también nos ayuda a comprender mejor el planeta que habitamos. Gracias a la investigación conocemos con mayor precisión las consecuencias de determinadas enfermedades, los cambios que afectan al medio ambiente y los fenómenos naturales que pueden poner en peligro nuestra seguridad. Este conocimiento permite tomar decisiones más informadas y desarrollar medidas para proteger a las personas. Pero también exige responsabilidad, porque no todos los avances científicos se utilizan necesariamente de manera beneficiosa. El progreso debe ir acompañado de principios éticos y de respeto a los derechos humanos, especialmente cuando sus aplicaciones pueden afectar a nuestra salud, nuestra intimidad o nuestra libertad.

La posibilidad de acceder al conocimiento científico también resulta fundamental para evitar que la desinformación condicione nuestras decisiones. Cuando comprendemos cómo se obtienen las pruebas, por qué las investigaciones necesitan ser contrastadas y de qué manera pueden cambiar las conclusiones ante nuevos descubrimientos, disponemos de mejores herramientas para interpretar la realidad. La ciencia no exige aceptar cualquier afirmación sin cuestionarla, sino aprender a distinguir entre opiniones, hipótesis y conocimientos respaldados por pruebas. Una sociedad que favorece la educación científica contribuye a que las personas puedan participar con mayor autonomía en debates que afectan a su propia vida.

Pero el artículo 27 no solamente protege a quienes disfrutan de las creaciones ajenas o se benefician de los descubrimientos científicos. También reconoce los derechos de quienes dedican su talento y su esfuerzo a crear. Pensemos en una escritora que pasa años trabajando en una novela, en un músico que compone una obra o en una investigadora que desarrolla un descubrimiento después de innumerables horas de estudio. Detrás de esas producciones existen conocimientos, creatividad, tiempo y una parte importante de la identidad de sus autores. Reconocer sus intereses morales y materiales significa comprender que sus aportaciones merecen protección y que otras personas no deberían apropiarse injustamente de ellas.

Los intereses morales de los autores se relacionan con el vínculo personal que mantienen con sus creaciones, incluido el reconocimiento de su autoría conforme al marco jurídico aplicable. Para alguien que ha dedicado años a escribir una obra o desarrollar una investigación, ver su trabajo atribuido falsamente a otra persona puede representar una injusticia profundamente dolorosa. No se trata únicamente de perder reconocimiento público, sino también de que se desconozca una parte de su esfuerzo y de su historia. Respetar la autoría constituye una forma de reconocer que las ideas y las creaciones tienen detrás personas cuyo trabajo merece consideración.

Los intereses materiales también son importantes porque muchas personas dependen económicamente de sus producciones científicas, literarias o artísticas. Un escritor, una compositora, un fotógrafo o cualquier otro creador puede necesitar obtener ingresos legítimos de su actividad para continuar desarrollándola y mantener sus condiciones de vida. La protección de estos intereses no significa que toda creación deba permanecer inaccesible ni que los derechos de autor carezcan de límites. El desafío consiste en encontrar un equilibrio adecuado entre la protección de quienes crean y el interés de la sociedad en acceder a la cultura y al conocimiento. Ambos objetivos forman parte del sentido humano de este artículo y deben armonizarse conforme al Derecho.

A veces olvidamos que la creatividad no pertenece exclusivamente a quienes alcanzan fama o reconocimiento internacional. Una persona que escribe poemas en su tiempo libre, alguien que pinta después de su jornada laboral o un joven que comienza a componer música también participan en la vida cultural. Sus obras pueden no llegar a grandes públicos, pero eso no les resta valor personal ni elimina los derechos que puedan corresponderles. La cultura se enriquece precisamente gracias a la diversidad de quienes crean, experimentan y comparten nuevas maneras de expresar su visión del mundo.

La infancia merece igualmente un lugar importante en esta reflexión. Cuando un niño dibuja, inventa una historia, canta o construye algo con sus propias manos, está desarrollando su imaginación y descubriendo capacidades que pueden acompañarlo durante toda la vida. Las actividades artísticas y culturales pueden favorecer la expresión emocional, la curiosidad y la relación con los demás. No todos los niños llegarán a convertirse en artistas o científicos, ni necesitan hacerlo para que estas experiencias tengan sentido. Lo importante es que puedan explorar sus intereses y disfrutar de oportunidades que contribuyan a su desarrollo personal.

También debemos reconocer la riqueza que aportan las personas mayores a nuestra vida cultural. Muchas conservan conocimientos, experiencias y tradiciones que difícilmente podrían transmitirse únicamente a través de los libros. Sus relatos pueden ayudarnos a comprender cómo vivían generaciones anteriores, qué dificultades afrontaron y de qué manera fueron cambiando nuestras comunidades. Escuchar sus recuerdos no significa idealizar el pasado, sino reconocer que la memoria también forma parte del patrimonio humano. Cuando una persona mayor comparte sus conocimientos con quienes vienen detrás, puede estar transmitiendo una parte de la historia que de otro modo terminaría desapareciendo.

La diversidad cultural nos ofrece, además, una oportunidad extraordinaria para acercarnos a otras personas. Podemos descubrir nuevas formas de música, conocer tradiciones diferentes o leer obras escritas desde experiencias muy alejadas de las nuestras. Estas posibilidades nos recuerdan que ninguna cultura posee en exclusiva la capacidad de crear belleza, conocimiento o significado. Cada comunidad puede aportar expresiones valiosas al patrimonio compartido de la humanidad. Aprender a apreciarlas no exige renunciar a nuestras propias raíces, sino comprender que nuestra identidad puede enriquecerse cuando conocemos aquello que otros han construido.

En ocasiones, los conflictos, la pobreza y la discriminación ponen en peligro el patrimonio cultural de comunidades enteras. La destrucción de bibliotecas, monumentos, archivos y lugares de valor histórico puede provocar pérdidas que afectan a generaciones presentes y futuras. Pero también puede desaparecer una parte importante de la memoria colectiva cuando determinadas lenguas o tradiciones dejan de transmitirse. Proteger la cultura significa, en muchos casos, preservar testimonios de nuestra historia y procurar que las personas puedan mantener y desarrollar sus expresiones culturales sin sufrir discriminación.

El acceso a la cultura y a la ciencia también plantea nuevos desafíos en una sociedad cada vez más digital. Internet permite consultar bibliotecas, visitar virtualmente museos y acceder a conocimientos que antes requerían desplazamientos o recursos difíciles de conseguir. Pero no todas las personas disponen de conexión, dispositivos adecuados o conocimientos para utilizar estas herramientas. La brecha digital puede convertirse en una nueva forma de exclusión cultural y científica. Por eso, ampliar las oportunidades de acceso al conocimiento exige prestar atención a quienes encuentran mayores dificultades para beneficiarse de las tecnologías disponibles.

Quizá una de las mayores enseñanzas del artículo 27 sea que la cultura y la ciencia no deberían considerarse elementos secundarios de nuestra existencia. Necesitamos alimentarnos, disponer de una vivienda y recibir atención sanitaria, pero también necesitamos comprender, imaginar, crear y compartir experiencias que den sentido a nuestra vida. Una sociedad puede alcanzar importantes niveles de desarrollo económico y, sin embargo, empobrecerse humanamente si desprecia el conocimiento, limita arbitrariamente la expresión cultural o excluye a determinadas personas de sus beneficios. El verdadero progreso debe tener en cuenta tanto nuestras necesidades materiales como nuestra capacidad para desarrollarnos intelectual, artística y emocionalmente.

El artículo 27 nos hace comprender que la cultura, el arte y la ciencia forman parte de los derechos humanos porque contribuyen al desarrollo de nuestra personalidad y a nuestra participación en la sociedad. Nos recuerda que todos debemos poder disfrutar de la vida cultural de nuestra comunidad, acceder a las expresiones artísticas y participar en los beneficios del progreso científico, al tiempo que se protegen los intereses morales y materiales de quienes crean. Pero también nos enseña que el conocimiento alcanza su mayor sentido cuando se comparte de manera respetuosa y contribuye a mejorar la vida de las personas. Ninguna sociedad debería medir su grandeza únicamente por lo que produce, sino también por las oportunidades que ofrece para aprender, descubrir, crear y transmitir aquello que nos hace humanos.

Cada libro que alguien pueda leer, cada obra de arte que consiga emocionarnos y cada descubrimiento científico que mejore una vida nos recuerda que la humanidad avanza cuando protege a quienes crean y abre a todos las puertas de la cultura, de la imaginación y del saber.

Nunca permitamos que el conocimiento quede encerrado tras las puertas del privilegio ni que el talento de una persona sea ignorado por su origen, su pobreza o sus circunstancias.

Porque el conocimiento nos hace avanzar.

Y la cultura nos une.

🇬🇧ENGLISH🇺🇸
Culture Belongs to All of Us

A song can take us back to a moment in our childhood, a book can help us understand feelings we have never known how to express, and a work of art can move us without a single word. From the moment we are born, culture accompanies us in ways that often go unnoticed. It is present in the stories our grandparents told us, in our local celebrations, in museums, in libraries and in the traditions we share with those we love. It is also present when we discover something new, ask questions or find scientific answers that can improve our lives. Culture and knowledge are not distant things reserved for a privileged few. They are part of what allows us to understand the world and feel connected to others.

Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises everyone’s right to participate freely in the cultural life of their community, enjoy the arts and share in scientific advancement and its benefits. It also recognises everyone’s right to the protection of the moral and material interests arising from the scientific, literary or artistic works they create. Behind these safeguards lies a profoundly human idea. We should all have opportunities to enjoy culture, benefit from advances in knowledge and have the value of our own creations recognised, because the ability to imagine, discover and share is part of our dignity.

Think of a child entering a library for the first time. They may not yet be able to read fluently, but they discover shelves filled with stories, illustrations and characters that awaken their curiosity. Through imagination, they can travel to places they have never visited, learn about other times and discover experiences different from their own. For that child, a book can become a doorway to an unfamiliar world. What truly matters is that this opportunity should not depend solely on how much money their family has or where they were born. Culture can awaken abilities and dreams that might remain hidden if we never had the chance to encounter it.

Culture also lives in the most ordinary places. We can find it in a town square where different generations gather for a traditional celebration, in a small community organisation that arranges musical activities or in an older person sharing stories of their youth with their grandchildren. It is present in traditional crafts, languages, food and the forms of popular expression that are part of our communities’ memory. Many of these expressions need neither grand stages nor prestigious institutions to have value. Their importance lies in allowing us to share knowledge, preserve memories and keep alive the connections that help us understand where we come from.

But participating in cultural life does not mean preserving every tradition without question. Societies change, people develop new perspectives, and some customs may need to change to respect everyone’s rights. Culture is not something fixed that belongs exclusively to the past. It also develops when a generation contributes new ideas, when different communities exchange experiences or when someone finds a new way to express their feelings. Respecting cultural diversity means recognising the value of different forms of human expression while remembering that no tradition should be used to justify violations of fundamental rights.

Art holds a particularly important place in our lives because it allows us to communicate emotions that can be difficult to explain. A painting can express the pain of loss, a film can bring us closer to the experiences of people facing discrimination, and a play can help us understand conflicts we have never experienced ourselves. Music can accompany a celebration or comfort us in a moment of sadness. These experiences do more than entertain us. They can also deepen our sensitivity and help us recognise feelings we share with people very different from ourselves.

Think of someone who has never had the opportunity to attend a concert, visit a museum or take part in an artistic activity because they live far from cultural venues or lack the necessary resources. They may have tremendous curiosity and creative abilities they have not yet had the chance to develop. Financial, geographical and accessibility barriers can severely limit the exercise of this right. That is why public libraries, cultural centres, community spaces and initiatives that bring art to different areas play such an important role. They allow culture to reach people who might otherwise be excluded from experiences that could enrich their lives.

People with disabilities must also be able to participate in cultural life on equal terms. A person with a visual impairment may need accessible resources to enjoy certain works, while someone with a hearing impairment may need subtitles, sign language interpretation or other appropriate support. Physical and communication barriers can prevent many people from enjoying activities that should be open to everyone. A society committed to human rights must work to ensure that personal differences do not become reasons for cultural exclusion. Art and knowledge do not lose their value when presented in different ways. They can become richer by reaching more people.

Article 27 also recognises the right to share in scientific advancement and enjoy its benefits. This safeguard takes on extraordinary significance when we consider the advances that have transformed our lives. Vaccines, medical treatments, communication technologies and countless scientific discoveries have helped prevent disease, improve living conditions and explain phenomena that seemed incomprehensible for centuries. Behind every advance are people who research, study and devote years of effort to finding answers. But scientific knowledge becomes especially valuable when its results contribute to human wellbeing.

Think of a family learning that a treatment exists that could improve a relative’s medical condition. For those who have spent years facing medical appointments, uncertainty and worry, a scientific advance can offer hope that once seemed impossible. Yet that hope may be limited when the benefits of science remain inaccessible for financial, geographical or social reasons. The right to share in scientific advancement reminds us of the importance of working to ensure that its benefits reach people fairly, within the possibilities, obligations and safeguards provided by law.

Science also helps us better understand the planet we inhabit. Research gives us a clearer understanding of the effects of diseases, changes in the environment and natural phenomena that may threaten our safety. This knowledge allows us to make better informed decisions and develop measures to protect people. But it also calls for responsibility, because scientific advances are not always used for beneficial purposes. Progress must be guided by ethical principles and respect for human rights, especially when its applications may affect our health, privacy or freedom.

Access to scientific knowledge is also essential to prevent misinformation from shaping our decisions. When we understand how evidence is gathered, why research needs to be checked and how conclusions may change in light of new discoveries, we are better equipped to make sense of the world. Science does not ask us to accept every claim without question. It teaches us to distinguish between opinions, hypotheses and knowledge supported by evidence. A society that promotes scientific education helps people participate more independently in debates that affect their lives.

But Article 27 does not protect only those who enjoy other people’s creations or benefit from scientific discoveries. It also recognises the rights of those who devote their talent and effort to creating. Think of a writer who spends years working on a novel, a musician composing a piece or a researcher making a discovery after countless hours of study. Behind these works lie knowledge, creativity, time and an important part of their creators’ identities. Recognising their moral and material interests means understanding that their contributions deserve protection and that others should not unfairly claim or take them as their own.

Creators’ moral interests concern their personal connection to their work, including recognition of their authorship under the applicable law. For someone who has spent years writing a book or conducting research, seeing their work falsely attributed to another person can be a deeply painful injustice. It is not simply a matter of losing public recognition. Part of their effort and personal history is also being disregarded. Respecting authorship means recognising the people behind ideas and creations, and acknowledging that their work deserves consideration.

Material interests also matter because many people depend financially on their scientific, literary or artistic work. A writer, composer, photographer or any other creator may need to earn a legitimate income from their work to continue doing it and support themselves. Protecting these interests does not mean that every creation must remain inaccessible or that copyright has no limits. The challenge is to strike an appropriate balance between protecting creators and serving society’s interest in access to culture and knowledge. Both aims reflect the human purpose of this article and must be reconciled in accordance with the law.

Sometimes we forget that creativity does not belong exclusively to those who achieve fame or international recognition. A person writing poems in their spare time, someone painting after work or a young person beginning to compose music also participates in cultural life. Their work may never reach a large audience, but that does not diminish its personal value or remove any rights they may hold. Culture is enriched precisely by the diversity of those who create, experiment and share new ways of expressing their view of the world.

Childhood also deserves an important place in this reflection. When children draw, invent stories, sing or make something with their own hands, they are developing their imagination and discovering abilities that may stay with them throughout their lives. Artistic and cultural activities can encourage emotional expression, curiosity and connections with others. Not every child will become an artist or a scientist, nor do they need to for these experiences to matter. What counts is that they can explore their interests and enjoy opportunities that contribute to their personal development.

We must also recognise the richness older people bring to our cultural life. Many preserve knowledge, experiences and traditions that could hardly be passed on through books alone. Their stories can help us understand how earlier generations lived, the difficulties they faced and how our communities changed over time. Listening to their memories does not mean idealising the past. It means recognising that memory is also part of our human heritage. When an older person shares their knowledge with younger generations, they may be passing on a part of history that would otherwise disappear.

Cultural diversity also offers an extraordinary opportunity to connect with others. We can discover new forms of music, learn about different traditions or read works shaped by experiences far removed from our own. These opportunities remind us that no culture has a monopoly on creating beauty, knowledge or meaning. Every community can contribute valuable forms of expression to humanity’s shared heritage. Learning to appreciate them does not require us to abandon our own roots. It means understanding that our identity can be enriched by discovering what others have created.

Sometimes conflict, poverty and discrimination threaten the cultural heritage of entire communities. The destruction of libraries, monuments, archives and places of historical significance can cause losses that affect present and future generations. But an important part of collective memory can also disappear when languages or traditions are no longer passed on. Protecting culture often means preserving the evidence and stories of our past, and working to ensure that people can maintain and develop their forms of cultural expression without discrimination.

Access to culture and science also presents new challenges in an increasingly digital society. The internet allows us to explore libraries, visit museums virtually and access knowledge that once required travel or resources that were difficult to obtain. But not everyone has an internet connection, suitable devices or the skills to use these tools. The digital divide can become a new form of cultural and scientific exclusion. Expanding opportunities to access knowledge therefore requires attention to those who face the greatest difficulties in benefiting from available technologies.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons of Article 27 is that culture and science should not be considered secondary aspects of our lives. We need food, housing and healthcare, but we also need to understand, imagine, create and share experiences that give our lives meaning. A society may achieve considerable economic development yet become poorer in human terms if it dismisses knowledge, arbitrarily restricts cultural expression or excludes certain people from its benefits. True progress must take account of both our material needs and our capacity to develop intellectually, artistically and emotionally.

Article 27 helps us understand that culture, art and science are part of human rights because they contribute to our personal development and our participation in society. It reminds us that we should all be able to enjoy the cultural life of our community, access artistic expression and share in the benefits of scientific progress, while the moral and material interests of creators are protected. But it also teaches us that knowledge finds its greatest purpose when it is shared respectfully and helps improve people’s lives. No society should measure its greatness solely by what it produces, but also by the opportunities it offers to learn, discover, create and pass on what makes us human.

Every book someone has the chance to read, every work of art that moves us and every scientific discovery that improves a life reminds us that humanity advances when it protects creators and opens the doors of culture, imagination and knowledge to everyone.

Let us never allow knowledge to be locked behind the doors of privilege, or anyone’s talent to be overlooked because of their background, poverty or circumstances.

Because knowledge moves us forward.

And culture brings us together.