Appendix 6 - International Music Council

1 The link between human rights and musical diversity
HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF MUSICAL DIVERSITY
All European countries have a legislation that determines the freedom of opinion and the
freedom of cultural expression. In most of the countries these laws are in force and
enforced. In some countries laws are not enforced or their enforcement is problematic
(Turkey, Belarus). In general, there is hardly any information about limitations on artistic
freedom in Europe.
Most of the European countries do not have official bans of music,
though there may be cases of self censorship. Major violations of Human Rights and
freedom of cultural expressions are predominantly found in other parts of the world, though
there is a tendency in Western and Middle Europe to increasing police violence, racists'
attacks, violence against women and the worsening of the situation of refugees as well
as a
certain threatening of the protection of Human Rights by anti-terrorism-legislation.
(http://hrw.org/doc/?t=europe; http://web.amnesty.org/report2006/2eu-summary-eng)
There are restrictions of the freedom of cultural expression and freedom of opinion through
policies against harassment and the protection of moral principles. Freedom of speech can
be limited by regulations
of the protection of minors and personal dignity. Almost all states
have titles that are not allowed to be aired. This is mostly due to violation of moral
standards concerning sexuality, violence and bad or offensive language. Freedom of speech
can also be limited through regulations concerning propaganda especially of the extreme
right. This is especially important for Germany and Austria.
In some migrant communities, especially Muslim communities, there seem to be hard
debates about the issue, if music is allowed at all. (http://freemuse .org/ )
Albania
Since 1992, Albania's form of government is officially democratic. Whereas after the
Second World War there has been a strong Russian influence, which stopped in 1960 when
the alliance with the Soviet Union was breached, today, there are no more strict regulations
concerning the musical life. Quite the contrary, Albania has opened itself to the outside
world which results in a great cultural and musical diversity. Until 1992 Albania was a
strictly secular state, today there are three officially recognised
religious groups. The
situation appears
to be calm, moderate; there are no reports about conflicts. (Report of Peter
Inkei)
Balkan
The Balkan countries are multiethnic, multireligious, multicultural and multi-lingual.
Though tensions and hostilities still exist, most minorities are able to speak their own
languages and express themselves in their own forms of cultural expression largely
unchallenged. A lot of them even operate their own media. There are problems concerning
education in native languages. All Balkan countries have problems concerning the
integration of Roma in their societies.
Because the idea of different Balkan states on their own was launched in 19 th century and is
based on central-European ideas of "nation", the nationalization was as well accompanied
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