In a joint submission to the United Nation's Universal Periodic Review, NCAC and FREEMUSE maintain that "the right to artistic freedom and creativity is explicitly guaranteed by international instruments." The below submission outlines the protection of artistic freedom within two populations: young persons (under the age of 18) and incarcerated persons. The letter elaborates on the hundreds of books that are removed from primary and secondary public school classrooms and libraries due to moral and religious objections while also bringing to light the increasing dubiousness of prisoners' First Amendment rights, particularly when certain books are banned on the basis of their content. Finally, NCAC and FREEMUSE offer recommendations for combating the United State's failure to uphold the First Amendment rights of its citizens.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a "unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States." The process permits each state to announce the actions that have been taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and what will been done to maintain these improvements. UPR is designed to ensure equal treatment for all countries regarding the assessment of human rights obligations.
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