Palikir, 13 June, 2025.- The UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Alexandra Xanthaki said today that the traditions and cultural practices of the Federated States of Micronesia are the heart of its social fabric, and encouraged the National Government to use human rights, including cultural rights, to guide development efforts.
“Micronesians take pride in their ways of life and are adamant that they want to protect them. The world has a lot to learn from the solidarity, the genuine care and the sense of responsibility they nurture towards each other”, Xanthaki said in a statement at the end of an official visit to the country.
“The full exercise of their cultural rights is intertwined with their ability to pursue their development vision based on their indigenous knowledge. To this end, the pride they have in their cultural resources should be reflected in the educational curriculum at all levels and cultural heritage, inherently connected to biodiversity, the ocean and the environment, must be actively maintained through long lasting programmes, rather than short term projects,” Xanthaki said.
By being repeatedly colonised for many decades, Micronesians have not had the space to determine their own future, the Special Rapporteur said. She also noted the impact of continuing massive outmigration and the consequent brain drain.
“Now is the time to take the reins of self-led, culturally embedded development in order to ensure future self-sufficiency and ultimately true self-determination, including cultural self-determination of Micronesians”, the expert said.
This objective can only be achieved through regional and international partnerships and active engagement with the human rights system. “The National Government needs to ensure that cultural norms are not used as excuses to maintain structural inequalities”, Xanthaki recalled.
The Special Rapporteur stands ready to continue engaging with all Micronesians, firm in the belief that cultural rights and other human rights together can help them define and implement the future that Micronesians truly want for themselves.
The Special Rapporteur Xanthaki will present her final report on the Federated States of Micronesia to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026.