Eurovision Song Contest and Its Impact on Human Rights in the 21st Century

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) has evolved from a post-war cultural initiative into a global platform that intersects with politics, diplomacy, and human rights discourse in Europe. While officially a non-political event, Eurovision has increasingly served as a stage for minority representation, freedom of expression, and soft power diplomacy. Through its values of inclusivity, diversity, and artistic expression, the Contest has become relevant to the broader human rights framework and political landscape of Europe. Using a qualitative approach, the study explores case studies of Eurovision live performances, the ESC Code of Conduct, official statements from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and the fan communities’ reviews. The research investigates the origins of Eurovision, its legal framework, and its expansion in the 21st century, particularly in post-communist Eastern Europe. Furthermore, it assesses the contest’s role in public diplomacy and its similarities to global mega-events in advocating human rights. A central focus is on Eurovision’s role in amplifying minority voices, particularly ethnic, linguistic, and LGBTQ+ communities. The study evaluates how the contest facilitates dialogue on social inclusion and European identity through stage visibility. Additionally, it explores the impact of international legal mechanisms, such the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, in shaping Eurovision’s representation of minority rights. Ukraine serves as a case study to illustrate how the Eurovision arena functions as a soft power tool to promote Ukraine’s national identity and minority. Since its debut, Ukraine has used the contest to advocate for democratic values, particularly in the context of the Russian invasion and the rights of Crimean Tatars and the Hutsuls. By analyzing key performances, lyrics, and artistic choices, this research examines Ukraine’s strategic use of Eurovision to advance its human rights agenda and international presence.