When: 8-9 November 2021 starting at 9:00 am

Where: Virtually on Zoom Webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o9YMhXA3SCebTemaJPnJMg

Who:       The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) of the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Network of Africa National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI).

Why:

While declaring the theme of 2021 as the Year of the Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”, the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government recognises the role that arts, culture and heritage can play as catalysts for the socio-economic development and integration of the African continent. To that effect, the preservation of valued African property such as historic buildings, artwork, books/manuscripts and other artefacts that have been passed down from the previous generations, is expected to take central stage as the AU strives to uphold these values.

The above theme of the year is consistent with the past AU decisions where culture has been included in major development blue prints, such as the Lagos Plan of Action (1980-2000) and the Agenda 2063, as well as in other various instruments adopted on culture,  including the Cultural Charter for Africa (1978), the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance (2006), the Statute of the African Audio-Visual and Cinema Commission (2019) and the African Union (AU) Model Law on the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage (2018), among others.

The theme specifically draws inspiration from the Agenda 2063, as a shared strategic framework and blueprint for inclusive growth and sustainable Development. Aspiration 5 of the Agenda envisages “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics”. This aspiration is premised on the understanding that strengthening the African cultural identity, values and ethics is a critical factor for Africa’s recognition and appreciation at the global stage. It aims at developing a continent where hard-work is a key ethical value, a continent where women play important role, and traditional and religious leaders, including the youth are drivers of change, are recognized.

Objectives: The Dialogue aimed at fostering dialogue among key actors towards strategic collaborations and insights that inform policy decisions and lead to actionable steps with regard to implementation of human rights commitments in Africa.

The specific objectives of the Dialogue are:

1. Increase awareness on the relationship between human rights and cultural heritage and the challenges faced by the National Human Rights Institutions in trying to establish priorities between them;
2. Increase awareness of the relationship between artistic rights, cultural rights and cultural diversity with the aim of giving them a human rights outlook;
3. Identify possible obstacles to the promotion and protection of artistic and cultural rights in Africa; and
4. Develop an action plan for the role of African NHRIs in promoting arts, culture and heritage, as catalysts for socio-economic development.

Participants: Permanent Representative Committee of the AU Member States, PRC Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons, Representatives from National Human Rights Institutions; UN Agencies; International development Partners; the academia and Civil Society practitioners and other relevant stakeholders.

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover the Fifth African Union Commission (AUC) and Network of Africa National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRIs) Policy Dialogue

For further information please contact:

1. Salah S. Hammad| Department of Political Affairs | African Union Commission |Email: HammadS@africa-union.org | Tel: +251 (0) 91 305 7711
2. Ikubaje John Gbodi, Political Officer (Human Rights), Department of Political Affairs, Email: Gbodij@africa-union.org; Tel: +251 (09) 23208041

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communications Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org
2. Paschal Chem-Langhee | Communication Officer | Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department | E-mail: Chem-LangheeP@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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