Continental Experts’ Workshop on the Restitution of Cultural Property and heritage

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November 30, 2021 to December 02, 2021

WHAT: THE CONTINENTAL EXPERTS’ WORKSHOP ON THE RESTITUTION OF CULTURAL PROPERTY AND HERITAGE

DATE: 30TH NOVEMBER – 2ND DECEMBER 2021

VENUE: DAKAR, SENEGAL

MEETING LINK: Join the conversation using #RestitutionJourney

WHO: The African Union Health, Humanitarian Affairs & Social Development (HHS) Department and The Open Society Initiative for West Africa in collaboration with the Government of Senegal.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of the Experts Workshop on the Restitution of Cultural Property and Heritage are to:

Develop a position paper on the Restitution of Cultural Property

Produce a Framework for Action on the Negotiations for the return illicitly trafficked Cultural Property from the Continent;

Support restitution policies for cultural property in Africa.

Establish networks of African cultural experts, policy makers, dealers, auctioneers, museum curators and individual buyers among others, working in the area of combating illicit trafficking in cultural property

and heritage.

BACKGROUND

Cultural property in Africa have been plundered and acquired illegally through trafficking and mostly during wars and armed conflicts. Lack of mechanisms and systemic structures on how to protect them has been a fundamental challenge. In order to holistically protect and preserve cultural property in Africa, there should be mechanisms in which cultural property protection becomes the responsibility of citizens, communities, societies and states. One of the proposed mechanisms is to have a framework for action on the negotiations for the return of illicitly trafficked cultural property from the continent. The process of developing such a framework should be supported by a position paper which articulates the importance of restitution of cultural property.

JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT…

For further information, please contact:

African Union Commission (AUC) – Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social (HHS)

Angela Martins, Head of Culture Division, E-mail: MartinsA@Africa-Union.org cc:

ShuleV@African-Union.Org

MinaS@African-Union.Org

MakkyA@Africa-Union.Org;

KomouR@africa-union.org;

MekbibA@Africa-Union.org

MEDIA CONTACT:

Nadege Bedoum, Information and Communication Directorate (DIC), Tel: +251967244956, E-mail: BedoumN@africa-union.org

Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information, (DIC), Tel. +251911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org