Events

PRESS RELEASE Nº245/2015

1st Meeting of the Working Group to Develop the Model Law on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Goods

Midrand, South Africa, 22 September 2015 - A four- day Working Group Meeting to develop Model Law on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Goods kicked off on Tuesday 22 September 2015 at the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa. The meeting was jointly organized by the AU Department of Social Affairs and the Office of the Legal Counsel and graciously hosted by the PAP.

The Working Group meeting was attended by members of the Pan–African Parliament (MPs), Members of the African Union Commission on International Law, culture and legal experts, lawyers and legal drafters, curators, anthropologists, the AU Legal Counsel and staff from the Department of Social Affairs and the Office of the Legal Counsel.

The opening session was addressed by Mr. Ahmed El Fadly, Co-Chair of the Africa- EU Partnership on Cultural Cooperation who mentioned that the Africa-EU initiative in establishing mechanisms to combat illicit trafficking in cultural goods has been a long journey which started with the adoption of the Africa-EU Assembly Decision in 2007 to carry out an inventory of all cooperation activities between Africa and EU with regards to cultural goods. He also mentioned that the convening of the 1st Meeting of the Working Group was timely since it was happening after the holding of the 1st Meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport (STC-YCS1) and the decision of the Executive Council adopting the report of the STC-YCS1.

In her opening address, the Honorable Marie Danielle Selvon Member of the Pan-African Parliament Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources pointed out that by developing the African Union Model Law on Combatting Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Goods, the African Union will be assisting in the promotion and preservation of Africa’s cultural heritage and contributing to the implementation of Aspiration 05 of the AU Agenda 2063 which is to have an Africa with a strong cultural identity, values and ethics and at the same time ensuring that our cultural and creative industries have a stronger contribution to the development of the Member States and the continent at large.

In declaring the Meeting open, Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle, the AU Legal Counsel noted that the Model Law will not only contribute to legislation and eventually jurisprudence in Africa but will also contribute to the protection of Africa’s rich history that is at the centre of, and embodies the cradle of human civilization. He then urged the Working Group to work hard to ensure the implementation of the decision of the Policy Organs of the African Union regarding the preservation of Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

For any inquiry, please contact:

Ms. Angela Martins, Head of Culture Division, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission, Email: MartinsA@africa-union.org; Cc:mekbiba@africa-union.org

Ms. Chinonyelum Esther Uwazie, Legal Officer, Office of the Legal Counsel, African Union Commission, Email: UwazieC@africa-union.org

Directorate of Information and Communication

Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
The African Union and the Permanent Court of Arbitration sign a Cooperation Agreement
July 2015: the African Union (the “AU”) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (the “PCA”), signed a cooperation agreement that will establish a framework for the AU and the PCA to join forces in the promotion of international arbitration and in raising awareness about developments in the field.
Under the Cooperation Agreement, the PCA will, inter alia, partner with the AU to assist African Member States in developing their arbitral infrastructure and engage the regional arbitration community by participating in educational outreach and training programs throughout the continent.
Professor Vincent Nmehielle, Legal Counsel and Director for Legal Affairs of the AU and Mr. Hugo H. Siblesz, Secretary-General of the PCA, signed the Cooperation Agreement on behalf of their institutions.
Under the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, the overall objective of the partnership shall be to strengthen the institutional ties between the AU and PCA, as well as other stake holders in the field of arbitration.
About the African Union
Launched in 2002 as a successor of the Organisation of African Unity (the “OAU”), the AU spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with its 54 Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens towards achieving “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena”. The AU headquarters is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
About the Permanent Court of Arbitration

Established in 1899 to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between states, the PCA provides assistance in dispute resolution involving various combinations of states, state entities, intergovernmental organizations and private parties. Currently the PCA has 117 Member States from all continents. The PCA’s headquarters is at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands. The PCA also has a permanent office in Ebène, Mauritius.
For more information on the AU, visit http://au.int/
For more information on the PCA, visit http://www.pca-cpa.org/

Press Release Nº 156/2015

Office of the Legal Counsel coordinate joint African Union Commission – Loyola University Chicago training workshop on intellectual property rights in Africa.

Addis Ababa, 10 July 2015 - Professor Vincent O. Nmehielle, The Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission received Professors Giulio C. Zanetti and Laurent Manderieux at the African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa on Monday, 6th July, 2015 for a week long training workshop titled ‘Intellectual Property in Practice: a Focus on Africa.’

The workshop was designed pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the African Union Commission and Loyola University Chicago towards capacity building within the African Union (AU), its organs, Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

The training workshop on Intellectual Property (IP) was specially designed to provide its participants with, among others, a hands-on approach to the various IP rights that are relevant for African countries, including trademarks; patents and access to lifesaving drugs; copyrights; industrial designs; traditional knowledge and cultural heritage

The training workshop was conducted under the following schedule:

On day one of the workshop, Professor Nmehielle welcomed the experts from Loyola University Chicago and gave participants a broad overview of what they are to expect from the programme. Prof. Giulio C. Zanetti commenced with an introduction to intellectual property (IP) including the types of IP rights, with specific focus on trademarks.

Day two continued with the module on trademarks with a focus on geographical indications and well-known marks, as well as the various protection routes.

On day three, both Prof. Zanetti and Prof. Manderieux jointly delivered the module on patents and access to pharmaceutical products, with specific discussions on how African countries can gain access to lifesaving drugs registered as patents, using compulsory licensing.

On day four, the workshop focused on industrial design as an IP right – its characteristics, applicability and the various ways that Africans can protect their creativity and design. The other half of the day focused on traditional knowledge as an IP right and the importance of protecting African traditional knowledge from exploitation by multinational corporations in developed countries.

Day five marked the final day of the training workshop and commenced with a broad overview of copyright delivered by Prof. Manderieux, including the notion, functions, exceptions and limitations of copyright and the modes of protection of African literal, artistic and musical works.

At the end of the workshop, participants were asked to complete a self-assessment questionnaire on the knowledge acquired from the training as well as an evaluation of the training instructors.

Generally, participants were able to:

1. Describe the strategic and commercial importance of intellectual property (IP) in today’s economy and in particular, its impact on African countries;

2. Identify the various fields of IP and when they are applicable;

3. List the main characteristics of IP and the exclusive rights conferred by each type of IP and apply the main principles of the provisions concerned;

4. Indicate the main routes through which protection of IP rights may be obtained and the main registration systems;

5. Link their IP knowledge with the existing policies of the African Union.

At the closing ceremony on Friday, 10 July 2015, the Legal Counsel thanked Loyola University Chicago for organizing the workshop and commented on the growing relationship between the AUC and the University. He also gave a special acknowledgement to the consulting experts for a job well-done in delivering the training and congratulated the participants for successful completion. He once again highlighted the importance of IPR for the growing Africa continent, most especially in the areas of trade and industry, social affairs and pharmaceutical.

Finally, the Participants were presented with a certificate for successful completion of training workshop.

Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission

Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

The deadline has been extended to 5 May 2015

Addis Ababa – 2 April 2015: the African Union and the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish a partnership with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of both parties in their efforts to promote democracy, good governance, human and peoples’ rights, constitutionalism, fair and free elections and rule of law in Africa.
Under the MOU the Commission and CCJA shall cooperate closely and undertake joint actions and activities to implement the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the 2002 African Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and other relevant instruments.

Professor Vincent Nmehielle, the AU Legal Counsel and Professor Theodore Holo, President of the Constitutional Court of Benin and President of CCJA, signed the MOU on 2 April 2015 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the presence of Mr. Naïm Akibou Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Benin to the African Union, a Representative of the Permanent Mission of Algeria to the AU, Mr. Calixte Mbari representing the Department of Political Affairs and other Officials of the Commission.

Under the terms of the MOU, the overall objective of the Partnership shall be to strengthen the institutional ties between the Commission, through the Office of the Legal Counsel and the Department of Political Affairs as well as other relevant Departments of the Commission, and CCJA in the field of democracy, good governance, human and peoples’ rights, constitutionalism, fair and free elections and rule of law.

The objectives of the Partnership shall be achieved through:

Ø Granting CCJA an observer’s status to the AU, as an organization made up of institutions of Member States of the AU;

Ø Regular consultations between the Commission and CCJA on policies and procedures;

Ø Joint training programmes and workshops;

Ø Development and implementation of joint projects in the areas covered by this MoU.