UNESCO and Stakeholders launch “ReIShaping Policies for Creativity and Artistic Freedom” Project.

UNESCO in collaboration with Hope Society and the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage organized a multi-stakeholder event to launch UNESCO-SIDA project on reIshaping policies for creativity and artistic freedom in South Sudan. The aim of the launch and training workshop is to Strengthen participatory processes for monitoring policies for creativity and artistic freedom through the preparation of the quadrennial periodic report on the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The event brought together over 30 participants from government ministries, civil society actors and cultural practitioners. The training tackled topics on participatory policy monitoring with the aim to have stakeholders better understand the project and be able to monitor, design and implement policies and measures that foster the emergence of dynamic cultural and creative sectors for sustainable development and the promotion of fundamental freedoms.  The workshop also addressed gender equality as a key emerging topic for the elaboration of transformative action plans for the cultural and creative sectors; and generated spaces of policy dialogue and support sustainable, inclusive, participatory, and transparent systems of governance of culture. 

Mr. Becu Thomas, UNESCO Programme Officer for Culture in Juba, noted that “Policies and measures should ensure the freedom of cultural and creative professionals to create, produce, disseminate and distribute artistic works to foster their viability and contribute to economic development”. He further added that the media are key in promoting diversity of the creative industries.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Tomas Brundin, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Juba said that “protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions underlines the importance of preserving, safeguarding and enhancing the many various expressions and forms as an integral part of people’s wellbeing and development”. He further added that, “the symbolic meaning as well as artistic and cultural values that stem from the creativity of individuals, groups and societies form an important basis for learning and dialogue which in turns promotes interaction and social cohesion between human beings.”

Mr. Deng Nhial, Acting Director General for Culture at the Ministry of culture, Museums and National Heritage and the focal point for 2005 Convention in South Sudan said, “the ministry is taking seriously the issues of policies to guide the culture programme nationwide through the draft culture policy which is being discussed at the cabinet and the Copyright bill to address challenges of the cultural and creative industries in South Sudan”.