DECISION ON THE MID-TERM ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE THEME OF THE YEAR
2021 ON ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
Doc. EX.CL/1287(XXXIX)
The Executive Council,
1. TAKES NOTE of the Mid-Year Report on the Implementation of the Roadmap of the African Union Theme of the Year for 2021 titled: Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want;’
2. ACKNOWLEDGES the role played by the late H.E. Kenneth David Kaunda, Former President of Zambia, in contributing to the promotion of African Cultural Renaissance, the spirit of Pan-Africanism and continental integration;
3. COMMENDS the organization of Africa Day Celebrations on 25 May 2021 and the Continental launch of the entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance;
4. ALSO COMMENDS all Member States that have ratified and are implementing the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and ENCOURAGES all Member States that have not ratified/acceded to this instrument to finalize the process of ratification of this instrument to uplift the arts, culture and heritage sector on the Continent;
5. TAKES NOTE of the planned activities inscribed in the roadmap on the theme of the year to be implemented in the second semester of 2021 and beyond including the launch of the Temporary Site of the Great Museum of Africa, a Flagship Project of the AU Agenda 2063 and the continental workshop on the restitution/return of illicitly trafficked cultural property and heritage from the Continent;
6. ACKNOWLEDGES the key role that the Great Museum of Africa (GMA) is mandated to play in the restitution/return of illicitly trafficked cultural property and heritage from the Continent that were illicitly trafficked and/or looted during the colonial era, and CALLS UPON the Commission to fast track the finalization of the draft Statute of the GMAy
7. ALSO CALLS UPON all AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs|), UN Agencies and partners in the arts, culture and heritage sector to continue supporting the implementation of activities and programmes in line with the AU theme of the year for 2021;
8. DECIDES that given the critical importance of the arts, culture and heritage sector on the continent and due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic with regards to physical meetings and reaching out to the grassroots level, activities on the roadmap for the AU theme of the year for 2021 should continue until 2022;
9. INVITES all Member States and the Commission to support and participate in the launching of the Grand Egyptian Museum;
10. REQUESTS the Commission in collaboration with the Republic of Mali as the AU Champion on Arts, Culture and Heritage, to present a comprehensive report to the 35th AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government to be held in February 2022 on the impact of the AU theme of the year for 2021 highlighting key achievements, challenges and strategic direction on moving the arts, culture and heritage sector on the continent forward.
11. ALSO REQUESTS the host country to expedite the host agreement.