Why Uganda needs to ratify UN Convention on cultural expressions

trueBy Fredrick Nsibambi                                  

Uganda became United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) State Party on Friday, November 20, 1987.

The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is a binding international legal instrument adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 20 October 2005, during the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris, France on 3–21 October 2005.

The Convention recognises the rights and responsibilities of State Parties to take measures to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions, and impose obligations at both domestic and international levels on Parties.

The Convention’s main objective is to strengthen creation, production, dissemination, access and enjoyment of cultural expressions transmitted by cultural activities, goods and services, with a strong focus on developing countries. The Convention also aims at promoting dialogue and creativity of cultural diversity as a necessary element to achieve peace and sustainable development. 

Uganda needs to ratify this Convention urgently because of various reasons: Uganda is culturally/ethnically diverse with about 65 ethnic groups and 45 languages recognized by the 1995 Constitution. Because of this cultural diversity, Uganda is prone to cultural conflicts/clashes, as recently experienced in Rwenzori region.

Through the Convention Ugandans can be sensitized on how to appreciate/respect one another’s culture. Ugandans can learn that having a different culture from your neighbor does not mean being inferior. Inter-cultural dialogue activities can be supported through this Convention.

Article 18 of the Convention establishes an International Fund to promote Cultural Diversity. This Fund can only be accessible if Uganda ratifies the Convention. Countries such as Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria among others are already benefiting from this fund.

The fund is used to support activities related to cultural expressions and diversity. Uganda’s entire cultural sector gets 0.03% as its share of the National Budget. The funds provided for under the Convention can help to supplement the meager resources to the cultural sector in Uganda.

Development prescriptions in Uganda generally neglect our culture and its rich diversity, and consequently place cultural identity and expressions at the bottom of official concerns. Article 13 of the Convention provides for the integration of culture in sustainable development.

It encourages State parties to the Convention to endeavour to integrate culture in their development policies at all levels for the creation of conditions conducive to sustainable development and, within this framework, foster aspects relating to the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.

If ratified, Uganda can learn from other countries who have successfully integrated culture into their development programmes through exchanges as provided for under Article 19. Mainstreaming culture into local government development plans, which is currently being piloted by UNESCO in Masaka, Kibaale and Kumi Districts can also be supported through the 2005 Convention.

Article 14 provides for Cooperation for development. State parties are encouraged to endeavour to support cooperation for sustainable development and poverty reduction, especially in relation to the specific needs of developing countries, in order to foster the emergence of a dynamic cultural sector by strengthening of the cultural industries in developing countries by creating and strengthening cultural production and distribution capacities in developing countries; and facilitating wider access to the global market and international distribution networks for their cultural goods and services.

The Convention further advocates for strengthening the System of Governance for Culture in Developing Countries under what is called UNESCO expert facility project funded by the European Union.

The project aims to strengthen the system of governance for culture in developing countries and reinforce the role of culture as a vector for sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development through its Department of Culture and Family Affairs with advice from Uganda National Commission for UNESCO is mandated to start the ratification process. It has been said on several occasions that a briefing paper on Convention was presented to Cabinet about 5 years ago. Since then, the statusquo has not changed.

I therefore appeal to all responsible parties to expedite the ratification of the Convention before it is too late for Uganda.

The writer works with the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda