In partnership with the Goethe Institut, The African Arts Institute (AFAI) presents a seminar and public debate on ‘Culture and Human Rights: Culture as facilitator, culture as inhibitor of human rights?’.

PUBLIC DEBATE

Tuesday 2 September from 6:00- 7:30pm  

Goethe Institut,
119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood,
Johannesburg, ZA

Neither the Universal Declaration of Human Rights nor the South African Constitution stipulates that the right to participate in the cultural life of the community and to enjoy the arts or the freedom to practice artistic creativity are subject to other rights such as the rights to housing, health care, employment, clothing, pensions, etc first being realized. For these rights and freedoms are premised on the affirmation of human beings as holistic entities with psychological, emotional, spiritual and not only physical dimensions. The White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage adopted by the Cabinet in 1996 affirmed the view of participation in the arts and culture as fundamental human rights, bolstered by the Freedom Charter’s “The doors of learning and culture shall be open”.

The speakers are Karabo Legoabe from the Arts and Culture Trust; Professor in Human Rights and Criminal Justice and the Director of Culture ATKV (Afrikaans Language and Cultural Society) Danny Titus and documentary film maker Rehad Desai.

To confirm attendance please RSVP to Sophia at sophia@afai.org.za by Monday 1 September.

SEMINAR: CULTURE, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Wednesday 3 September from 9:00am – 4:00pm    

Goethe Institut,
119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood,
Johannesburg, ZA

In partnership with the Goethe Institut, The African Arts Institute (AFAI) presents a day-long seminar on the theme of Culture, Development and Human Rights.

The topic will be investigated by looking at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Bill of Rights in the South African Constitution and the South African White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage of 1996.

After presentations on the topic, participants will discuss and debate the emergent issues in working groups, with the aim of arriving at fresh ideas and insights about the theme.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served to participants, and meals for lunch will be available for purchase at the venue. There is no registration fee attached to the seminars.

To confirm attendance please RSVP to Sophia at sophia@afai.org.za by Monday 1 September.

Programme:

09:00-10:45

Presentation 1: Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Bill of Rights in the South African constitution
Presentation 2: The White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage (1996)

10:45-11:00    TEA

11:00-12:30    Discussion

12:30-13:30     LUNCH (Split into working groups- between 5-7 per group)

13:30-14:45     Working groups discuss the application/relevance of the policy document to South Africa/Africa

14:45-15:00     TEA

15:00-16:00     Reports from the working groups and identification of the key issues. Addressing the key issues theoretically and practically, closure

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