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Special Regional Seminar on Cultural Heritage Management
and the Challenges of HIV/Aids
19 – 23 November 2007
Partners
- AFRICA 2009 Programme
- National Heritage Conservation Commission, Zambia (NHCC)
- Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Norway (Riksantikvaren)
Financial partners
Duration: 19 – 23 November 2007
Place: Livingstone, Zambia
Participants
25 heritage professionals, decision making and HIV/Aids specialists from both English and French speaking countries in Sub- Sahara Africa attended the seminar. The following countries were represented: Zambia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, Comoros, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Cameron, Central African Republic, Togo, Mali, Senegal and Thailand (through UNESCO Office in Bangkok).
Background
Given the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the African continent and the realisation that any efforts to combat it requires a multi-sectoral approach, heritage institutions are faced with the challenging tasks of identifying means and ways through which they can contribute to combating the pandemic. Such institutions must be sensitive to community and developmental needs and challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. Ways in which heritage places and professionals can play a useful function in addressing issues related to the pandemic must be identified.
Aim
The AFRICA 2009 Special Thematic Seminar aims to:
1. examine existing heritage institutions’ HIV/AIDS programmes/policies and explore ways in which they can be improved;
2. provide a forum to discuss strategies on how heritage institutions can use heritage places to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic;
3. identify key partners and areas in which heritage institutions can intervene in issues related to HIV/AIDS;
4. develop a mechanism to monitor institutional HIV/AIDS programmes and policies.
Contents
As many heritage resources are managed in partnership with local communities, the first part of the seminar was dedicated to keynote papers and national presentations on existing programmes and policies on the field, that use heritage places to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The second part of the seminar focused on group work, exchanges and discussion in order to identify key partners, areas and mechanism for a better management and preservation of Africa’s immovable cultural heritage in the face of the pandemic.
Main achievements
- 25 heritage professionals and HIV/Aids specialists from 22 countries;
- exchange between African heritage professionals and HIV/Aids specialists;
- strengthening regional capacity to develop a mechanism to monitor institutional HIV/AIDS programmes and policies;
- strengthening the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC), Zambia;
- recommendation for heritage institutions and heritage practitioners;
- awareness within heritage organisations of the need for integrating HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation in their programmes;
- greater information and sensitization at national level on HIV/Aids issues;
- contribution to breaking the 'conspiracy of silence'.
updated on:
7 February, 2008
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