International Workshop on: "Armed conflicts, peace culture and protection of cultural heritage in West Africa"

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Site Search ICBS www In This Document General Report Recommendations Appeal of Conakry Motion of Thanks List of Participants Links Contact Details	The International Committee of the Blue Shield (ICBS) Comité International du Bouclier Bleu (CIBB) International Workshop on: "Armed conflicts, peace culture and protection of cultural heritage in West Africa" Conakry, 19 - 21 May 2003 Workshop organized with the support of the Ford Foundation and UNESCO General Report The international workshop, "Armed Conflict, Peace Culture and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in West Africa," took place in Conakry, Guinea from May 19^th-23^rd, 2003 in the conference room of the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea. This workshop organized by the West African Museums Programme (WAMP) in partnership with the Guinean Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and with the support of the Ford Foundation and UNESCO, brought together 30 participants from 8 countries in West Africa: Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Other institutions were also represented at this meeting including the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), ICCROM, AFRICA 2009, Programme for Museums Development in Africa (PMDA), High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Guinea, Office of International Humanitarian Law (DIH) of Guinea, and the ECOWAS Parliament. Objectives of the workshop: The main objective of this workshop was to bring together museum professionals, military personnel, conflict resolution experts, community leaders and representatives of NGOs and regional and international organizations in an effort to: Discuss, analyze and suggest alternative solutions for minimizing the impact of armed conflict on cultural and natural heritage, and to begin awareness programs on the importance of peace, tolerance, democracy and respect for cultural heritage. Reflect on the role of museums and cultural institutions in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage in the event of armed conflict and natural catastrophe, and in the promotion of a culture of peace in West Africa Attract the attention of political leaders, the military, civil society and international institutions to the looting of cultural property in African countries Demonstrate the importance of certain cultural values in conflict prevention and resolution. Programme of the workshop: Opening Ceremony: The workshop began on Monday, May 19^th 2003 at 8am with the arrival of participants and invited guests followed by the official opening involving 3 presentations: Words of welcome from M. Sory Kaba, Director General of the National Museum of Conakry; Address of Mr. Boureima Diamitani, Executive Director of WAMP; and Opening address of Mrs Germaine Manguet, Chef de cabinet, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Republic of Guinea Following the opening ceremony, the representative of the Ministry of Culture along with invited officials, guests and conference participants visited the photographic exhibition and children's drawings illustrating cultural heritage endangered during armed conflict in certain countries in the region. This visit allowed participants and invited guests to see the impact of armed conflict on cultural and natural heritage. Communications: 18 communication papers were presented during the workshop of which 10 were given on the first day concerning the destruction of cultural heritage during armed conflict and the role and responsibilities of museums and humanitarian organizations working on the ground. The other 8 communication papers were presented on Tuesday, May 20^th by representatives from invited countries on the state of cultural heritage after armed conflict. Before these presentations, the Executive Director of WAMP, Dr. Boureima Diamitani, welcomed the participants and defined the objectives of the workshop. He then proceeded to introduce the moderator, Mr. Yaya Savane from Cote d'Ivoire and the rapportors, Mr. Mamadi Koba Camara and Mr. Ismailou Balde. After the Executive Director of WAMP, the following communication papers were presented by participants: "ICCROM, AFRICA 2009, PMDA and the conservation and protection of African cultural heritage" by Baba Cessay of Gambia, ICCROM, AFRICA 2009 and PMDA Representative "Permanent Conflicts in Africa: Causes, Consequences and Impact on Cultural Heritage in West Africa" by N'Deye Sokhna Gueye, Ethno-Archaeologist, CODESRIA Representative "Presentation and Accomplishments of the Lansana Conte Foundation for Peace" by Bailo Diallo, Executive Secretary of the Lansana Conte Foundation for Peace "HCR and Areas of Intervention Contributing to the Protection of Cultural Heritage" by Clementine Nkweta-Muna, HCR Representative, Guinea "International Humanitarian Law and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of Armed Conflict" by Moussa Bayoult Camara, Director General of International Humanitarian Law, Guinea "CICR: Actions and Areas of Intervention" by Guzman Maria del Pilar Vanegas, ICRC Representative "Actions in Prevention and Management of Conflicts in the Fleuve Mano" by Goumou Fatoumata Morgane, Coordinator of the National Network of Women of the Fleuve Mano for Peace "Problems and Solutions for the Protection of Cultural Heritage during Armed Conflict: the Case of West Africa" by Mamadi Koba Camara, Direction Nationale de la Culture, Guinea "The Impact of Armed Conflict on Cultural and Natural Heritage in West Africa and Solutions for Preservation" by Leonardo Cardoso, INEP-Guinea-Bissau "The African Cultural Heritage and the Hague convention: Seven Integrated Objectives for a Regional Strategy of Application and Promotion" by Sekou Kobani Kourouma, Direction Nationale de la Culture Following the discussions which were followed by the communication papers, the participants emphasized the need to see humanitarian organizations in Africa also intervene in the protection of cultural heritage and to support those in charge of cultural heritage in their reconstruction work. The morning of Tuesday, May 20^th was devoted to the representatives of invited countries who presented the following communication papers: "National Actions to Put in Place the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Event of Armed Conflict: The Example of Cote d4ivoire" by Aminata Barro, Director of the Museum of Costume, Grand-Bassam, Cote d'Ivoire "Museums, Peace Culture and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in West Africa: The Case of Sierra Leone" by Celia Nicol, Director of the National Museum, Sierra Leone "The National Museum of Liberia, Before, During and After the War" by Kennedy Neywan, Conservator of the National Museum, Liberia "The State of the Ethnographic Museum Before, During and After the Political Conflict in Guinea-Bissau" by Marta Evelyne Diallo, Director of the Ethnographic Museum, Guinea-Bissau "Armed Conflict in West Africa and the Impact on Cultural and Natural Heritage: The Case of the Casamance Conflict" by Nouha Cisse, History Researcher, Headmaster of Lycee Djinabo, Ziguinchor, Senegal "Prevention and Emergency Plans in West African Museums: The Case of the National Museum of Guinea" by Kalaya Goumou, National Museum of Guinea "Presentation of the International Solidarity Foundation (FONDIS)" by Aboubacar Doumbouya, Director of Social and Cultural Affairs of FONDIS, Guinea "The Effects of Conflict on Cultural Heritage: The Case of Nigeria" by Antonia Fatunsin, Director of the Training and Educationnal services, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria and Chairperson of WAMP Board of Directors The group of communication papers allowed participants to understand the state of museums and cultural heritage after armed conflict and civil war in the different countries mentioned. The speakers described the difficulties encountered in the implementation of programs aimed at protecting cultural heritage before and during armed conflicts. Most of the communication papers suggested the need to put in place training programs for museum personnel and rehabilitation schemes for cultural heritage in the region damaged during armed conflict. The different communication papers allowed to ascertain the following points: cultural and natural heritage in West Africa like elsewhere in Africa is a victim of destruction and looting during armed conflict and civil war; the inadequacy of institutions in charge of heritage shows the absence of human, material and financial means; the lack of use of certain cultural values (alliances and "parenté à plaisanterie") in the management and resolution of conflicts; the lack of awareness in communities of the importance of cultural heritage; the misreading of different conventions and national legislations concerning cultural heritage; the shortcoming of inventories in most countries in West Africa; the lack of synergy between different cultural institutions not just on a national level but regionally. Following the communication papers, two committees were put in place in order to define an African strategy for the protection of cultural heritage in the event of armed conflict and to formulate recommendations. The participants also launched a call to the international community and offered their thanks. Closing Ceremony: The closing ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 21^th at 5pm under the presence of Mrs. Germaine Manguet, Chef of Cabinet, of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture of Guinea. Recommendations Considering: That the West African region faces conflicts that are national and across borders which mortage the economic development and lead to the destruction of cultural values; That the borders inherited from the colonization lead to an impression of withdrawal from population belonging to the same cultural area; That there are shared values and cultural heritage That African states effected by globalization should find ways to maintain their values and identities and to rehabilitate and appropriate the cultural heritage of their communities That the inadequacy of material, technical and financial means confronts cultural institutions in West Africa Observing: That the politics of conservation are not integrated into sustainable development, That the legal texts with the purpose of protecting cultural heritage are often obsolete and seen as inexistent, That politicians, leaders and youth do not take into account the role that cultural heritage plays in the development process, That national inventories are incomplete and in some cases non-existent, That cultural heritage continues to suffer degradation because of the lack of planning and management, The inadequate qualifications of cultural heritage professionals, The lack of tourism strategies supported to benefit countries and cultural heritage itself, The misreading of international conventions and legislations relating to cultural heritage, The instability of the Department of Culture in different African countries, Propose: 1- For young people: Introduction of knowledge about cultural heritage into school curriculum Introduction of awareness programs targeting young people 2- For museum professionals: Systematic inventory of cultural heritage Vulgarization of laws protecting national heritage Creation and introduction of a West African professional network concerned with protection of cultural heritage within the ECOWAS Inventory of living world heritage, mechanisms of prevention and traditional ways of conflicts resolution Marking the symbol of the Blue Shield on museums, monuments and cultural heritage sites, Creation of national and regional committees of the Blue Shield 3- Women, religious leaders and soldiers Advocacy of the importance of and the need to protect cultural heritage 4- WAMP and other cultural institutions Professional trainings in management of cultural heritage with the aim of building greater expertise in the prevention and management of risks Organization of an awareness and information seminar for soldiers, journalists and community leaders 5- Journalists Training for journalists on the protection of cultural heritage Demand for efforts to balance information on cultural heritage Recommends: At WAMP: Organization of training sessions for museum professionals, military personnel with the aim of protecting museums and cultural heritage before, during and after armed conflict and catastrophes, Elaboration of a training program concerned with the application of conventions on the protection of cultural heritage Elaboration in collaboration with ECOWAS of an African convention on the looting of museums and illicit traffic of cultural heritage in conflict zones Encouragement and support for national museums in collecting objects from all ethnic groups in their countries and in presenting them in the form of a permanent exhibition Encouragement of neighboring countries in the region to sign agreements for the repatriation of objects in the event of armed conflict Establish in collaboration with AFRICOM of an African Heritage Day Continue collaboration efforts with cultural institutions such as AFRICOM, EPA, PMDA, ICCROM and AFRICA 2009. 2 - African States: Ratify conventions related to the protection of cultural heritage Create a chair of cultural heritage in an West Africa University 3- UNESCO: To put into place a fund for the safeguarding of African heritage 4- Civil Society: To combat the dichotomy between modernity and tradition in the management of cultural heritage Appeal of Conakry The international workshop on "Armed Conflict, Peace Culture and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in West Africa" organized by the West African Museums Programme (WAMP) in collaboration with the Guinean Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture from May 19^th-21^st in Conakry, Guinea, Considering that the national and cross-border conflicts afflicting West Africa are negatively effecting the development of different states, Considering that these conflicts take place in an atmosphere of general destruction, Observing that the cultural patrimony of the countries in conflict is often looted and destroyed without protection measures, Condemning the fragilisation , and the serious obstacle on the patrimony, heritage of imaginative societies, creative and concerned about the harmony of west African societies The international workshop of Conakry Condemns strongly the looting and vandalism in the museums of Bagdad and Mossoul and in African museums Sends an appeal to the leaders of conflicts to respect heritage as well as structural values of African societies, Recommends to leaders, partners and the international community to fight against the consistent destruction of heritage in the region, Hopes for the creation of a West African coalition to protect and safeguard heritage, in particular, during urgent situations. Motion of Thanks From May 19 to 21, 2003 was held in the conference room of the Central Bank of the Republic Guinea, an international workshop on "Armed Conflict, Peace Culture and the Protection of Cultural Heritage in West Africa," At the end of the workshop, participants from Cote d'ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone as well as representatives from CODESRIA, HCR, ICRC and the ECOWAS Parliament: Thank the Government of the Republic of Guinea for having authorized and supported the holding of this workshop in Conakry Salute the initiatives of non-governmental organizations and humanitarian institutions who are supporting peace construction and consolidation in West Africa and encourage them to persevere in this direction Express their profound gratitude to the authorities and personnel of the Central Bank and the Republic of Guinea who have supported the success of this workshop Express their gratitude to the organizational committee and the personnel of the National Museum of Conakry for their efforts in the preparation of this workshop Congratulate WAMP for having taken the initiative to organize this workshop and encourage them to continue their efforts to support museums in West Africa Thank the Ford Foundation and UNESCO for their financial support List of Participants REPRESENTATIVES OF COUNTRIES COTE D'IVOIRE Mme Aminata Barro Conservatrice du Musée de Grand-Bassam BP 311 Grand-Bassam Tel : (225) 20225732/21304115 Fax : (225) 20215329 Monsieur Yaya Savane Conservateur de Musée Consultant en Muséologie BP. V 39 Abidjan Tel: (225) 20223461 Fax: (225) 20215329 E-mail: yayayasavane@hotmail.com GHANA Mr. Stephen Kodjo Korsah Senior Museums & Monuments Education Officer Cape Coast Castle Museum - Victoria Road GMMB P.O. Box 281 Cape Coast c/o: E-mail: ghct@ghana.com skorsah@yahoo.com GUINEE Mme GOUMOU Fatoumata Morgane Coordonnatrice nationale Réseau des Femmes du Fleuve Mano pour la Paix BP 1359 Conakry Tel : (224) 559269 Fax : (224) 412778 E-mail: manoguinee@yahoo.com Commandant Moussa Bayault Camara Directeur Général Bureau de Coordination du Droit International Humanitaire (DIH) et Droit de la Guerre (DG), Camp Samory, Etat Major Général des Armées BP 1000 Conakry -Rép. Guinée Tel : (224) 453359 (office) Tel Home : (224) 221837 Fax: (224) 451666 Mr. Mamadi Koba Camara Direction Nationale de la Culture, Ministère de la Jeunesse, des Sports & de la Culture BP 262 Conakry Monsieur Sekouba Kobani Kourouma Direction Nationale de la Culture Ministère de la Jeunesse, des Sports & de la Culture BP 262 Conakry Monsieur Sory Kaba Directeur Général Musée National de Guinée BP 139 Conakry Tel (224) 451066 Monsieur Ismailou Baldé Chef du Service de la Conservation Musée National de Guinée BP 139 Conakry Tel (224) 45 10 66 Monsieur Kalaya Goumou Musée National de Guinée BP 139 Conakry Tel (224) 45 10 66 M. Alkaly Souleymane TOURE Directeur Musée de la Monnaie Banque Centrale de la République de Guinée BCRG Conakry Mme Kadé Seck Coordonnatrice PSICD Guinée Conakry E-mail : kadeseck@yahoo.fr M. Amadou Baïlo Diallo Secrétaire exécutif Fondation Lansana Conté Pour la Paix Conakry Téléphone : (224) 262033 (office) Domicile : (224) 344245 Fax : (224) 412485 E-mail : focalpointnatcom@yahoo.fr GUINEE-BISSAU Mme Marta Evelyne Diallo Directrice Musée Ethnographique National de Guinée-Bissau Tel : (245) 206347 Monsieur Léonardo Cardoso Coordonnateur du Centre d'études d'histoire et d'anthropologie Instituto Nacional De Estudos E Pesquisa (INEP) CP. 112 Bissau Tel : (224) 251867/68 Fax : (245) 25 11 25 E-mail: inep@sol.gtelecom.gb LIBERIA Mr. Kennedy Nyewan Curator/Conservator National Museum of Liberia Broad & Buchanan Streets P.O. Box 6283, Monrovia, Liberia Phone : (231) 226269 (office) Cell: 00-37747-550176 Fax: (231) 227838 E-mail: kmnyewan@yahoo.com NIGERIA Mrs Anthonia K. Fatunsin Director Educational Services & Training National Commission for Museums & Monuments PMB 171 Garki, Plot 2018 Cotonou Crescent Wuse Zone 6, Abuja Phone: (234) 9 523 08 21 (office) E-mail: fatunsina@yahoo.com SIERRA LEONE Mrs. Celia Nicol Curator Sierra Leone National Museum P.O. Box 908 Cotton Tree - Freetown Phone: (232) 22 223555 (office) / 223594 (home) Fax : (232) 22 224439 E-mail: cabnicol70@yahoo.co.uk SENEGAL Mr. Nouha Cissé Chercheur en Histoire Proviseur du Lycée de Djinabo de Ziguinchor-Casamance Sénégal Tel. (221) 9911627 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS Mme Clémentine Nkweta Muna Assistante Représentative (Protection) Haut Commissariat aux Réfugiés (HCR) Corniche Coleah Sud Téléphone : (224) 012 663668 Fax : (224)465808 E-mail: nkwet@unhcr.ch Mme Maria del Pilar Vanegas Guzman Délégué en charge de la communication Comité International de la Croix-Rouge Délégation CICR à Conakry Tel : (224) 413032 Fax : (224) 413922 E-mail : conakry.con@icrc.org M. Henry Berquin Conseiller Culturel Service de la coopération Française Ambassade France Conakry Madame Ndeye Sokhna Gueye Coordinatrice de Programme CODESRIA Tel : (221) 8259822/8259823 Fax : (221) 8241289 E-mail : codesria@sentoo.sn or ndeye.gueye@codesria.sn ICCROM/PMDA/AFRICA 2009 Mr Baba Ceesay Acting Executive Director National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) of the Gambia Independence Drive PMB 151, Banjul Gambia Phone: (220) 227461 - 226 244 (office) Fax: (220) 227461 E-mail : musmon@qanet.com ECOWAS PARLIEMENT Mr. Moussa Yambaya Camara Membre de la Commission Education, Formation, Emploi, Jeunesse et Sport PMB 576 Abuja - Tel : (234) 9 6702152 E-mail :parliament @ecowasmail.net WAMP Dr Boureima Diamitani Directeur exécutif, WAMP BP 357 Dakar Tel: (221) 8273389 Fax: (221) 8273369 E-mail : wamp@sentoo.sn Maimouna Touré Sarr Administratrice, WAMP BP 357 Dakar Tel: (221) 8273389 Fax: (221) 8273369 E-mail : wamp@sentoo.sn El Hadji Mbaye Gueye Chargé de Programme, WAMP BP 357 Dakar Tel: (221) 8273389 Fax: (221) 8273369 E-mail : wamp@sentoo.sn or mbayegueye@hotmail.com
Latest Revision: September 21, 2003 Hosted by & Copyright © International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions www.ifla.org