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GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI COMMITS TO PROTECT ARTISTIC FREEDOM
- 18,Sep 2023
- Posted By : icerim
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In an effort to promote rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, information and communications, as well as the ability of individuals to have access to diverse cultural expressions, The Malawi National Commission for UNESCO engaged artists in Malawi to capacitate them on how they can express themselves, freely and use the extraordinary capacity of their artistic creations.
Through the 2023 National Artistic Freedom Workshop that took place in Mponela-Dowa on 21st and 22nd February, artists were capacitated on how to balance creativity while respecting rights. The 2-day workshop conducted under the theme “Promoting Freedom and Rights of Artists in Creative Sector in Malawi” worked to contribute towards the Implementation of Malawi Cultural Policy as a tool for delivering on sustainable development in line with 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
In his remarks during the official opening ceremony of the workshop, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary for the Commission David Mulera, expressed worry over lack of awareness of artistic freedom in the country despite different interventions.
“Although artistic freedom has been clearly covered and promoted in both the Cultural Policy as well as under the 2005 UNESCO Convention; awareness, understanding and appreciation of artistic freedom by the stakeholders in Malawi has generally been observed to be limited and its use can be challenging”, expressed Mulera. He added that there is need for concerted efforts from different stakeholders to make sure artists in the country enjoy freedom to express themselves through art whilst respecting rights of others.
Director of Arts in the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture Humphrey Mpondaminga shared Mulera’s sentiments. He said Malawi was once renowned for suppressing artistic freedom however since attaining democracy in 1994, record of artists and their freedom to create works has improved. He however added that there is need to increase awareness on the subject matter and empower artists and operators in the sector of their fundamental rights. Mpondaminga added that Malawi through the Department of Arts has for the past years aligned legal instruments with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights to promote rights such as freedom of expression.
“I am therefore pleased that the Censorship Act which for a long time has been regarded as an impediment to freedom of expression has been reviewed and waiting enactment. You may wish to know that the censorship law review has addressed the ills of censorship whereas artistic content was often subjected to suppression without adequate and substantive grounds” Said Mpondaminga. The Director further added that government is committed to introduce additional measures for the protection of artistic freedom and accord artists assistance where their freedom is deemed to be violated.
The Artistic Freedom workshop was organized as part of implementing the ‘Strengthening of the Institutional Capacities in implementing the Malawi cultural policy in line with the UNESCO 2005 Convention on promotion and protection of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’. The project is funded by The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe, Malawi and implemented by the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) in partnership with the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO.
Img: Deputy Director of Arts Macdonald Maluwaya giving a certificate to a participant
The workshop brought together Musicians, Film makers, Story tellers, Painters and the Media and included activities such as presentations, group discussions, drama, video showcasing and award presentations.
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