Call for applications: African Union, Training on the theme “Silencing the guns by leveraging the arts for peace”

International
Posted 10 months ago

I. Background


In conceptualizing the AU Master Roadmap on practical steps to silence the guns in Africa, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) recognizes the importance of involving civil society actors in the implementation of national actions aimed at silencing the guns. Thus, the AU Commission continues to create an enabling environment for the effective participation of civil society actors in peace and governance processes at national, regional and continental levels, with a view to enhancing the essential role and contribution that ‘they play in the promotion of democracy, good governance, lasting peace, security and development.

Promote greater ownership of the AU agenda to silence the guns on the continent and contribute to the theme of the year 2021: “Arts, culture and heritage: levers to build the Africa we want” : Levers to build the Africa we want”, the Commission organized in Accra, Ghana, from 14 to 16 December 2021, a seminar on the theme: “Arts, culture and heritage as levers to silence the weapons in Africa”. The seminar, which was attended by young artists from the five regions of the continent, was an opportunity to improve understanding of the mechanisms and efforts of the AU in the field of peace and security,as well as build their capacity to promote the Silencing the Guns initiative in their respective countries and communities in their respective countries and communities.

II. Introduction


As a follow-up to the December 2021 Accra Seminar, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), through the Silencing the Guns Unit (STGs), in collaboration with the United Nations Institute Organization for Training and Research (UNITAR), will organize, from 14 to 18 August 2023, the first series of virtual trainings for African artists on “Leveraging the arts for peace”, guided by the results of the meeting of Accra and founded on the belief that art helps prevent conflict in communities by raising awareness and inspiring tolerance around societal differences.

The training will cover topics such as the role of artists in promoting peace through the arts, an introduction to the theme “Silencing the Guns”, including the AU’s work in support of peace and security , conflict prevention and support for post-conflict reconstruction, as well as the principles of effective advocacy and awareness-raising, among others.

III. Training aims


The training is organized in the run-up to Africa Amnesty Month (held annually in September) to mobilize African citizens to hand over small arms and light weapons in their possession to government authorities. illegally. It is aimed at African artists from all regions of Africa (North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa). The training will sensitize artists against the use of art to incite violence, promote hate speech, hate crimes or other forms of conflict.

More specifically, the training aims to enable artists to

  • Raising public awareness of the need to silence the guns;
  • Mobilize African citizens and other stakeholders to rally behind the continental campaign “Silencing the Guns”, in order to achieve a conflict-free Africa and create conducive conditions for the socio-economic transformation of the continent;
  • Raise awareness of the problem of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons and the negative impact these weapons have on the African continent;
  • Encourage African citizens in possession of illicit weapons to hand them over to designated authorities in exchange for an amnesty.

IV. Criteria and Qualifications


An African artist who has demonstrated his commitment and significant contribution to the promotion of lasting peace and security. Applications from established artists, including young female artists, displaced persons and persons with disabilities who meet the following selection criteria are particularly encouraged:

  • Be a citizen of an AU Member State
  • Have at least a high school diploma
  • Be an established artist;
  • Have experience in promoting, advancing and supporting peace processes, especially experience in community engagement through art.
  • Have a strong background with the local community/region where he/she works
  • Fluency in French or English
  • Be able to attend the training from a computer for the entire duration of the training.
  • Be available and willing to participate in online training (5 days and 2.5 hours of training per day and 2 hours of homework per day).

Deadline for submitting applications: July 25, 2023 – Click on the link to the form:

French Version: https://forms.gle/TeMFqy9g73sFzUTy8

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