Report on the WIPO's IGC 35 held in Geneva, Switzerland

WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) concluded a week-long session on March 23, 2018. Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action was represented by the Executive Director, Stephen Rwagweri) Participants at WIPO in Geneva (EZT ED in green suit) This was the first session to address genetic resources under the 2018-2019 mandate. Delegates discussed and revised the Consolidated Document Relating to Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources (“Rev. 2”), which will be submitted to the Thirty-Sixth Session of the IGC, taking place from June 25 to 29, 2018. It was also agreed that an ad hoc expert group on genetic resources be organized on June 24, 2018, prior to the Thirty-Sixth Session of the IGC. The decisions and a more detailed summary of the Thirty-Fifth Session of the IGC are available online. In the margins of the session, WIPO unveiled two new public resources: Documenting Traditional Knowledge – A Toolkit:  A publication presenting a range of easy-to-use checklists and other resources to help identify and manage intellectual property issues and risks related to documenting traditional knowledge; Adventures of the Yakuanoi – Navigating Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property:  An animation telling the story of the Yakuanoi people – a fictitious indigenous community – as they navigate through the key issues regarding intellectual property and traditional knowledge. More information about WIPO’s work on traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources.

Engabu Za Tooro invited by UNESCO for the seventh session

Engabu Za Tooro invited for the Seventh session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 4 to 6 June 2018)

Engabu Za Tooro to observe a UN meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on protection of Traditional Knowledge

The United Nations on Intellectual property called World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is developing an international law for the copyright protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and cultural expressions. Engabu Za Tooro was accredited and now sponsored to sit on the Indigenous Consultative Forum which represents the views of the traditional communities who are the owners of the traditional knowledge, genetic resources and cultural expressions.

Stephen Rwagweri, EZT Executive Director (in green suit) at the conference in Geneva

The WIPO current session on the matter is taking place at the WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and Engabu Za Tooro is participating in the conference so as to inform and observe the deliberations of the state parties.

Click on this link to get the official press release!  

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) a handbook of action for 2017

A vintage exhibition by Engabu Za Tooro

Follow the link to download of the whole book or click here! or https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pVJ-rzVf1Z8kzILRgWDXteOYMqIAG-GV/view?usp=sharing    

UNESCO Co-funds Safeguarding of Empaako naming system in Uganda

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has adopted a decision to provide US Dollars 292,120 (about 1,022,420,000 Uganda Shillings) to co-fund a two-years’ project Safeguarding Empaako naming system among five cultural communities in western Uganda.

The decision was adopted during the 12th Session of UNESCO’s Inter-Governmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, that took place at the International Convention Centre, Jeju Island in the Republic of South Korea from 4th - 9th December, 2017.

More on this story, click here!

Job vacancies at Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action)

Engabu Za Tooro cultural NGO announces job vacancies as follows;

1. Two Anthropological Research Assistants who have  a bachelors of Arts or Social sciences and have done and passed research methodology and social anthropology or sociology as course units. Experience is not a requirement.

2. Accounts Assistant who must have bachelors of Business Administration with accounting option. Experience is not a requirement.

3. A multimedia journalist with relevant diploma or degree qualifications supported by proven competence and passion in operating social media platforms and online communication.

4. A copy typist who has competence in typing both English and Runyoro - Rutooro languages.

Successful candidates will work on a UNESCO co-funded Empaako safeguarding project.

Application package that include photocopies of academic testimonials should be addressed to the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro and Engabu Za Tooro main offices on plot 18 Kaija Road, Kabundaire - Fort Portal (behind Gardens Restaurant) not later than 31st March, 2018.

Follow the link for the official communication here!

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs at Engabu Za Tooro!

Engabu Za Tooro cultural NGO announces vacancies of community based coordinators of cultural programmes in the following Empaako communities of Batooro, Batuku, Banyabindi, Batagwenda, Basongora, Banyoro, Banyaruguru and Banyamboga in Uganda and the Democractic Republic of Congo respectively.

The candidate must be based in the respective community full-time, has proven passion for culture, has a minimum education that is equivalent to Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education and has potential to grow to a cultural professional.

The candidate must be nominated in writing by any one of the following from the respective community; head of a recognized cultural institution, elders forum, a supreme community association, a clan leader of any of the 44 clans that petitioned UNESCO to inscribe Empaako or a distinguished personality who contributed to mobilization for inscription of Empaako.

The successful candidates will coordinate a UNESCO co-funded project in their respective communities and be offered opportunity to develop as cultural professionals.

The aspirant should submit a personal letter to Engabu Za Tooro offices at Plot 18, Kaija Road - Kabundaire, Fort Portal not later than 15th April, 2018.

Follow the link for the official communication here!