Assembly/AU/Decl.2(XVI) Page 1 DECLARATION ON CULTURAL RENAISSANCE AND SHARED VALUES The Assembly, Mindful of the paramount role of culture for the promotion of Pan-Africanism, African languages and positive values; Also mindful that the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance requires ratification by or accession of two-thirds of the total membership of the African Union for its entry into force; Further mindful of the importance of an effective and efficient implementation of the Campaign for the African Cultural Renaissance 2010-2012 for the promotion of shared values, Pan-Africanism, and the ownership of African Union Programmes by African Citizens; Recalling the different Continental Plans of Action on Culture, in particular, the Language Plan of Action and the Plan of Action for the Development of the Cultural Industries; Mindful of the historic and precious opportunity for promotion of African identity and positive image offered by the construction of the new AUC Conference Centre and Offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and desirous to advocate for a stronger place and visibility of African Culture and Identity in all public spaces, such as Embassies, Ministries and Head Offices, among others; Also desirous of promoting positive cultural shared values; 1. TAKES NOTE of the recommendations relating to cultural renaissance and shared values by the Third Ordinary Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Culture (CAMC3) on the theme of Sustainable Financing of Cultural Development Sector, held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25 to 29 October 2010; 2. CALLS ON Member States and relevant institutions to create more cultural spaces and strengthen the place of African cultural identity within the architectural designing and decoration features of all our public spaces such as Squares, Ministries, Embassies and Head Offices as part of the African Renaissance Effort; 3. ALSO CALLS ON Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to promote and allocate resources for the implementation of the Campaign for the African Cultural Renaissance 2010-2012 and the establishment of Culture development Desks or Special Programmes within all RECs; 4. COMMITS to the entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance by 2012. In this context, CALLS on Member States, who have not yet done so, to ratify the Charter as soon as possible;