ESWACOS launches copyright project backed by UNESCO

The IFCD was created under UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, to which eSwatini is a signatory. The fund supports developing countries in building stronger cultural industries and promoting sustainable development.

According to ESWACOS, the project will focus on three main areas. First, it will provide training for more than 400 creators and rights holders, including authors, performers and producers, as well as users of copyright works such as broadcasters, hotels, restaurants and festivals. Workshops will cover copyright law, licensing, compliance and the economic value of creative industries.

Second, the initiative will develop a five-year national strategy for the collective management and commercialisation of copyright. This will involve consultations with government agencies, civil society, creative industry representatives and international experts. The strategy is expected to be launched at the first eSwatini Copyright Conference, planned as an annual event.

Third, the project will promote public awareness of copyright through educational materials such as pamphlets, infographics, films, podcasts and short videos. These will be made available via traditional media and a new online copyright resource centre, which will also feature registration and licensing services.

ESWACOS said the initiative is expected to boost revenue for creators through improved registration and royalty collection, reduce copyright infringements by encouraging compliance, and strengthen the professionalisation of the creative industries.

“We are proud to launch this transformative initiative aimed at empowering eSwatini’s creators and cultural industries through enhanced copyright knowledge and strategic frameworks. Copyright is the backbone of a thriving creative economy,” ESWACOS executive director Mmeli Hlanze said. “It protects our artists and ensures they receive the recognition and economic benefits they deserve. By bridging critical knowledge and strategy gaps, this project will open new pathways for sustainable careers, particularly for our youth, who are the future of eSwatini’s vibrant cultural heritage.”

The project is among those selected by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.