Dr Fiona Batt | University of Bristol (original) (raw)

Papers by Dr Fiona Batt

Research paper thumbnail of The Vulnerability of African Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Meteorological Knowledge in the Climate Change Debate

Bristol University Press eBooks, Jan 24, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of The repatriation of African heritage: shutting the door on the imperialist narrative

African human rights yearbook, Oct 3, 2023

This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a ren... more This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a renaissance in relation to the cultural heritage of African peoples. The collecting of African cultural heritage without free, prior and informed consent was a feature of colonialism. This article highlights the vulnerability of past and present African heritage in the light of the 'imperialist narrative'. The imperialistic narrative accompanied the act of colonialism in Africa and enabled the taking of African heritage to public and private collections in Europe and America where many remain. Much of the heritage was displayed as an African 'curiosity box' which helped to support the now discredited idea of a hierarchy of peoples. This article argues that until there is a steady stream of African heritage returning home to Africa the narrative will continue to impact in situ African heritage including natural resources. Until museums repatriate African heritage unreservedly, the 'imperialist narrative' will exclude the corollary narrative of African Renaissance. The article examines potential restitution/ repatriation mechanisms for African peoples and states for the return of their cultural heritage, drawing on the UNESCO conventions, the African Union Charter for African Cultural Renaissance, the Sarr and Savoy Report, 'Restitution of African Cultural Heritage. Toward a New Relational Ethics', the Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Repatriation of ceremonial objects, human remains, and intangible resources under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples' and the ECOWAS 2019/2023 Action Plan on the return of cultural properties to their countries of origin. TITRE ET RÉSUMÉ EN FRANCAIS: Le rapatriement du patrimoine africain: en finir avec le récit impérialiste RÉSUMÉ: Cet article est écrit en reconnaissance du mouvement de rapatriement des biens culturels africains qui connaît une renaissance fulgurante. Le pillage du patrimoine culturel africain sans consentement préalable, libre et éclairé a été un trait caractéristique majeur du système colonial. Cet article analyse la vulnérabilité du patrimoine africain passé et présent sous le prisme du 'récit impérialiste'. Le récit impérialiste a accompagné l'acte de colonisation en Afrique et a permis de déplacer le patrimoine africain dans des collections publiques et privées en Europe et en Amérique, où il est toujours présent. Une grande partie de ce patrimoine a été présentée comme une boîte à curiosités africaine qui a contribué à soutenir l'idée, aujourd'hui discréditée, d'une hiérarchie entre peuples. Cet article soutient que tant qu'il n'y aura pas un flux régulier de patrimoine africain retournant en Afrique, le récit impérialiste continuera à avoir un impact sur le patrimoine africain in situ, y compris sur les ressources naturelles. Tant que les musées ne rapatrieront pas le patrimoine africain sans réserve, le 'récit impérialiste' exclura le récit corollaire de la Renaissance * LLB (Plymouth), LLM, PhD (Bristol), Independent human rights lawyer consultant;

Research paper thumbnail of The repatriation of African heritage: shutting the door on the imperialist narrative

This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a ren... more This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a renaissance in relation to the cultural heritage of African peoples. The collecting of African cultural heritage without free, prior and informed consent was a feature of colonialism. This article highlights the vulnerability of past and present African heritage in the light of the 'imperialist narrative'. The imperialistic narrative accompanied the act of colonialism in Africa and enabled the taking of African heritage to public and private collections in Europe and America where many remain. Much of the heritage was displayed as an African 'curiosity box' which helped to support the now discredited idea of a hierarchy of peoples. This article argues that until there is a steady stream of African heritage returning home to Africa the narrative will continue to impact in situ African heritage including natural resources. Until museums repatriate African heritage unreservedly, the 'imperialist narrative' will exclude the corollary narrative of African Renaissance.

Research paper thumbnail of The Vulnerability of African Indigenous Peoples' Traditional Meteorological Knowledge in the Climate Change Debate

Indigenous peoples of the African continent-although victims of climate change-have accumulated M... more Indigenous peoples of the African continent-although victims of climate change-have accumulated Meteorological Traditional Knowledge (MTK) over generations and are ideally positioned to offer their expert MTK to the scientific community. 1 MTK is a part of the intangible heritage of African indigenous peoples and can contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. However, MTK as an emerging sui generis resource is vulnerable to biopiracy and misappropriation; this mirrors generally the experiences indigenous peoples have had when sharing their traditional knowledge. At the Indigenous Peoples Global Summit in Alaska (2009), the indigenous representatives from the Arctic, North America, Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Africa, Caribbean and Russia, adopted the Anchorage Declaration. The Declaration concluded: 'We offer to share with humanity our TK, innovations, and practices relevant to climate change, provided our fundamental rights as intergenerational guardians of this knowledge are fully recognized and respected'. 2 Additionally the representatives stated 1 In 2009 the African Commission passed 153 Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights and the Need to Study its Impact in Africa 153(XLVI)09.

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and intellectual property rights

The International Journal of Human Rights, 2012

... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, ... more ... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, by Erica-Irene Daes, Special Rapporteur of the Sub ... View all notes. The WTO agreements do not reflect an indigenous worldview.108 V. Tauli-Corpuz, director of Tebtebba Foundation ...

Research paper thumbnail of Using strategic human rights litigation to protect and repatriate ancient indigenous human remains and ancient DNA

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding 'cultural' in the terms 'cultural property' and 'cultural heritage

Research paper thumbnail of The status of ancient indigenous human remains in cultural property and cultural heritage law

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous DNA as intellectual property

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient Indigenous Human Remains and the Law

Indigenous peoples are increasingly making requests for the return of their ancestors' human rema... more Indigenous peoples are increasingly making requests for the return of their ancestors' human remains and ancient indigenous deoxyribonucleic acid. However, some museums and scientists have refused to repatriate indigenous human remains or have initiated protracted delays. There are successful examples of the return of ancient indigenous human remains however the focus of this book is an examination of the "hard" cases. The continued retention perpetuates cultural harm and is a continuing violation of the rights of indigenous peoples. Therefore this book develops a litigation Toolkit which can be used in such disputes and includes legal and quasi legal instruments from the following frameworks, cultural property, cultural heritage, cultural rights, collective heritage, intellectual property, Traditional Knowledge and human rights. The book draws on a process of recharacterisation. Recharacterisation is to be understood to mean the allocation of an indigenous peoples understanding and character of ancient indigenous human remains and ancient indigenous DNA, in order to counter the property narrative articulated by museums and scientists in disputes. Fiona Batt has a LLB, LLM, PGCE (PCE) and PhD from the UK. Fiona is lecturer in International Human Rights and International Public Law at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) and Project Coordinator of SAUT Human Rights Centre. She is also a former acting Dean of the University of the Gambia. She additionally spent some time at the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights as a researcher on an indigenous communities collective land titles project. Fiona is presently working on a project involving access to justice and legal education for vulnerable groups.

Research paper thumbnail of Repatriation and associated claims

Ancient Indigenous Human Remains and the Law, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Objectification of ancient indigenous human remains and DNA

Ancient Indigenous Human Remains and the Law, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous human remains and ancient indigenous DNA as collective heritage

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and intellectual property rights

The International Journal of Human Rights

... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, ... more ... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, by Erica-Irene Daes, Special Rapporteur of the Sub ... View all notes. The WTO agreements do not reflect an indigenous worldview.108 V. Tauli-Corpuz, director of Tebtebba Foundation ...

Research paper thumbnail of The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore: Is it an indication of a new World Intellectual Property Organization Traditional Knowledge Instrument?”

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient Indigenous Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Intellectual Property Rights

Talks by Dr Fiona Batt

Research paper thumbnail of The important contribution of West African women in agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change relating to food security

Research paper thumbnail of African Cultural Heritage and Copyright

Research paper thumbnail of Pastoralist Meteorology Traditional Knowledge (TK): Perspectives and Influences of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Research paper thumbnail of Unbundling the Heritage/Property Rights in Ancient Indigenous Human Remains

Research paper thumbnail of The Vulnerability of African Indigenous Peoples’ Traditional Meteorological Knowledge in the Climate Change Debate

Bristol University Press eBooks, Jan 24, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of The repatriation of African heritage: shutting the door on the imperialist narrative

African human rights yearbook, Oct 3, 2023

This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a ren... more This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a renaissance in relation to the cultural heritage of African peoples. The collecting of African cultural heritage without free, prior and informed consent was a feature of colonialism. This article highlights the vulnerability of past and present African heritage in the light of the 'imperialist narrative'. The imperialistic narrative accompanied the act of colonialism in Africa and enabled the taking of African heritage to public and private collections in Europe and America where many remain. Much of the heritage was displayed as an African 'curiosity box' which helped to support the now discredited idea of a hierarchy of peoples. This article argues that until there is a steady stream of African heritage returning home to Africa the narrative will continue to impact in situ African heritage including natural resources. Until museums repatriate African heritage unreservedly, the 'imperialist narrative' will exclude the corollary narrative of African Renaissance. The article examines potential restitution/ repatriation mechanisms for African peoples and states for the return of their cultural heritage, drawing on the UNESCO conventions, the African Union Charter for African Cultural Renaissance, the Sarr and Savoy Report, 'Restitution of African Cultural Heritage. Toward a New Relational Ethics', the Report of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Repatriation of ceremonial objects, human remains, and intangible resources under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples' and the ECOWAS 2019/2023 Action Plan on the return of cultural properties to their countries of origin. TITRE ET RÉSUMÉ EN FRANCAIS: Le rapatriement du patrimoine africain: en finir avec le récit impérialiste RÉSUMÉ: Cet article est écrit en reconnaissance du mouvement de rapatriement des biens culturels africains qui connaît une renaissance fulgurante. Le pillage du patrimoine culturel africain sans consentement préalable, libre et éclairé a été un trait caractéristique majeur du système colonial. Cet article analyse la vulnérabilité du patrimoine africain passé et présent sous le prisme du 'récit impérialiste'. Le récit impérialiste a accompagné l'acte de colonisation en Afrique et a permis de déplacer le patrimoine africain dans des collections publiques et privées en Europe et en Amérique, où il est toujours présent. Une grande partie de ce patrimoine a été présentée comme une boîte à curiosités africaine qui a contribué à soutenir l'idée, aujourd'hui discréditée, d'une hiérarchie entre peuples. Cet article soutient que tant qu'il n'y aura pas un flux régulier de patrimoine africain retournant en Afrique, le récit impérialiste continuera à avoir un impact sur le patrimoine africain in situ, y compris sur les ressources naturelles. Tant que les musées ne rapatrieront pas le patrimoine africain sans réserve, le 'récit impérialiste' exclura le récit corollaire de la Renaissance * LLB (Plymouth), LLM, PhD (Bristol), Independent human rights lawyer consultant;

Research paper thumbnail of The repatriation of African heritage: shutting the door on the imperialist narrative

This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a ren... more This article is written in recognition of the repatriation movement, which is going through a renaissance in relation to the cultural heritage of African peoples. The collecting of African cultural heritage without free, prior and informed consent was a feature of colonialism. This article highlights the vulnerability of past and present African heritage in the light of the 'imperialist narrative'. The imperialistic narrative accompanied the act of colonialism in Africa and enabled the taking of African heritage to public and private collections in Europe and America where many remain. Much of the heritage was displayed as an African 'curiosity box' which helped to support the now discredited idea of a hierarchy of peoples. This article argues that until there is a steady stream of African heritage returning home to Africa the narrative will continue to impact in situ African heritage including natural resources. Until museums repatriate African heritage unreservedly, the 'imperialist narrative' will exclude the corollary narrative of African Renaissance.

Research paper thumbnail of The Vulnerability of African Indigenous Peoples' Traditional Meteorological Knowledge in the Climate Change Debate

Indigenous peoples of the African continent-although victims of climate change-have accumulated M... more Indigenous peoples of the African continent-although victims of climate change-have accumulated Meteorological Traditional Knowledge (MTK) over generations and are ideally positioned to offer their expert MTK to the scientific community. 1 MTK is a part of the intangible heritage of African indigenous peoples and can contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. However, MTK as an emerging sui generis resource is vulnerable to biopiracy and misappropriation; this mirrors generally the experiences indigenous peoples have had when sharing their traditional knowledge. At the Indigenous Peoples Global Summit in Alaska (2009), the indigenous representatives from the Arctic, North America, Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Africa, Caribbean and Russia, adopted the Anchorage Declaration. The Declaration concluded: 'We offer to share with humanity our TK, innovations, and practices relevant to climate change, provided our fundamental rights as intergenerational guardians of this knowledge are fully recognized and respected'. 2 Additionally the representatives stated 1 In 2009 the African Commission passed 153 Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights and the Need to Study its Impact in Africa 153(XLVI)09.

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and intellectual property rights

The International Journal of Human Rights, 2012

... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, ... more ... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, by Erica-Irene Daes, Special Rapporteur of the Sub ... View all notes. The WTO agreements do not reflect an indigenous worldview.108 V. Tauli-Corpuz, director of Tebtebba Foundation ...

Research paper thumbnail of Using strategic human rights litigation to protect and repatriate ancient indigenous human remains and ancient DNA

Research paper thumbnail of Understanding 'cultural' in the terms 'cultural property' and 'cultural heritage

Research paper thumbnail of The status of ancient indigenous human remains in cultural property and cultural heritage law

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous DNA as intellectual property

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient Indigenous Human Remains and the Law

Indigenous peoples are increasingly making requests for the return of their ancestors' human rema... more Indigenous peoples are increasingly making requests for the return of their ancestors' human remains and ancient indigenous deoxyribonucleic acid. However, some museums and scientists have refused to repatriate indigenous human remains or have initiated protracted delays. There are successful examples of the return of ancient indigenous human remains however the focus of this book is an examination of the "hard" cases. The continued retention perpetuates cultural harm and is a continuing violation of the rights of indigenous peoples. Therefore this book develops a litigation Toolkit which can be used in such disputes and includes legal and quasi legal instruments from the following frameworks, cultural property, cultural heritage, cultural rights, collective heritage, intellectual property, Traditional Knowledge and human rights. The book draws on a process of recharacterisation. Recharacterisation is to be understood to mean the allocation of an indigenous peoples understanding and character of ancient indigenous human remains and ancient indigenous DNA, in order to counter the property narrative articulated by museums and scientists in disputes. Fiona Batt has a LLB, LLM, PGCE (PCE) and PhD from the UK. Fiona is lecturer in International Human Rights and International Public Law at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) and Project Coordinator of SAUT Human Rights Centre. She is also a former acting Dean of the University of the Gambia. She additionally spent some time at the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights as a researcher on an indigenous communities collective land titles project. Fiona is presently working on a project involving access to justice and legal education for vulnerable groups.

Research paper thumbnail of Repatriation and associated claims

Ancient Indigenous Human Remains and the Law, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Objectification of ancient indigenous human remains and DNA

Ancient Indigenous Human Remains and the Law, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous human remains and ancient indigenous DNA as collective heritage

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient indigenous deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and intellectual property rights

The International Journal of Human Rights

... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, ... more ... See Study on the Protection of the Cultural and Intellectual Property of Indigenous Peoples, by Erica-Irene Daes, Special Rapporteur of the Sub ... View all notes. The WTO agreements do not reflect an indigenous worldview.108 V. Tauli-Corpuz, director of Tebtebba Foundation ...

Research paper thumbnail of The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore: Is it an indication of a new World Intellectual Property Organization Traditional Knowledge Instrument?”

Research paper thumbnail of Ancient Indigenous Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Intellectual Property Rights