SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport Vocabulary

Vocabulary and terminology from the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport, including definitions of key legal and institutional terms.

Accreditation

Adoption by Member States of regionally and commonly accepted standards of registering or accrediting practitioners in the fields of culture, information and sport.

Athlete

A person engaged in a sport code as an amateur or professional.

Broadcasting

Disseminating information through electronic media such as radio, television, film and any new information technologies.

Centre of Excellence (Sport)

An institution where outstanding athletes receive specialised coaching and use up-to-date facilities and equipment in preparation for top level competitions.

Centre of Specialisation

The institution within the Region designated as such by Member States for training and other related purposes under Articles 4 of this Protocol.

Centre of Talent Development

The institution referred to in Article 26 of the SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport.

Committee of Ministers

The Committee of Ministers of Member States responsible for culture, information and sport respectively, established by the Council in accordance with Article 11 (2) (g) of the Treaty.

Communication

The process of relaying or imparting information.

Community Media

Non-profit and community-based media which serve geographically founded community or any group of people or sector of the public having an ascertainable common interest.

Confederation

A grouping, or a union, or an alliance of sports organisations or sports associations of Member States, which operate with a constitution, approved and registered by the SCSA.

Cultural agents

Persons working in the field of culture, including creators, performers, administrators and professionals associated with such cultural activities as audio-visual arts, visual arts, crafts, the performing arts, publishing, the cultural heritage and cultural tourism.

Cultural goods/products

Goods or products created or produced by cultural agents, including creators, performers or other people working in the field of culture or associated with such cultural activities as the audio-visual arts, the visual arts, crafts, the performing arts, publishing, cultural heritage and cultural tourism.

Cultural industries

The production, whether for sale, consumption or enjoyment, of cultural products which seek to convey ideas, messages, symbols, information or moral or aesthetic values of a given people or society.

Culture

The totality of a people's way of life, the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterise a society or social group, and includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs.

Disability

Lack of utilisation of a part or parts of one's body.

Executive Secretary

The chief executive officer of SADC appointed under Article 10 (7) of the Treaty.

Federation

A grouping, or a union, or an alliance of sports clubs for a similar sports discipline registered with the sports council or its equivalent of Member States.

Gender

The socially and culturally constructed roles, privileges, responsibilities, power and influence, social relations, expectations and value of men and women, girls and boys.

Harmonisation

Arrangements agreed upon, accepted and adopted by Member States for the purpose of policy formulation, training cultural agents, information workers, media practitioners and sports personnel.

Independent media

Media which are editorially independent of their owners, be they private, public or community based.

Indigenous language

A language indigenous or native to a Member State of the Region, which is not a language of a migrant or non-native social group.

Information

Knowledge statistics, reports, dance and song recorded in various forms such as books, audio, video tapes and electronic digitisation.

Information infrastructure

Facilities, including equipment, used in the process of information dissemination.

Information Workers

People involved in collecting, collating and organising the dissemination of information.

Journalist

A person involved in the collection and dissemination of news and information.

Media Freedom

An environment in which the media operate without restraint and in accordance with the law.

Media Independence

Editorial independence, whereby editorial policy and decisions are made by the media without interference.

Media Policy

A general framework and guidelines adopted by Member States, which set out the basis for media diversity and development.

Media Practitioners

People involved in all forms of communications, such as the print media, broadcast media, film, video, and new information technologies.

Mother tongue

One's first or primary language.

Official Language

A language selected, set aside and so prescribed in the national constitution or by administrative fiat for use in such public domains as education, proclamation and dispensation of laws and government business.

Pluralistic media

Diversified media in terms of ownership, control and content.

Recreation

Leisure activities in which, through casual or organised ways, individuals or groups of people voluntarily participate.

Sport

Those activities which are often physical and are organised and regulated by internationally accepted rules.

Sports Academy

An institution for training sports personnel.

Sports Personnel

People involved in sports administration and management including experts in equipment, facilities maintenance, sports scientists and sports medicine specialists.

Stakeholder

Any institution organisation or individual with a particular interest in culture, information and sport activities.

Standardisation

Agreed common standards of human resources development with respect to training and certification in the sub-sectors of culture, information and sport.

State Party

A Member of SADC that ratifies or accedes to this Protocol.

Tribunal

The body to which any dispute arising from the interpretation or application of this Protocol, which cannot be settled amicably, shall be referred.

SCSA Zone VI

Supreme Council for Sport in Africa Zone VI, which SADC has made the implementing arm of all SADC sports programmes.