AGP Executive Report

Lusophone Crafts in Focus: The “Policromia Lusófona” handicraft exhibition opened at IAM Gallery in Largo do Senado, running through July 5, bringing together traditional works from Portuguese-speaking countries including São Tomé and Príncipe, with sections on textiles, musical instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects. Cultural Week on Stage: The 18th China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries Cultural Week continued at Senado Square with two nights of song and dance from Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste. Water Access Map: A new global data look shows where safe drinking water is still out of reach, highlighting huge gaps between high-access regions and low-income countries. Sea Turtle Protection in Príncipe: A profile spotlights Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”), a former sea turtle poacher from Príncipe who now helps protect endangered turtles, supports marine protected areas, and works with coastal communities to change local practices.

Lusophone crafts spotlight: The 18th China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Cultural Week is in full swing in Macau with the six-day “Policromia Lusófona” handicraft exhibition at IAM Gallery, featuring donated works from Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, organized into textiles, musical instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects. Culture & performance exchange: A two-night event at Senado Square brought artists and performers from nine Portuguese-speaking nations and Macau, with standout song and dance from Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, plus local singers Germano Guilherme and Winnie Lam. Water access map: A new global data look shows where safe drinking water is still out of reach, with more than 2 billion people lacking safely managed services and major gaps persisting in lower-income countries. Sea turtle turnaround story: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) now protects endangered turtles, helping build marine protected areas and working with coastal communities to safeguard the wildlife he once hunted.

Lusophone crafts in the spotlight: The six-day Policromia Lusófona handicraft exhibition opened at IAM Gallery in Largo do Senado, bringing together donated works from Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, organized into textiles, musical instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects as part of the 18th China–Portuguese-speaking Countries Cultural Week. Cultural exchange at Senado Square: The same cultural week continued with performances at Senado Square, featuring artists from multiple Portuguese-speaking nations and Macau, with song and dance highlighting shared Lusophone heritage. Reparations push: A story on reparations traces how the movement is moving from declarations to demands, linking international recognition and calls for reparative justice to wider African and diaspora action. Water access map: A data-driven brief maps where safe drinking water is still out of reach, noting that more than 2 billion people lack safely managed services—an eye-opener for development priorities. From poacher to protector: On Príncipe, Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) shares his shift from hunting endangered sea turtles to helping protect them, supporting marine protected areas, and working with coastal communities to change local practices.

Lusophone Culture in Focus: The six-day “Policromia Lusófona” handicraft exhibition opened at IAM Gallery in Largo do Senado, presented by the Forum Macao as part of the 18th China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Cultural Week, running through Sunday and featuring donated works from Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, organized into textiles, musical instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects that reflect local histories and traditions. Global Democracy Lens: A new analysis compares how the U.S. differs from most other democracies worldwide, highlighting the distinctive ways political systems work in practice. World Cup Context: Separate explainers dig into Bosnia and Herzegovina’s name and history ahead of its U.S. match, including why “Herzegovina” is getting more attention. Population and Future: A data-driven look at how fertility rates are splitting countries into those with too few births and those still growing, with knock-on effects for aging, work, and migration. Water Access Map: A global map shows where safely managed drinking water is still out of reach, with major gaps between wealthy regions and low-income countries. Sea Turtle Turnaround: A profile follows Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”), a former Príncipe sea turtle poacher who now protects turtles, helps create marine protected areas, and works with coastal communities to safeguard the species.

Lusophone Culture: China-Portuguese cultural week kept rolling at Senado Square with performances from Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste, plus local singers Germano Guilherme and Winnie Lam, as Macau’s Forum Macao partners spotlight “Convergence of Sino-Portuguese Cultures.” Handicrafts & Heritage: Policromia Lusófona opened at IAM Gallery, running to July 5, with donated crafts from Portuguese-speaking countries—textiles, musical instruments, sculptures and everyday objects—showing how the Portuguese language carries different cultural memories. Conservation on Príncipe: From poacher to protector, Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) on Príncipe Island now helps defend endangered sea turtles, backing marine protected areas and community protection after joining a monitoring programme in 2011. Water Access Data: A new global map highlights where safe drinking water is still out of reach—more than 2 billion people lack safely managed services, with big gaps between wealthy regions and low-income countries. Identity & Rights: A report on queer Nigerians details how fear of being outed shapes daily life under laws that ban same-sex marriage and restrict LGBTQI organising.

Lusophone Culture in Motion: China-Portuguese-speaking countries’ Cultural Week kept rolling at Senado Square with performances from Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor-Leste, plus local singers Germano Guilherme and Winnie Lam. Crafts as Memory: The Policromia Lusófona handicraft exhibition opened at IAM Gallery in Largo do Senado, running to July 5 with textiles, musical instruments, sculptures and everyday objects from Portuguese-speaking countries including São Tomé and Príncipe. Water Access Map: A new global look at safe drinking water shows huge gaps—over 2 billion people still lack safely managed services, with many low-income countries far below the 20% mark. Sea Turtle Turnaround (Príncipe): Manuel “Lindo” Gomes, once a turtle poacher on Príncipe, now protects endangered sea turtles—patrolling nesting sites, supporting marine protected areas, and pushing coastal communities to safeguard wildlife. Reparations Push: African and Caribbean leaders in Ghana backed a 19-point reparations plan after a UN resolution on transatlantic slavery, calling for apologies, debt relief and a Global Reparations Fund, alongside restitution of looted cultural property.

Lusophone Culture & Crafts: The six-day Policromia Lusófona handicraft exhibition opened at IAM Gallery in Largo do Senado, running through July 5, with traditional works from Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste—organized into textiles, musical instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects. Reparations Push: African and Caribbean states backed a slavery reparations plan at a Ghana meeting, calling for formal apologies, a Global Reparations Fund, comprehensive debt relief, and restitution of looted cultural property. Conservation & Coastal Life: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) now protects endangered turtles, helping establish marine protected areas and inspiring local communities to safeguard wildlife. Water Access Data: A new global map highlights where safe drinking water is still out of reach, showing huge gaps between wealthy regions with near-universal access and low-income countries where it remains far below 20%. Health & First Ladies Forum: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary brought together First Ladies and health leaders to discuss patient care and social health priorities, with thousands of scholarships for healthcare providers highlighted.

Citizenship & Mobility: A new guide argues that a second passport is now a practical tool for visa-free travel, business access, and asset protection, noting Sao Tome and Principe as a fast-growing citizenship-by-investment option with an entry threshold from $90,000. Reparations & Memory: African and Caribbean leaders in Ghana pushed a formal reparations agenda after a UN-backed push to treat transatlantic slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity,” calling for apologies, debt relief, compensation, and restitution of looted cultural property. Lusophone Culture: The Lusophone handicraft exhibition “Policromia Lusófona” opened at IAM Gallery in Accra, running to July 5, spotlighting textiles, musical instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects from Portuguese-speaking countries including Sao Tome and Principe. Environment & Heritage: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (Lindo) is now protecting endangered turtles, helping build marine protected areas and inspiring local coastal conservation. Health & Inclusion: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary convened First Ladies and health stakeholders to discuss patient care and well-being, with thousands of viewers joining online.

Citizenship & Mobility: A second passport is increasingly marketed as a fast way to boost travel freedom, protect assets, and add flexibility, with Sao Tome and Principe highlighted as a newer citizenship-by-investment option starting around $90,000. Reparations & Memory: African and Caribbean states, meeting in Ghana, pushed a formal reparations agenda after a UN move recognizing transatlantic slavery as a “gravest crime against humanity,” calling for apologies, debt relief, and a Global Reparations Fund, alongside restitution of looted cultural property. Lusophone Culture: The Lusophone handicraft exhibition “Policromia Lusófona” opened at IAM Gallery in connection with China–Portuguese-speaking countries cultural week, running to July 5 and featuring crafts from Sao Tome and Principe plus other Lusophone communities. Environment & Heritage: On Príncipe, former sea turtle hunter Manuel Gomes now protects endangered turtles, helping build marine protected areas and urging coastal communities to safeguard wildlife. Health & Data: A new global map shows where safely managed drinking water is still out of reach, underscoring huge gaps between wealthy regions and low-income countries. Health Leadership: The Merck Foundation’s 13th Africa-Asia Luminary convened First Ladies and health stakeholders to discuss well-being and patient care, drawing large international participation.

Reparations Push at Christiansborg: African and Caribbean leaders, including São Tomé and Príncipe, turned Juneteenth into a formal demand for apologies, debt relief, compensation, and a Global Reparations Fund after a Ghana conference backed a UN-linked 19-point plan. Lusophone Crafts Spotlight: The Policromia Lusófona handicraft exhibition opened at IAM Gallery in Accra, running to July 5, with textiles, instruments, sculptures, and everyday objects from Portuguese-speaking countries—featuring São Tomé and Príncipe among the showcased collections. From Poacher to Protector (Príncipe): Manuel “Lindo” Gomes, once hunting endangered sea turtles on Príncipe, now protects nesting sites, supports marine protected areas, and helps coastal communities safeguard the species. Safe Water Still Unequal: A new global map highlights where safely managed drinking water remains out of reach, showing huge gaps between wealthy regions and low-income countries. Queer Lives Under Pressure: A report on queer Nigerians describes widespread fear of being outed and how laws shape everyday visibility, with parallels felt across the region. Health Diplomacy: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary brought together first ladies and partners to discuss health and well-being, including scholarship support for healthcare training.

Water Access: A new global map shows safe drinking water is still out of reach for over 2 billion people, with access near-universal in many wealthy countries but under 20% in several low-income states—highlighting where home water systems still fail. Sea Turtle Protection: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel “Lindo” Gomes now helps guard nesting sites, build marine protected areas, and push coastal communities to protect the ancient species he once hunted. Reparations Push: African and Caribbean leaders, including São Tomé and Príncipe, backed a 19-point slavery reparations plan in Ghana calling for formal apologies, a Global Reparations Fund, debt relief, and the return of looted cultural property after the UN resolution on transatlantic slavery. LGBTQ+ Rights Pressure: A report on queer Nigerians finds many live in fear of being outed, shaped by strict anti-LGBT laws—while broader coverage notes anti-gay laws are increasingly concentrated in Muslim-majority countries. Health & First Ladies: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary convened 12 First Ladies to discuss health and well-being, patient care, and scholarships for healthcare providers across underserved specialties. Refugee Dignity: Angola’s Episcopal Commission for migrants praised government efforts to guarantee dignity for refugees, spotlighting safe migration and anti-trafficking awareness. Anti-LGBT Law Trends: Coverage also tracks how some countries have repealed anti-LGBT rules while others have tightened them, showing shifting legal and social pressures across regions.

Safe Water Gap: A new global map shows that while many wealthy countries have near-universal access, more than 2 billion people worldwide still lack safely managed drinking water at home—highlighting where clean-water infrastructure remains out of reach. Sea Turtle Turnaround on Príncipe: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) now protects endangered turtles, helping set up marine protected areas and working with coastal communities to safeguard wildlife. Reparations Push in the Spotlight: African and Caribbean leaders backed a 19-point reparations plan at a Ghana conference, calling for formal apologies, a Global Reparations Fund, debt relief, and the return of looted cultural property and ancestral remains. Sport & Youth in Príncipe: The Judo Global Association opened a new judo school in Ponta do Sol, expanding training for children and young people and promoting respect, discipline, and inclusion. Health Education Boost: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary highlighted 2,600+ scholarships for healthcare providers across 52 countries, aiming to strengthen specialist care. LGBTQ+ Rights Debate: A report on queer Nigerians underscores how fear of being outed and uneven LGBTQI+ laws shape everyday life across Africa.

Conservation & Community: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) is now protecting endangered turtles—patrolling nesting sites, helping set up marine protected areas, and pushing coastal communities to safeguard the wildlife he once hunted. Reparations & Memory: African and Caribbean leaders meeting in Ghana backed a 19-point reparations plan tied to a UN resolution calling transatlantic slavery a “gravest crime against humanity,” demanding formal apologies, debt relief, a Global Reparations Fund, and the return of looted cultural property and ancestral remains. Culture in Action: At Christiansborg Castle’s “Door of No Return,” young students staged a slave-trade reenactment during Juneteenth commemorations, turning historical remembrance into a public, emotional call for reparatory justice. Health & Education: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary 2026 highlighted 2,600+ scholarships for healthcare providers across 52 countries and 44 underserved specialties, with First Ladies joining as keynote guests. Sport & Youth: São Tomé and Príncipe’s Judo Global Association opened a new judo school in Ponta do Sol, expanding access for children and young people and promoting respect, discipline, and inclusion.

Conservation & Community: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) now helps protect endangered turtles—patrolling nesting sites, supporting marine protected areas, and pushing coastal communities to safeguard the wildlife he once hunted. Reparatory Justice & Memory: At Christiansborg Castle in Accra, African and Caribbean leaders marked Juneteenth with a slave-trade reenactment, tying remembrance to action after a UN-backed push that calls transatlantic slavery a “gravest crime against humanity.” Slavery Reparations Push: A 19-point reparations plan adopted by the African Union and CARICOM demands formal apologies, a Global Reparations Fund, debt relief, compensation, and the return of looted cultural property and ancestral remains. Health & Women’s Leadership: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary brought together First Ladies and partners, highlighting 2,600+ healthcare scholarships across 52 countries and 44 specialties, with alumni becoming first specialists in their home countries. Sport & Youth Development: On Príncipe, the Judo Global Association inaugurated a new judo school in Ponta do Sol, expanding access for children and young people through judo’s values of respect, discipline, and inclusion.

Conservation & Community: On Príncipe, former sea turtle poacher Manuel Gomes (“Lindo”) is now helping protect endangered turtles—patrolling nesting sites, supporting marine protected areas, and pushing coastal communities to safeguard the wildlife he once hunted. Reparatory Justice & Memory: African and Caribbean leaders meeting in Ghana backed a 19-point slavery reparations plan calling for formal apologies, a Global Reparations Fund, debt relief, compensation, and the return of looted cultural property and ancestral remains—framed as responsibility for lasting consequences, not inherited guilt. Juneteenth in Africa: Juneteenth was formally observed outside the U.S. at Christiansborg Castle in Accra, with a slave-trade reenactment, wreath-laying, and high-level participation that tied remembrance to the reparations agenda. Health & Education: The Merck Foundation’s Africa-Asia Luminary (June 18–19) highlighted over 2,600 scholarships for healthcare providers across 52 countries and 44 specialties, including women’s health and sexual/reproductive medicine. Sport & Youth Development: Judo Global Association inaugurated a new judo school in Ponta do Sol, Príncipe, expanding access for children and young people and promoting inclusion through judo values.

Reparatory Justice Push: African and Caribbean leaders meeting in Accra backed a 19-point slavery reparations plan calling for formal apologies, a Global Reparations Fund, debt relief, compensation, and the return of looted cultural property and ancestral remains—alongside climate justice financing and steps to address harms to African women and girls. Juneteenth in Ghana: The conference’s emotional climax came at Christiansborg Castle, where students reenacted the transatlantic slave trade and leaders marked Juneteenth outside the U.S. for the first time. Healthcare & Women’s Leadership: The Merck Foundation’s 13th Africa-Asia Luminary brought together First Ladies and health experts, highlighting 2,600+ scholarships across 52 countries to train specialists in underserved fields. Sport for Inclusion in Príncipe: Judo Global Association inaugurated a new judo school in Ponta do Sol, expanding access for children and youth and promoting respect, discipline, and social inclusion. LGBTQ+ Rights Pressure: A report on queer Nigerians found 75% fear being outed, while anti-LGBT laws and social attitudes continue to shape daily life across the region.