Buddhist chanting of Ladakh (India), traditional weaving of straw hats (Ecuador) and Traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona (Italy) are among approximately 60 proposals that will be examined for inclusion on the Intangible Heritage Lists during the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The session will take place at UNESCO Headquarters from 3 to 7 December.
Under the chair of Arley Gill (Grenada), the Committee will also examine the periodic reports submitted by 16 States Parties to the convention regarding the legal, regulatory or other measures taken to safeguard intangible cultural heritage in their countries. The reports also examine the impact of inscription on the Lists for the safeguarding in the countries concerned.
The Committee will consider eight candidacies for inclusion on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding designed to rally international cooperation and assistance to safeguard threatened cultural expressions. Thirty-six candidacies for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will also be examined during the session alongside two candidacies for the Register of Best Safeguarding Practices and ten International Assistance Requests for safeguarding plans or inventories will also be examined by the Committee.
Twenty-seven elements in 15 countries have been inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to date. The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity numbers 232 elements in 86 countries. Eight programmes are featured on the Register of Best Safeguarding Practices.
Intangible cultural heritage encompasses practices and living expressions handed down from one generation to the next. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe as well as the knowledge and skills of traditional crafts.
Only those countries that have ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage can present elements for inscription on the Intangible Heritage lists. To date 146 countries have ratified the Convention, which was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in 2003.
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage numbers 24 representatives of States Parties to the Convention, elected for a four-year term. Half the members are replaced every two years.
****
Journalists wishing to cover the Committee meeting should request accreditation.
UNESCO Press Service: Lucía Iglesias Kuntz, +33 (0) 1 45 68 17 02
Broadcast media: Carole Darmouni, +33 (0) 1 45 68 17 38.