The meeting on criteria for inscription of intangible heritage elements on the Lists to be established under the 2003 Convention (Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding) was attended by experts coming from some 15 UNESCO Member States and by observers from another 30 Member States.

The report summarises the debates of the meeting and presents the selection criteria as recommended at the conclusion of the meeting, relating in particular :

• to the definition of intangible heritage given in the Convention,
• to the need of involving communities in the whole identification and safeguarding process,
• and to the importance of transmission of ICH.

• Report of the meeting (English|French)

The purpose of the meeting was to study various inventory‐making methodologies and to debate issues to be taken into account when preparing the implementation of the 2003 Convention. Indeed, the characteristics of various systems already under elaboration or in place were studied and compared during the meeting, as were the different approaches and experiences of Member States, regions and disciplines. The debates and the conclusions of the meeting will contribute substantially to the elaboration of thematic manuals on the safeguarding of the ICH. The experts took part in the meeting in their personal capacities; they did not represent – unless they explicitly stated otherwise – official positions of their countries.
The 30 participating experts were selected among researchers, representatives of custodian communities, civil servants working in local and national administrations, as well as from relevant NGOs. Most of them came from countries that had already acquired experience in preparing one or more inventories of ICH.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was also invited, as were observers from UNESCO Member States, in particular those that had already ratified the Convention or that had shown a special interest in UNESCO’s programmes in the field of ICH. Some 50 observers attended all or part of the meeting. There were four plenary working sessions, each of which was introduced by a keynote presentation.

Final report (English|French)

The aim of the meeting was to promote the Convention with a view not only to its ratification but also to its implementation. Experts from all over Latin America including Cuba attended the meeting.

• Agenda (English)
• List of participants (English)
• Recommendations (English)

Jointly organized with the Algerian authorities on the occasion of the official visit of the Director-General of UNESCO to Algeria, this regional meeting was be attended by representatives of some thirty Member States.
Mrs. Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaïdjan, and several important Algerian dignitaries, including Mr Mohammed Bedjaoui, President of the Constitutional Council, were also be present.

• Agenda (English|French)
• Declaration (French)
• Report (French)

Contact in Rabat: Mohamed Ould Khattar - in co-operation with the Ministry of Culture in Algiers.

The main aim of this meeting was not only to encourage Member States to ratify the Convention, but also to create an opportunity to exchange views and experiences in relationship to the safeguarding of ICH.The meeting was attented by policy-makers in relevant fields of respective governments.

• Agenda (English)
• List of participants (English)
• Report and recommendations (English)

The main aim of the meetings was not only to encourage Member States to ratify the Convention, but also to create an opportunity to exchange views and experiences in relationship to the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage.The meeting was participated by policy-makers in relevant fields of respective governments.

• Agenda (English)
• List of participants (English)
• Recommendations (English)

UNESCO and the Japanese Agency for Culture decided to organize jointly an international conference on this theme in Japan on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Venice Charter and of the 10th anniversary of the Nara Document on Authenticity, and to launch a world-wide debate on a possible integrated approach to the safeguarding of the tangible and intangible heritage.
In all, 45 experts were invited to discuss different topics covering current heritage management problems. They adopted a new Declaration on an Integrated Approach.

Contact : HAYASHI, Nao

• Proceedings of the International Conference (English-French)
• Yamato Declaration (English)

The main aim of the meetings was not only to encourage Member States to ratify the Convention, but also to create an opportunity to exchange views and experiences in relationship to the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage.The meeting was participated by policy-makers in relevant fields of respective governments.

• Agenda (English)
• List of participants (English)
• Recommendations (English)
• Final report (English)

Following the joint organization of two international conferences “Dialogue of Civilizations” (2001), and “Globalization with a Human Face – Benefitting All” (2003), UNU and UNESCO pursued their exploration of the links between increased global interaction and human development through the organization of a third international conference, “Globalization and Intangible Cultural Heritage – Opportunities, threats and challenges”, held in Tokyo, 26-27 August 2004.

Published report of the Conference (English) - contains all elements mentionned below
Table of content:

1. Introduction (English)
2. Summary and conclusions (English)
3. Overview - 4 papers (English)
4. Opportunities: renewed dialogues, a stimulus for creativity and understanding - 2 papers (English)
5. Threats: homogenization, erosion, conflicts - 4 papers (English)
6. Challenges: making use of opportunities countering threats - 5 papers (English)
7. Annex - including Background paper (English)

The aim of the meeting was to promote the Convention with a view not only to its ratification but also to its implementation following its entry into force three months after the thirtieth ratification. Experts from all over Latin America including Cuba were attending the meeting.

• Agenda (English|Spanish)
• Presentations
  • Bolivia (Spanish)
  • Brazil (Portuguese)
  • Chile (Spanish)
• Report (Spanish)
• List of participants (Spanish)
• Recommendations (Spanish)

The purpose of the two-day regional seminar was to promote the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was to encourage States to ratify the Convention. The meeting was attended by 24 states.

• Agenda (French)
• Speeches:
  • Mr. Armoogum PARSURAMEN, director of BREDA (French)
  • Mr. Olabiyi Babalola Joseph YAI, president of Commission IV (Culture) of the General Conference of UNESCO (French)
  • H.Exc. Mr. Omolewa, ambassador and permanent delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, President of the General Conference (English)
• List of participants (French)
• Final report (French)

This meeting on the roles of museums in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage considered two main questions:

1. How can museums contribute to safeguarding living heritage, especially at the level of local communities?
2. How can museums contribute to the visibility of forms of living heritage, in accordance with the aims of UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)?

• Background paper (English)

The meeting discussed how to accommodate gender issues in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. To what extent does the intangible cultural heritage depend on gender-specific practices and transmission? Does recognition and encouragement of female transmitters of intangible heritage contribute to the empowerment of women in contemporary societies? Can the concept of gender equality always be compatible with the preservation of traditional cultures and lifeways? How can we accommodate gender issues in the field of intangible cultural heritage? Ten participants addressed these and other questions to find realistic and meaningful solutions, with a view to the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

• Final report (English)

Documents

• Preliminary Draft International Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and report by the Director-General on the situation calling for standard-setting and on the possible scope of such standard-setting
  32 C/26 + ADD.: English

• List of participants (English)
• Recommendations of experts(English)

Documents

• Report by the Director-General on the preliminary draft of an international convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  167 EX/22: English

The third session was held at UNESCO Headquarters from 2 to 14 June 2003. 249 participants representing 103 Member States took part in the meeting, as well as ten experts from UNESCO’s three permanent observation missions and representatives of two intergovernmental organizations and five non-governmental organizations (for a list of participants, see Annex III).
This being a continuation of the work of the first and second sessions of the Group of Experts (September 2002 and February 2003), the Chairperson (Mr Bedjaoui - Algeria), the four Vice-chairs (Mr Scovazzi - Italy, Mr Berke - Hungary, Mr Kim - Republic of Korea and Mr Yai - Benin) and the Rapporteur (Mr Barrios - Bolivia) were confirmed in their functions; Mr Berke was replaced by Mr Soòs for this 3rd session).

Secretariat report (CLT-2003/CONF.206/4) (English)

Working documents

• Third session of the first intergovernmental meeting of experts on the preliminary draft convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  CL/3669: English
• Report of the Second session
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/6: English|French
• Consolidated preliminary draft convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/2: English|French
• Report of the Intersessional Working Group of governmental experts
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/3: English|French
• Agenda
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/5: English-French
• Rules of Procedure
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/6: English|French

Information documents

• Practical information note
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/INF.1: English-French
• List of working documents
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/INF.2: English-French
• Note of the Secretariat regarding the cooperation between UNESCO and OMPI
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/INF.3: English|French
• Provisional List of Participants
  CLT-2003/CONF.206/INF.4: English-French

The Intersessional Working Group met at UNESCO Headquarters from 22 to 30 April 2003 and considered the articles concerning

1. the nature, composition and functions of the Committee;
2. the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and the list of treasures of the world intangible cultural heritage;
3. finance and the creation of a fund for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage;
4. the form and content of international assistance; and lastly
5. the Convention’s general provisions.

The Preamble, the Annex and the Final Provisions could not be examined, due to lack of time; but more than 26 Articles were considered, and the results of this work were presented in a consolidated text, the Preliminary Draft, which was adopted by consensus and served as a basis for discussion at the third session in June 2003.

The Intersessional Working Group, as an informal body, did not have an official set of working documents created expressly for its meeting. Members were provided with relevant working documents of the previous sessions of the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts, as follows:

• CLT-2003/CONF.203/3 Rev - Compilation of amendments from Member States concerning the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (English|French)

• CLT-2003/CONF.205/5 - Compilation of general comments from Member States concerning the preliminary draft Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (English|French)

• CLT-2003/CONF.205/6 – Report of the Secretariat on the second session of the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts, notably Annex I (English)

Unofficial working documents (below) included an informal agenda (English-French), and two documents reflecting the results of the second session of the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts. Please note that these documents were erroneously assigned code numbers that were later used for different documents during the third session of the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts, q.v.

• CLT-2003/CONF.206/1 - Semi-consolidated draft of the Convention (English|French)

• CLT-2003/CONF.206/2 - Compilation of amendments from Member States submitted during the second session of the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts on the Preliminary-Draft Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (English|French)

The meeting of the working group resulted in a report from its Rapporteur, Mr Constantin Economides, which later served as a working document of the third session of the Intergovernmental Meeting of Experts, and which includes a list of participants:

• CLT-2003/CONF.206/3 (English)

UNESCO organized this meeting (co-sponsored by the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO) in order to define and reinforce its role in safeguarding the world’s endangered languages. Some seventy international experts, representatives of speech communities and NGOs from all over the world took part in this meeting. During the three days of the meeting, the experts:

1. reviewed, region by region, the existing research programs and related initiatives, as well as best practices for safeguarding and promoting endangered languages;
2. discussed strategies and possibilities for raising international awareness and promoting international co-operation in this field;
3. studied the role of UNESCO in safeguarding the world’s endangered languages as compared with that of other organizations (governmental, non-governmental and academic);
4. suggested concrete proposals for UNESCO activities in the field of safeguarding endangered languages in the near future, to start with the next biennium (2004 - 2005).

The proposals were approved by the participants on the last day of the meeting, as “Recommendations to UNESCO for Action Plans on the Safeguarding of Endangered Languages”.

• Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO (English)
• Address by Mounir Bouchenaki, ADG Culture (English)
• Working document on Language Vitality and Endangerment (English|French)
• Programme (English)
• List of participants (English)
• Recommendations (English|French)

See also: Endangered languages

At the second session of the Group of experts, which took place from 24 February to 1 March 2003, a consensus emerged on three essential points:

1. the purposes;
2. the definitions of the terms “intangible cultural heritage” and “safeguarding”;
3. the establishing of national inventories in order to ensure that this heritage can be identified.

The principle of a “list” or “register” of “intangible cultural heritage in danger” was also accepted. A Drafting Committee was set up by the plenary meeting, and contributed to progress on these points. Also at this second session, the plenary meeting adopted, on the motion of its Chairperson and in accordance with Article 4 of its Rules of Procedure, the principle of an intersessional mechanism in the form of an informal working group of 18 government experts, three experts (from three different Member States) from each electoral group.

• Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO (English)
• Secretariat report (CLT-2003/CONF.205/6) (English)

Working documents

• Circular letter of the Director-General CL/3651 and report on the first session (September 2002)
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/5: English
• Provisional List of Participants
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/4: English-French
• Agenda
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/1.Rev: English-French
• Rules of Procedure
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/2.Rev: English|French
• Compilation of amendments from Member States concerning the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/3 Rev: English|French
• Director-General’s preliminary report on the situation calling for standard-setting and on the possible scope of such standard-setting
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/4: English
• Compilation of general comments from Member States concerning the preliminary draft Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/5: English|French

Information documents

• Historical background to the preparation of the preliminary draft convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/INF.6: English|French
• Impacts and best practices for safeguarding action - First “Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/INF.7: English|French
• List of States having submitted comments and amendments to the Secretariat: synthesis of responses as of 22 January 2003: English-French
• List of working documents
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/INF.4: English-French
• Note of the Secretariat on the Agenda
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/INF.3: English|French
• Note of the Secretariat on the working documents
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/INF.2: English-French
• Note on the Recommendation of the first session of the intergovernmental meeting of experts – Multilateral international instruments in force directly relevant to the intangible cultural heritage
  CLT-2003/CONF.205/INF.5: English-French
• Positions of Member States concerning the principle of list(s) of intangible cultural heritage, 7 October 2002: French
• Practical information note
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/INF.1 rev: English-French

Documents

• Financial regulations of the Special Account for the Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
  165 EX/15: English

The first session was held at UNESCO Headquarters from 23 to 27 September 2002. The experts worked on the basis of a document prepared by the Secretariat containing the first preliminary draft prepared earlier (largely by experts assisting in a personal capacity during March and June 2002), and contributions from 59 Member States which responded to the Director-General’s Circular Letter CL36/29 of 29 July 2002. At the end of their first session, the experts emphasized the strict interdependence of the tangible and the intangible heritage, and recognized the living, evolving nature of this heritage, as well as its extreme fragility.

• Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO (English)
• Report (English)

Working documents

• Provisional Agenda
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/1 Rev: English-French
• Draft Rules of Procedure
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/2: English|French
• Preliminary Draft Convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/3: English
• Director’s general preliminary report on the situation calling for standard-setting and on the possible scope of such standard-setting
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/4: English

Information documents

• Circular letter: Intergovernmental meeting of experts on the preliminary draft convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  CL/3632: English|French
• Executive Board Decision 164EX/3.5.2: English
• General Information Note
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/INF.1: English-French
• List of documents
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/INF.2 rev.: English-French
• Provisional list of participants
  CLT-2002/CONF.203/INF.3 prov.: English-French

74 ministers of culture and 36 other State representatives met in Istanbul under the auspices of UNESCO and at the invitation of the Turkish Government, to discuss the safeguarding of the intangible heritage in the light of its importance for cultural diversity.
At the close of the meeting they adopted a Declaration which places cultural diversity and the intangible cultural heritage which it mirrors on a genuinely political agenda by acknowledging the urgent need to act both nationally and internationally.

• Address by Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO (English)
• Background paper (English|French)
• Final Communiqué - Istanbul Declaration (English|French)

In June 2002, taking into consideration the recommendation of the Rio meeting, an international meeting on “ Intangible Cultural Heritage - Establishment of a Glossary” was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The experts at this meeting adopted a new definition of intangible cultural heritage. This definition is contained in the preliminary-draft of the international convention on the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, which was to be discussed at the first intergovernmental meeting of experts on this subject (UNESCO, Paris, 23-27 September 2002).

• Final report (English)

Working documents

• List of documents
  GGR2/CH/2002/WD/1: English|French
• Provisional Agenda
  GRR2/CH/2002/WD/2: English|French
• Provisional List of Participants
  GRR2/CH/2002/WD/3: English-French
• Draft Glossary proposed by a group of Dutch experts convened by the bureau of the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO and amended by the Meeting of Experts on the Terminology
  GRR2/CH/2002/WD/4: English|French
• Preliminary-Draft International Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (result of GRR1)
  GRR2/CH/2002/WD/5: English|French
• Final report of the first meeting of the restricted drafting group (20-22 March 2002)
  GRR2/CH/2002/WD/6: English|French
• Proposals for inclusion in the preliminary draft of the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage, by Paul Kuruk
  GRR2/CH/2002/WD/7: English

Information documents

• Decision 3.5.2, Document 164 EX/51: Progress report on the preparation of an international convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  GRR2/CH/2002/INF/1: English
• Document 164EX/19: Progress report on the preparation of an international convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  GRR2/CH/2002/INF/2: English
• Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore, 1989
  GRR2/CH/2002/INF/3: English
• Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Paris, 16 November 1972
  GRR2/CH/2002/INF/4: English
• Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
  GRR2/CH/2002/INF/5: English|French in preparation
• Developing a New Standard-setting Instrument for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage : Elements for consideration, by Janet Blake
  GRR2/CH/2002/INF/6: English

In the process of elaborating a new international convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, it proved essential to draw up a glossary presenting and defining the most frequently used terms relating to intangible cultural heritage, and found in various texts, analysis and documents.

During the international meeting of experts organised by UNESCO in Rio de Janeiro on “Intangible Cultural Heritage: priority domains for an international convention” (Brazil, 22-24 January 2002), experts had underlined the importance and urgency of having such a glossary at disposal. Consequently, it was decided to convene at UNESCO headquarters, in June 2002, a meeting of experts in order to establish the definitions of those terms.

In view of this, and following the request made by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section, the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO proposed, as a national contribution to the debates, a set of draft definitions of a certain number of terms relating to intangible cultural heritage. Therefore, the Netherlands National Commission formed a group of experts, who met several times so as to elaborate a draft glossary.

Finally, an group of international experts met at UNESCO from 10 to 12 June 2002, examined the draft glossary drawn up by the Dutch experts and finalised a glossary.

• Glossary (English-French)

Working documents

• List of documents
  TER/CH/2002/WD/1: English|French
• Draft agenda
  TER/CH/2002/WD/2: English|French
• Provisional list of participants
  TER/CH/2002/WD/3: English-French
• Draft glossary proposed by a group of Dutch experts convened by the bureau of the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO
  TER/CH/2002/WD/4: English|French

Information documents

• Definitions of “intangible cultural heritage” in use by various Member States
  TER/CH/2002/INF/1: English-French
• Working definitions of “intangible cultural heritage” in use by intergovernmental organizations
  TER/CH/2002/INF/2: English-French
• Working definitions of “intangible cultural heritage” in use by non-governmental organizations
  TER/CH/2002/INF/3: English-French
• Defining the Scope of the Term “Intangible Cultural Heritage”, by Peter Seitel
  TER/CH/2002/INF/4: English|French
• Various definitions contained in official UNESCO documents
  TER/CH/2002/INF/5: English|French
• Glossary of World Heritage Terms – A Glossary of Terms relating to the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention
  TER/CH/2002/INF/6: English
• Developing a New Standard-setting Instrument for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Elements for Consideration
  TER/CH/2002/INF/7: English
• Speech delivered by the Assistant Director-General for Culture at the opening session
  TER/CH/2002/INF/8: English in preparation|French in preparation

Documents

• Progress report on the preparation of an international convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  164 EX/19 + ADD.: English
• Study with a view to the establishment of consolidated administrative and financial procedures for the implementation of the project concerning the Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
  164 EX/18: English

TEXT TO BE REVISED
Afin de mettre en œuvre la résolution 31 C/30 adoptée par la Conférence générale à sa 31ème session, le Directeur général a convoqué un groupe de rédaction restreint sur l’avant-projet de convention internationale pour le patrimoine culturel immatériel (voir ordre du jour en annexe 1 du rapport final). Ce groupe de rédaction restreint était composé essentiellement de juristes (voir liste des participants en annexe 2 du rapport final).

• Discours de M. Koïchiro Matsuura, Directeur général de l’UNESCO (English)
• Rapport final (English|French - version anglaise à finaliser)

Information documents

• ‘Outline work plan’ prepared by Mohammed Bedjaoui: English|French
• 1989 Recommendation for the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore : English
• Action plan for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage as approved by the international experts on the occasion of the International Round Table on “Intangible Cultural Heritage - Working Definitions” organized by UNESCO in Piedmont, Italy, from 14 to 17 March 2001: English|French
• Brochure of the First Proclamation of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity: English
• Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage: English
• Developing a New Standard-setting Instrument for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Elements for Consideration, by Janet Blake: English
• Draft agenda: English|French
• Guide for the Presentation of Candidature Files for the Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity: English
• List of documents: English|French
• List of participants: English|French
• Operational guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention: English|French in preparation
• Oral report of the Chairperson of Commission IV
  Document 31 C/INF.24: English
• Preparation of a new international standard-setting instrument for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  Document 31 C/43: English
• Recommendations adopted by the International Expert Meeting ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage: Priority Domains for an International Convention’, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22-24 January 2002: English|French
• Resolution adopted by the General Conference at its 31st session (31 C/Resolution 30): English

At this time the experts confirmed the definition adopted in Turin, while recommending that further consultation take place on questions of terminology. Further, the experts were of the opinion that a policy of safeguarding and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage at the international level should include a dual approach, based both on internal criteria of evaluation (value of the heritage for the identity of a social group), and on external criteria (such as respect for universally recognised human rights, or aptitude to stimulate intercultural dialogue).

• Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO (English)
• Final report (English)

Working documents

• List of documents
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/1: English|French
• Provisional agenda
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/2: English|French
• Annotated agenda
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/3: English|French
• Provisional programme
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/4: English|French
• Provisional list of participants
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/5: English
• Comparative table of priority domains covered by regional and international intergovernmental organizations
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/6: English|French
• Impacts of the first Proclamation of the nineteen masterpieces proclaimed oral and intangible heritage of humanity – critical analysis
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/7: English|French
• Defining the Scope of the Term “Intangible Cultural Heritage”, by Peter Seitel
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/8: English|French
• Priority domains selected for the Proclamation in the field of intangible cultural heritage and suggestions for a future international convention (A report on the Elche meeting of the Proclamation), by Ralph Regenvanu
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/9: English
• Draft Action Plan
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/10: English|French
• Statement of Her Excellency Mrs A. Bennani, Ambassador of Morocco to Unesco
  RIO/ITH/2002/WD/11: English|French

Information documents

• Document 31 C/43: preparation of a new international standard-setting instrument for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/1 pt. 1: English
• Resolution adopted by the General Conference at its 31st session (31 C/Resolution 30)
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/1 pt. 2: English
• UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/2: English
• A Global Assessment of the 1989 Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore: Local Empowerment and International Co-operation, Washington D.C., June 1999. Final report
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/3: English|French
• Developing a New Standard-setting Instrument for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Elements for Consideration
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/4: English
• International Round Table on “Intangible Cultural Heritage: Working Definitions”, Turin, 14-17 March 2001. Final Report
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/5: English|French
• International Jury for the Proclamation by UNESCO of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, Extraordinary Meeting, Elche, 21-23 September 2001. Final report
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/6: English|French
• Chronological table of past activities for normative action and the Proclamation of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity programme
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/7: English|French
• Chronological table of future activities for normative action and the Proclamation of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity programme
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/8: English|French
• Rules of procedure concerning recommendations to Member States and international conventions covered by the terms of Article IV, paragraph 4 of the Constitution (abstract of UNESCO basic texts)
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/9: English in preparation|French in preparation
• Brochure of the First Proclamation of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/10: English
• Guide for the Presentation of Candidatures Files for the Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and 1989 Recommendation for the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore (annex III)
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/11: English
• Definitions of “intangible cultural heritage” in use by various Member States
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/12: English-French
• Working definitions of “intangible cultural heritage” in use by intergovernmental organizations
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/13: English-French
• Working definitions of “intangible cultural heritage” in use by non-governmental organizations
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/14: English-French
• Brazilian Decree N. 3.551 (4 August 2000) instituting the registry of cultural assets of an intangible nature
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/15: English|Spanish
• 1972 Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/16: English
• Operational guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention
  RIO/ITH/2002/INF/17: English|French

Documents

• Preparation of a new international standard-setting instrument for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
  31 C/43: English

An extraordinary session of the International Jury for the proclamation by UNESCO of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was held in Elche (Spain) on 21-23 September 2001.

The purpose of this meeting, which followed the inaugural Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (Paris, 15-18 May 2001) and the International Round Table on “Intangible Cultural Heritage-Wm-king definitions” (Turin,
14-17 March 2001), was (i) to clarify the definition of intangible cultural heritage stipulated in the 1989 Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore and used for the first Proclamation ; and to harmonize it with the one proposed by the Turin expert meeting ; (ii) to define detailed selection criteria in view of the Second Proclamation procedure ; (iii) to address recommendations for the files which were not retained in May 2001 for the first Proclamation; (iv) to improve the procedures of the jury meetings.

Documents

• Final report: English|French

The International Expert Meeting, Women, Intangible Heritage and Development was held in Tehran on 25–27 June, 2001 and jointly organised by the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO and UNESCO Headquarters Intangible Heritage Section.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide an informal forum in which to evaluate the six regional feasibility studies undertaken on a decentralised basis by six UNESCO Offices representing their respective regions. They were Apia (Pacific), Accra (Africa), Beirut (Arab States), Mexico (Latin America), New Delhi (Asia), Tashkent (Central Asia). The studies, prepared on the basis of replies to questionnaires sent to all major specialised institutions within the Member States concerned, provided an overview of major research, institutions and issues relating to woman, intangible heritage and development, as well as recommendations for future directions and actions to be taken in this domain in each region.

• Regional Study in Africa, by Ms. Esi Sutherland-Addy (English)
• Regional Study in Arab States, by Ms. Annie Tohmé-Tabet (English)
• Regional Study in Asia, by Mr. Maitrayee Chaudhuri and Ms. Urvashi Chandra (English)
• Regional Study in Central Asia, by Marfua Tokhtakhodjaeva (English)
• Regional Study in Latin America, by Dora Cardaci (English)
• Regional Study in the Pacific, by Ms. Susanna Kelly and Mr. Lissant Bolton (English)
• Final report (English)

Documents

• Prize regulations, interim report on the progress made in processing the candidatures, and action plan for the safeguarding, protection and promotion of cultural spaces or forms of cultural expression of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity
  161 EX/14: English
• Report on the preliminary study on the advisability of regulating internationally, through a new standard-setting instrument, the protection of traditional culture and folklore
  161 EX/15: English

In March 2001, an international Round Table of experts was organised at Turin (Italy) for the purposes of drawing up an operational definition of the term “intangible cultural heritage”. UNESCO undertook a series of surveys directed to National Commissions of Member states and IGOs and NGOs, relating to the different terminologies in use and the existing national legislation in the field of intangible cultural heritage.
Drawing on the opinions expressed at the time of the Washington Conference, and on the results of the surveys, the Round Table drafted a new definition of the intangible cultural heritage, as “Peoples’ learned processes along with the knowledge, skills and creativity that inform and are developed by them, the products they create, and the resources, spaces and other aspects of social and natural context necessary to their sustainability; these processes provide living communities with a sense of continuity with previous generations and are important to cultural identity, as well as to the safeguarding of cultural diversity and creativity of humanity”.
Furthermore, the meeting recommended to UNESCO that it prepares a new international normative instrument on the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, by specifying that certain of the main objectives, such as a) to conserve human creations that may disappear for ever b) offering them recognition at the world level, c) reinforcing identity, d) permitting social cooperation within groups and between groups, e) assuring historical continuity, f) promoting the creative diversity of humanity, g) facilitating access to the fruits of this creativity.

• Address by Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO (English)
• Final report (English|French)

Information documents

• Agenda: English
• Annotated agenda: English|French
• Consultation with Member States on ‘Identification (Inventorying) and Documentation of Folklore’: English-French
• Consultation with Member States on ‘Legal Protection of Folklore and Administrative Measures’: English-French
• Definitions in use by various member states: English-French
• Intangible cultural heritage: perceptions and enactments, by Lourdes Arizpe: English
• Intangible cultural heritage: working definitions, by Francesco Francioni: English
• Introduction to the draft preliminary study on the advisability of developing a standard-setting instrument for the protection of intangible cultural heritage, by Janet Blake: English
• Les composants de l’oralité, par Georges Condominas: English-French
• List of documents: English
• List of participants: English-French
• Notions of intangible cultural heritage: towards a UNESCO working definition, by Manuela Carneiro da Cunha: English
• Preliminary study into the advisability of developing a standard-setting instrument for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage (‘traditional culture and folklore’), by Janet Blake: English
• Proposed terminology for intangible cultural heritage: toward anthropological and folkloristic common sense in a global era, by Peter Seitel: English
• Provisional programme for the meeting: English
• Working definitions in use by intergovernmental organizations: English-French
• Working definitions in use by non-governmental organizations: English-French
• Writing and orality, by Juan Goytisolo: Spanish

Documents

• Draft amendment to the Regulations relating to the proclamation by UNESCO of Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity
  160 EX/16: English
• Prizes for the safeguarding, protection and promotion of cultural spaces or forms of cultural expression proclaimed by UNESCO: Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity
  160 EX/15: English

The Miao or Hmong people are an ethnic group with a population of over 10 million. They live in the south of China, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Since the 1970s, nearly 150,000 Miao/Hmong have settled in Australia, Canada, France and the United States. Throughout their centuries of migration, the Miao/Hmong’s oral traditions have been crucial to the transmission of their philosophy and history. This is reflected in their garments and hairstyle as well as the designs, colours, and compositions of the decorative patterns used in their costumes.

Today, most of their traditional costume-making techniques are in danger of disappearing as traditional costumes are gradually being replaced by modern clothing in synthetic materials. The lack of raw materials, time-consuming production, a decreasing demand, and the impracticality of traditional costumes for a modern lifestyle, make it difficult for these communities to continue traditional costume-making and preserve the techniques. Despite this, Miao/Hmong costumes have a high aesthetic appeal and are much appreciated by specialists and the wider public alike. They have inspired modern fashion designers and interior decorators.

UNESCO was asked to organize this workshop with three principle objectives:

• to build links between these communities and specialists;
• to compile an inventory of the endangered techniques, and;
• to strengthen co-operation between community and non-governmental organizations to promote and revitalize this traditional know-how.

In association with the Yunnan provincial authorities in China, UNESCO organized a training workshop on Miao/Hmong traditional costume-making techniques in June 2000, designed to encourage and assist local communities in revitalizing their traditional techniques and adopting them to modern life while preserving their cultural identity. Miao/Hmong masters of costume-making from various countries were invited to demonstrate and exchange techniques during the workshop. International and national specialists in textile techniques and regional NGOs involved in promoting handicrafts were invited to attend the workshop and give training courses for young Miao/Hmong professionals.