This expert meeting was aimed at assisting UNESCO in the elaboration of the outline of a Manual on Oral Traditions and Expressions and at advising on potential authors. The Manual is one out of a planned series of several thematic publications that address specific domains of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and are meant to facilitate the implementation of the 2003 Convention. It will help the States-Parties in developing inventories and carrying out actual safeguarding measures and activities.
The five experts who participated in the meeting did so in their personal capacity and were selected on the basis of their competences and of regional considerations.
During the two days of the meeting, the experts discussed and revised a draft structure of the Manual, as presented by the Intangible Heritage Section of UNESCO. They also discussed and refined a form for inventorying elements of ICH and considered some definitions of the Glossary Intangible Cultural Heritage, prepared by an international expert meeting in June 2002.
The experts also exchanged their personal experiences and examples of good practices of safeguarding oral traditions and expressions.