The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO Intangible Heritage Section

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Mediterranean Living Heritage (MedLiHer) Implemen
ting the Convention for the Safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage in Egypt, Jordan,
Lebanon and the Syria Paris, 25 and 26 May
2009 Fernando Brugman UNESCO Intangible
Cultural Heritage Section
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The ICH Convention

• Adopted October 2003
• Open for ratification since November 2003
• Ratified by 30 States 20 January 2006
• Entered into force 20 April 2006
• Ratified now by 112 States
• Egypt 03.08.08 (ratification)
• Jordan 24.03.06 (ratification)
• Lebanon 08.01.07 (acceptance)
• Syria 11.03.05 (ratification)

The Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah Epic, Egypt
Vietnamese Court Music Nha Nhac
The Cultural Space of Sosso-Bala in Nyagassola,
Guinea
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Defining ICH

• Expressions and practices, knowledge and skills
  that
• are recognised by communities, groups, and in
  some cases individuals, as forming part of their
  cultural heritage
• are living, transmitted from generation to
  generation and constantly recreated
• are crucial for the sense of identity and
  continuity of communities and groups
• are in conformity with human rights (
  sustainable development)
• (belong to one or more of the relevant domains)
• The definition also includes objects and spaces
  that are associated with manifestations of ICH

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Domains

• Oral traditions and expressions, including
  language as a vehicle of the ICH
• Performing arts
• Social practices,
• rituals and festive events
• Knowledge and practices
• concerning nature
• and the universe
• Traditional craftsmanship

The Traditional Music of Morin Khuur Mongolia
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Goals

• Safeguarding ICH ensuring its viability
  (continued enactment and transmission) within
  communities/groups
• Awareness-raising
• Sharing and celebrating
• Dialogue, respect for cultural diversity
• International cooperation and assistance

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Role of States Parties

• Take necessary measures to ensure safeguarding (
  ensure the viability of ICH)
• Identify and define elements of intangible
  heritage, with participation of communities,
  groups and NGOs

The Garifuna Language, Dance and Music,
Nicaragua
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National Safeguarding Measures

• Inventory making
• Adopt a general safeguarding policy
• Establish competent safeguarding bodies
• Foster studies and research methodologies
• Adopt legal, technical, administrative and
  financial measures
• Education, awareness-raising and promotion

Shashmaqom Music Tajikistan - Uzbekistan
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Mechanism of the Convention

• General Assembly of States Parties
• Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding
  of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Representative List of the Intangible Cultural
  Heritage of Humanity
• List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of
  Urgent Safeguarding
• Programmes, projects and activities reflecting
  the principles and objectives of the Convention
• Fund for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
  Cultural Heritage
• International assistance and cooperation

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General Assembly

• Sovereign Body of the Convention
• ordinary session every two years, and in
  extraordinary sessions
• Elects the members of the Committee
• Approves the Operational
• Directives for the
• implementation of the
• Convention
• 27-29 June 2006 1 GA
• 9 November 1 EXT GA
• 16-19 June 2008 2 GA

The Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah Epic, Egypt
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Intergovernmental Committee

• 24 Members
• 4-year term, renewal of half of the members every
  2 years
• Membership determined by equitable geographical
  representation and rotation
• Members to send experts as their representatives
• Algeria 1 COM (Nov.2006)
• China 1 EXT COM (May 2007)
• Japan 2 COM (Sept. 2007)
• Bulgaria 2 EXT COM (Feb. 2008)
• Istanbul 3 EXT COM (Nov. 2008)
• ABU DHABI 28/9-2/10 2009

The Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers Kyrgyzstan
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Functions of the Committee

• Prepare Operational Directives for implementation
• Implement the Convention
• Examine requests for
• inscription on the Lists
• Article 18
• international assistance
• Make recommendations on safeguarding measures
• Seek means of increasing its resources
• Examine periodic reports of States Parties

The Pansori Epic Chant Republic of Korea
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The Fund International Assistance

• International Assistance
• Safeguarding of heritage inscribed on the Urgent
  Safeguarding List
• Preparation of inventories
• Programmes, projects and other activities in the
  States Parties (incl. capacity building)
• Preparatory assistance

Congos of Villa Mella Dominican Republic
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Features of the Convention

• Introduces a list system for visibility and
  safeguarding other main focus on programmes and
  projects
• Deals with heritage representative for
  communities (not of outstanding universal value)
• Emphasis on living heritage, enacted by people,
  often collectively, mostly transmitted orally
• Attention for processes/conditions rather than
  products
• Role of communities/groups
• Contribution to promotion of creativity and
  diversity, to well-being (of communities and
  groups and societies at large) and peaceful
  development

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Implementation Operational Directives

• The Convention creates new mechanisms for the
  safeguarding of ICH, but does not provide
  specific instructions on how to implement them.
• The Operational Directives serve as guidance for
  implementing the Convention
• The Convention requests the Committee to prepare
  operational directives for the implementation of
  the Convention and submit them to the General
  Assembly for its approval
• First set adopted by the General Assembly in June
  2008

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Operational Directives Contents

• Contents
• Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
• Urgent Safeguarding List
• Representative List
• Incorporation Masterpieces into the
  Representative List
• Programmes, projects and activities that best
  reflect the principles and objectives of the
  Convention
• Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and
  International Assistance
• Guidelines for the use of the resources of the
  Fund
• International assistance
• Participation in the implementation of the
  Convention
• Participation of communities, groups and, where
  applicable, individuals, as well as experts,
  centres of expertise and research institutes
• Non-governmental organizations and the Convention
  
• Reports by States Parties on the implementation
  of the Convention

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Urgent Safeguarding List Representative List
Urgent Safeguarding List
Representative List
Take appropriate safeguarding measures for ICH
in danger
Ensure better visibility of the ICH and
awareness of its significance Encourage
dialogue which respects cultural diversity

• No simultaneous inscription on the Urgent
  Safeguarding List and Representative List
• An element could be transferred from one List to
  the other when complying with all criteria of
  that List and following the nomination procedure
• An element shall be removed from the Lists when
  it does not any longer satisfy criteria

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Criteria
Criteria Criteria List List
Criteria Criteria UL RL
U.1 R.1 The element constitutes intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. X X
U.2. a) The element is in urgent need of safeguarding because its viability is at risk despite the efforts of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals and State(s) Party(ies) concerned. (or) b) The element is in extremely urgent need of safeguarding because it is facing grave threats as a result of which it cannot be expected to survive without immediate safeguarding. X
R.2. Inscription of the element will contribute to ensuring visibility, awareness of the significance of the intangible cultural heritage and dialogue, thus reflecting cultural diversity worldwide and testifying to human creativity. X
U.3. Safeguarding measures are elaborated that may enable the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned to continue the practice and transmission of the element. X
R.3. Safeguarding measures are elaborated that may protect and promote the element. X
U.4. R.4. The element has been nominated following the widest possible participation of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent. X X
U.5. R.5. The element is included in an inventory of the intangible cultural heritage present in the territory(ies) of the submitting State(s) Party(ies). X X
U.6. In cases of extreme urgency, the State(s) Party(ies) concerned has (have) been consulted regarding inscription of the element in conformity with Article 17.3 of the Convention. X
Adopted by the General Assembly at its second
session (June 2008)
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Two Lists Nomination procedure
Urgent Safeguarding List
Representative List
1. Preparatory Assistance
Deadline 1 September
2. Preparation/Submission
Community involvement in the preparation of their
nomination Multi-national nominations
Evaluate the nomination as quickly as possible
after its submission May be brought to the
attention by any other State Party, by the
community concerned or by an advisory
organization.
Extreme urgency
3. Examination/Recommendation

• Conformity with the inscription criteria
• The viability of the element and
• the feasibility and sufficiency of
• the safeguarding plan.
• The risk of its disappearing

• Subsidiary body
• Conformity with the inscription criteria

4. Evaluation/Decision
No resubmision 4 years
If not inscribed
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Two Lists For inscription in 2009
Urgent Safeguarding List
Deadline for the submission
15 Mar 2009
Number of files received
15
Representative List
Deadline for the submission
30 Sep 2008
Number of files received
111
Number of States submitting files
35
Number of multinational files
4
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Article 18 Programmes, projects and activities
for the safeguarding of ICH

• National, subregional and regional programmes,
  projects and activities best reflecting the
  principles and objectives of this Convention will
  be selected and promoted
• Special attention is given to
• the needs of developing countries
• the principle of equitable geographic
  distribution
• Encourage submission of
• subregional or regional programmes, projects
  and activities
• programmes, projects and activities undertaken
  jointly by States Parties in geographically
  discontinuous areas
• Proposals characterized by international
  cooperation and/or focusing on specific priority
  aspects of safeguarding.

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Programmes, projects and activities Criteria

• Defined in Article 2.3 of the Convention
• Promote the coordination at regional, subregional
  and/or international levels
• Reflect the principles and objectives of the
  Convention
• Demonstrate effectiveness in contributing to the
  viability of the ICH concerned (completed)
• Demonstrate reasonable expectation for the
  contribution to substantially to the viability
  (underway or planned)
• Implemented with the participation of the
  community, group or, if applicable, individuals
  concerned
• Serve as a subregional, regional or international
  model
• Willing to cooperate in the dissemination of best
  practices
• Feature experiences that are susceptible to an
  assessment of their results
• Applicable to the particular needs of developing
  countries

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Timeframe
USL
Article 18
RL
1 Oct 2008 (2009) 1 Sep 2009 (2010) 1 Sep 2010
(2011)
Preparatory Assistance
1 Oct 2008 (2009) 1 Oct 2008 (2010) 1 Sep 2009
(2011)
Deadline for submission
1 Mar 2009 (2009) 1 Mar 2010 (2010) 1 Mar 2011
(2011)
30 Sep 2008 31 Aug 2009 31 Aug 2010
15 Mar 2009 (2009) 31 Mar 2009 (2010) 31 Mar 2010
(2011)
September 2009 September 2010 September 2011
Decisions to be taken
Sep 2009 Sep 2010 Sep 2011
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The Use of the Resources of the Fund
Category of Expenditure Jul 2008 to Dec 2009 Jan 2009 to Jun 2010
International assistance 70 1,347,346 449,132
Emergency assistance 8 153,988 51,329
Other functions of the Committee 3 57,746 19,249
Participation in the Committee sessions of Committee Members from developing countries 5 96,243 32,081
Participation in the Committee sessions of States Parties from developing countries 3 57,746 19,249
Cost of advisory services 4 76,994 25,665
Participation of public or private bodies invited by the Committee 2 38,497 12,832
Reserve Fund 5 96,243 32,081
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International Assistance Purposes and Budget

• International Assistance 70
• 336 849 112 283 x 4 1.796.528 USD
• Safeguarding the heritage inscribed on the Urgent
  Safeguarding List
• Preparation of inventories
• Support for programmes, projects and activities
• Preparatory Assistance
• (17.5 x 4)

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International AssistanceSelection Criteria

• Decisions on granting assistance will be made
  on the basis of the following criteria
• Involvement of communities, groups and/or
  individuals concerned
• the preparation of the request
• the implementation of the proposed activities,
  and
• their evaluation and follow-up
• Appropriate requested amount
• Feasibility of the proposed activities
• Sustainability
• Cost sharing with the submitting State Party
• Capacity building in the field of safeguarding
  intangible cultural heritage

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International AssistanceDeadlines
Type of assistance
Budget
DL of submission
Emergency Assistance
At any time
Any amount
Preparatory Assistance
1 September
lt 25,000USD
Other Assistance
1 May
gt 25,000USD
Any time
lt 25,000USA
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Accreditation of NGOs

• NGOs that meet the criteria for accreditation may
  request to be accredited to provide advisory
  services to the Committee.
• Accredited non-governmental organizations may be
  invited by the Committee to examine
• a. nomination files for the Urgent Safeguarding
  List
• b. the programmes, projects and activities
  mentioned in Article 18
• c. requests for international assistance above 25
  000 USD
• d. the effects of safeguarding plans for elements
  inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List
• Requests for accreditation can be submitted at
  any time.

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Accreditation of NGO Current Situation

• At its third session (Istanbul, 4-8 November
  2008) the Committee examined requests that have
  been received in complete form before 1 September
  2008.
• At the Istanbul session, the Committee
  recommended 51 NGOs for accreditation by the
  General Assembly, and invited them to participate
  at its next session.
• Requests for accreditation that are received
  after the deadline will be examined by the
  Committee at its following session (Abu Dhabi,
  September 2009).
• The list is not geographically balanced, for the
  time being.
• The modalities and methods of facilitating the
  contribution of NGOs from developing countries
  will be discussed at the next session.

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Accreditation of NGO Criteria

• NGOs shall
• Have proven competence, expertise and experience
  in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage
  belonging
• Have a local, national, regional or international
  nature
• Have objectives in conformity with the spirit of
  the Convention
• Cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect with
  communities, groups, and, where appropriate,
  individuals
• Possess operational capacities, including
• regular active membership
• an established domicile and a recognized legal
  personality
• existence for at least four years

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ich