1. Introduction of the 2003 Convention and its capacity-building programme
strengthening the implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Central Asia:
A SUB-REGIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOP for facilitators FOr Central Asia
Bishkek— KYRGYZSTAN
19-23 June 2017

2. UNESCO and its Conventions
Intergovernmental organization with 195 Member States
Five sectors: Education, Natural Sciences, Social & Human Sciences, Culture and Communication & Information
Standard setter
Laboratory of ideas
Capacity building

3. The Culture Conventions
Universal Copyright Convention (1952, 1971)
Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954)
Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfert of Cultural Property (1970)
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)
Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001)
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005)

4. Comparing 1972 and 2003 World Heritage Intangible Heritage
Conservation of World (State) Heritage properties: Sites, monuments, places of memory, nature reserves, cultural landscapes
Place-based
Intangible Heritage
Safeguarding of all ICH on state territory: Expressions, skills, practices and knowledge
Community-based

5. Comparing 1972 and 2003 World Heritage Intangible Heritage
Experts define, outstanding universal value
Authenticity and integrity help to define value, often restricting change
Intangible Heritage
Communities concerned define
ICH changes over time, Viability, continued transmission

6. Comparing 2005 and 2003 Conventions
DCE
Cultural activities, goods and services (products)
Cultural expressions: often new, individual creations
Focus on cultural industries, dissemination and development
Intangible Heritage
Skills, practices, expressions and knowledge
ICH is a collective practice, transmitted ‘from generation to generation’
Focus on safeguarding practice and transmission of ICH

7. Contents of the Intangible Heritage Convention
Preamble
Purposes of the Convention (Article 1)
Definitions (Article 2)
Organs of the Convention (Articles 4–10)
Safeguarding – national level (Articles 11–15)
Lists and Register (Articles 16–18)
International cooperation and assistance (Articles )
ICH Fund (Articles 25–28)
Reporting (Articles 29–30)
Ratification, etc. (Articles 32– 33)

8. Operational Directives
Guide implementation of the Convention
Include regulations and procedures for Lists, Register and Fund as well as reporting obligations
Prepared by Committee, approved by General Assembly
First set approved 2008; amended and enlarged in 2012, 2014 and 2016

9. Objectives of the Convention
Article 1
Safeguarding
Respect
Awareness and mutual appreciation
International cooperation and assistance
Shrimp fishing on horseback in Oostduinkerke
inscribed on Representative List, Belgium, 2013.
© Dirk Van Hove, Gemeente Koksijde Paardenvissers
Traditional knowledge and technologies relating to the growing and processing of the curagua inscribed on Representative List, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), 2015.
© Centro de la Diversidad

10. Organs of the Convention
Intergovernmental Committee:
twenty-four Member States; implements the Convention.
General Assembly: sovereign body of the Convention. All States Parties are members.
UNESCO Secretariat: serves the Organs; assists in implementing the Convention.

11. Obligations of States Parties to the Convention
Safeguard ICH on their territory (Article 11(a))
Ensure community participation in identifying, defining and managing their ICH (Articles 11(b) and 15)
Draw up inventories of the ICH in their territory (Article 12.1)
Contribute to the ICH Fund (Article 26)
Report to the Committee (Article 29)
© 2010 by Krisztián Csapó

12. The two Lists and one Register of the Convention
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – RL (Article 16)
List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding – USL (Article 17)
Register of Good Safeguarding Practices (Article 18)
Bagpipe culture inscribed on Representative List, Slovakia, 2015.
© Slovak Intangible Cultural Heritage Center

13. Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund
Cultural space of yaaral and degal, shepherds’ process, Mali – © DNPC, 2009 Equipe de recherche et de documentation de la DNPC
Traditional production of Oolong tea, China – © 2008 Wuyishan Municipal Cultural and Sports Bureau
Traditional bread, Syria – © Christophe Graz
Articles 25–28
Mainly supports safeguarding, inventory-making, capacity building
States Parties contribute to the Fund
Some States make additional contributions
States Parties may request financial assistance, singly or jointly

14. Benefits of implementing the Convention (1)
Better safeguarding of the ICH within the States Parties, contributing to:
Well-being of communities
Respect and understanding between communities
Sustainable development
Enhancement of cultural diversity and human creativity
© 2012 by Ministry of Culture and Monument protection of Georgia

15. Benefits of implementing the Convention (2)
International cooperation and assistance:
Sharing expertise and information internationally
Sharing safeguarding practices
Accessing assistance from the Fund
Nominating elements and safeguarding projects
Participating in the Organs of the Convention
Cooperating regionally and internationally: for example, on shared heritage
© 2004 by Melitta Abber

16. Towards universal ratification
174 States Parties (June 2017)
Kazakhstan (2011)
Kyrgyzstan (2006)
Uzbekistan (2008)
Tajikistan (2010)
Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz epic tellers
© by Ministry of Culture and Information

17. Towards universal ratification
Only 21 States non party EG
States non party I
Canada, Israel, San Marino, UK and USA [5] II
Russian Federation
III
Guyana and Suriname [2] IV
Australia, Kiribati, Maldives, New Zealand, Niue, Singapore, Solomon Islands [7] Va
Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia and South Africa [5] Vb
Libya

18. 6th session of General Assembly - 2016
Election of 12 new members of the Committee
Revisions of the Operational Directives:
Referral option (applicable to all mechanisms)
Sustainable development
International Assistance
Referral option: scope enlarged also to substantial information.
Amendments to the ODs:
extension to the other mechanisms (USL, BSP, IA – paragraph 35)
deletion of four years waiting time for resubmission of nominations to the RL that are not recommended for inscription (paragraph 37)
Oshi Palav, a traditional meal and its social and cultural contexts in Tajikistan
© Tajik National Commission for UNESCO

19. Committee Members Group IV Afghanistan 2014-2018 India 2014-2018
Mongolia
Philippines
Republic of Korea
Group V(a)
Congo
Côte d’Ivoire
Ethiopia
Mauritius
Senegal
Zambia
Group V(b)
Algeria
Lebanon
Palestine
Group I Austria Cyprus Turkey Group II Armenia Bulgaria Hungary Group III Colombia Cuba Guatemala Saint Lucia
12 new members of the Committee:
Group I: Austria and Cyprus
Group II: Armenia
Group III: Colombia, Cuba and Guatemala
Group IV: Philippines
Group V(a): Mauritius, Senegal and Zambia
Group V(b): Lebanon and Palestine

20. Chapter VI of the ODs
Follows the structure of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Inclusive social development: food security, health care, quality education, gender equality, access to clean and safe water and sustainable water use
Inclusive economic development: income generation and sustainable livelihoods, productive employment and decent work, impact of tourism on safeguarding ICH and vice versa
Environmental sustainability: knowledge and practices concerning the nature and the universe, environmental impacts in safeguarding ICH, community-based resilience to natural disasters and climate change
ICH and peace: social cohesion and equity, preventing and resolving disputes, restoring peace and security, achieving lasting peace

21. Chapter VI of the ODs
The ODs propose concrete measures under each theme, such as:
Research studies, including those run by non-governmental organizations and the communities themselves
Appropriate legal, technical, administrative and financial measures
Creation of partnerships

22. Chapter VI (cont) Two-fold approach:
Proposes measures to use the Convention as a tool for Sustainable Development
Encourages States Parties to integrate the safeguarding of ICH in their legislation, policies and strategies on cultural and other development areas
Mask Dance of Bhutan
© UNESCO

23. International Assistance
Underutilization of the international assistance mechanism
Measures:
Technical assistance
Combined USL/IA
Increased ceiling for requests examined by the Bureau (< US$100,000) in addition to files examined by the Committee (> US$100,000)
Integrated in capacity building
Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)
© Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, 2013

24. Overall results framework
Results map and a set of 26 indicators and 87 assessment factors developed to be submitted to the Committee (Dec 2017);
Improve the efficiency of existing reporting obligations rather than adding new ones: periodic reporting

25. New topics
ICH emergencies (Armed conflict, natural disasters and displaced populations should receive equal attention, ICH vs. built heritage: different approach)
ICH and education
Communication and outreach

26. Capacity building programme - Goal
Create institutional and professional environments for intangible cultural heritage safeguarding and harnessing its potential for sustainable development
Promote broad public knowledge and support for the Convention’s concepts and objectives

27. Capacity building programme -benefits
Improved policies and strategies for safeguarding in relevant policy areas (culture, education, environment, peace, food security, etc.).
Improved infrastructure for safeguarding and strengthened human resources.
Availability of community-based inventorying and safeguarding methodology.
Effective participation in the Convention’s international cooperation mechanisms.

28. A full-fledged CAP programme

29. Capacity building programme – main figures
80 training workshops since 2011
60+ countries enhanced results in policy development, inventorying and safeguarding.
1600+ individuals from governments, civil society and communities trained (750 from Africa and 43% women).
50+ thematic units for training stakeholders.
100+ expert facilitators from all regions (more than 40% from Africa and more than 40% women) delivering the programme.
10 Million+ USD mobilized.

30. Thank you!
See UNESCO website: