Search results
Jul 18, 2023 · UNESCO’s actions over the past decades bear witness to the many ways in which humanity tried to understand how culture can strengthen the sense of who we are – from the awareness of the necessity to protect heritage from destruction at the end of World War II, to the launch of international campaigns to safeguard World Heritage sites and the concept of living and intangible heritage, a ...
- World Heritage - UNESCO
World Heritage. The 1972 Convention concerning the...
- Protection and management of tangible cultural heritage - UNESCO
The safeguarding, enhancement, and conservation of cultural...
- World Heritage - UNESCO
World Heritage. The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage recognizes that certain places on Earth are of "outstanding universal value" and should form part of the common heritage of humankind. Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.
Apr 5, 2024 · The safeguarding, enhancement, and conservation of cultural heritage is one of the central pillars of UNESCO's work in the field of culture. In this context, the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage emerged in response to the threat, deterioration, or disappearance faced by global cultural and ...
Heritage constitutes a source of identity and cohesion for communities disrupted by bewildering change and economic instability. Creativity contributes to building open, inclusive and pluralistic societies. Both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies.
- I. General Provisions
- II. Organs of The Convention
- III. Safeguarding of The Intangible Cultural Heritage at The National Level
- IV. Safeguarding of The Intangible Cultural Heritage at The International Level
- V. International Cooperation and Assistance
- VI. Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund
- VII. Reports
- VIII. Transitional Clause
- IX. Final Clauses
Article 1 – Purposes of the Convention
The purposes of this Convention are: (a) to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage; (b) to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned; (c) to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage, and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof; (d) to provide for international cooperation and assistance.
Article 2 – Definitions
For the purposes of this Convention, 1. The “intangible cultural heritage” means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environme...
Article 3 – Relationship to other international instruments
Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as: (a) altering the status or diminishing the level of protection under the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of World Heritage properties with which an item of the intangible cultural heritage is directly associated; or (b) affecting the rights and obligations of States Parties deriving from any international instrument relating to intellectual property rights or to the use of biological and eco...
Article 4 – General Assembly of States Parties
1. A General Assembly of the States Parties is hereby established, hereinafter referred to as “the General Assembly”. The General Assembly is the sovereign body of this Convention. 2. The General Assembly shall meet in ordinary session every two years. It may meet in extraordinary session if it so decides or at the request either of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage or of at least one-third of the States Parties. 3. The General Assembly s...
Article 5 – Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
1. An Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”, is hereby established within UNESCO. It shall be composed of representatives of 18 States Parties, elected by the States Parties meeting in General Assembly, once this Convention enters into force in accordance with Article 34. 2. The number of States Members of the Committee shall be increased to 24 once the number of the States Parties to the Convention rea...
Article 6 – Election and terms of office of States Members of the Committee
1. The election of States Members of the Committee shall obey the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation. 2. States Members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years by States Parties to the Convention meeting in General Assembly. 3. However, the term of office of half of the States Members of the Committee elected at the first election is limited to two years. These States shall be chosen by lot at the first election. 4. Every two years, the General...
Article 11 – Role of States Parties
Each State Party shall: (a) take the necessary measures to ensure the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory; (b) among the safeguarding measures referred to in Article 2, paragraph 3, identify and define the various elements of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory, with the participation of communities, groups and relevant non-governmental organizations.
Article 12 – Inventories
1. To ensure identification with a view to safeguarding, each State Party shall draw up, in a manner geared to its own situation, one or more inventories of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory. These inventories shall be regularly updated. 2. When each State Party periodically submits its report to the Committee, in accordance with Article 29, it shall provide relevant information on such inventories.
Article 13 – Other measures for safeguarding
To ensure the safeguarding, development and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory, each State Party shall endeavour to: (a) adopt a general policy aimed at promoting the function of the intangible cultural heritage in society, and at integrating the safeguarding of such heritage into planning programmes; (b) designate or establish one or more competent bodies for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage present in its territory; (c) foster scientif...
Article 16 – Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
1. In order to ensure better visibility of the intangible cultural heritage and awareness of its significance, and to encourage dialogue which respects cultural diversity, the Committee, upon the proposal of the States Parties concerned, shall establish, keep up to date and publish a Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 2. The Committee shall draw up and submit to the General Assembly for approval the criteria for the establishment, updating and publication of...
Article 17 – List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
1. With a view to taking appropriate safeguarding measures, the Committee shall establish, keep up to date and publish a List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and shall inscribe such heritage on the List at the request of the State Party concerned. 2. The Committee shall draw up and submit to the General Assembly for approval the criteria for the establishment, updating and publication of this List. 3. In cases of extreme urgency – the objective criteria of whic...
Article 18 – Programmes, projects and activities for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage
1. On the basis of proposals submitted by States Parties, and in accordance with criteria to be defined by the Committee and approved by the General Assembly, the Committee shall periodically select and promote national, subregional and regional programmes, projects and activities for the safeguarding of the heritage which it considers best reflect the principles and objectives of this Convention, taking into account the special needs of developing countries. 2. To this end, it shall receive,...
Article 19 – Cooperation
1. For the purposes of this Convention, international cooperation includes, inter alia, the exchange of information and experience, joint initiatives, and the establishment of a mechanism of assistance to States Parties in their efforts to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage. 2. Without prejudice to the provisions of their national legislation and customary law and practices, the States Parties recognize that the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage is of general interest to hu...
Article 20 – Purposes of international assistance
International assistance may be granted for the following purposes: (a) the safeguarding of the heritage inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding; (b) the preparation of inventories in the sense of Articles 11 and 12; (c) support for programmes, projects and activities carried out at the national, subregional and regional levels aimed at the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage; (d) any other purpose the Committee may deem necessary.
Article 21 – Forms of international assistance
The assistance granted by the Committee to a State Party shall be governed by the operational directives foreseen in Article 7 and by the agreement referred to in Article 24, and may take the following forms: (a) studies concerning various aspects of safeguarding; (b) the provision of experts and practitioners; (c) the training of all necessary staff; (d) the elaboration of standard-setting and other measures; (e) the creation and operation of infrastructures; (f) the supply of equipment and...
Article 25 – Nature and resources of the Fund
1. A “Fund for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”, hereinafter referred to as “the Fund”, is hereby established. 2. The Fund shall consist of funds-in-trust established in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO. 3. The resources of the Fund shall consist of: (a) contributions made by States Parties; (b) funds appropriated for this purpose by the General Conference of UNESCO; (c) contributions, gifts or bequests which may be made by: (i) other States; (ii) organ...
Article 26 – Contributions of States Parties to the Fund
1. Without prejudice to any supplementary voluntary contribution, the States Parties to this Convention undertake to pay into the Fund, at least every two years, a contribution, the amount of which, in the form of a uniform percentage applicable to all States, shall be determined by the General Assembly. This decision of the General Assembly shall be taken by a majority of the States Parties present and voting which have not made the declaration referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article. In...
Article 27 – Voluntary supplementary contributions to the Fund
States Parties wishing to provide voluntary contributions in addition to those foreseen under Article 26 shall inform the Committee, as soon as possible, so as to enable it to plan its operations accordingly.
Article 29 – Reports by the States Parties
The States Parties shall submit to the Committee, observing the forms and periodicity to be defined by the Committee, reports on the legislative, regulatory and other measures taken for the implementation of this Convention.
Article 30 – Reports by the Committee
1. On the basis of its activities and the reports by States Parties referred to in Article 29, the Committee shall submit a report to the General Assembly at each of its sessions. 2. The report shall be brought to the attention of the General Conference of UNESCO.
Article 31 – Relationship to the Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
1. The Committee shall incorporate in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity the items proclaimed “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” before the entry into force of this Convention. 2. The incorporation of these items in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity shall in no way prejudge the criteria for future inscriptions decided upon in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 2. 3. No further Proclamatio...
Article 32 – Ratification, acceptance or approval
1.This Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Members of UNESCO in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures. 2. The instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Director-General of UNESCO.
Article 33 – Accession
1. This Convention shall be open to accession by all States not Members of UNESCO that are invited by the General Conference of UNESCO to accede to it. 2. This Convention shall also be open to accession by territories which enjoy full internal self-government recognized as such by the United Nations, but have not attained full independence in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and which have competence over the matters governed by this Convention, including the competence...
Article 34 – Entry into force
This Convention shall enter into force three months after the date of the deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, but only with respect to those States that have deposited their respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession on or before that date. It shall enter into force with respect to any other State Party three months after the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
On 24 March 2017, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2347, relating to the protection of cultural heritage. This was an unprecedented victory! It has taken nearly a century and a half for the idea to mature. Then, over the past few years, progress was suddenly made.
People also ask
What impact did UNESCO have on cultural heritage?
Why is cultural and Natural Heritage important?
Why is UNESCO important?
How can UNESCO help preserve heritage?
How did UNESCO protect cultural property after the Second World War?
Why is culture important to UNESCO?
Mar 14, 2001 · Intangible cultural heritage is: Traditional, contemporary and living at the same time: intangible cultural heritage does not only represent inherited traditions from the past but also contemporary rural and urban practices in which diverse cultural groups take part; Inclusive: we may share expressions of intangible cultural heritage that are ...
