1. The Convention for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Cécile Duvelle
Chief, Intangible Cultural Heritage Section
Secretary of the 2003 Convention
MEDLIHER, Mediterranean Living Heritage
Phase II evaluation meeting, Cairo, Egypt, November 2010

2. 132 States have ratified the Convention 15 from the Arab region

3. Normative instruments in the field of culture
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. Key dates April 2006: entry into force
June 2006 – June 2008: elaboration of the Operational Directives
June 2008 – November 2009: first cycle of implementation
November 2010 – second cycle of implementation
November 2011 – third cycle of implementation

5. Keywords What this Convention is about? What it aims to achieve?
What are its main mechanisms?

6. Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage

7. Safeguarding?

8. Article 2.3
‘ to ensure the long-term viability of intangible heritage within communities and groups’

9. Identification and documentation
Article 11: ‘identify and define the various elements of the intangible cultural heritage present in [their] territory, with the participation of communities, groups and relevant non governmental organizations’.
Article 12: ‘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’.

10. Inventory or inventories?
No specific methodology
Flexible approach
But with the participation of the communities or groups concerned

11. Inventorying
fundamental
but also
risky

12. Preservation and protection
efforts of communities and culture bearers to maintain continuity in the practice of that heritage over time

13. Promotion and enhancement
self-esteem and pride
promotion of the respect for cultural diversity and human creativity

14. Transmission
providing future generations the knowledge, skills and practices inherited from past generations
allowing ICH to be sustainably maintained by the communities, groups or individuals concerned

15. Revitalization
Taking actions to reactivate, restore and strengthen ICH practices and expressions that are weakened and likely to disappear
An element extinct cannot be revitalized

16. Communities, groups and individuals
Central role in the practice, transmission or revitalization
No specific territories
Network who share a sense of connectedness and identity
Able to define their intangible heritage

17. Free, prior and informed consent
Mandatory
Respect of customary practices governing access to specific aspects (Article 13)

18. Viability
Capacity to practise as part of contemporary social life, and to transmit to future generations
Sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

19. Culture for development?
ICH mainspring for cultural diversity and guarantee for sustainable development
development can be a threat to the viability of ICH

20. What is ICH?
Definition (Article 2) very long, but should be read from beginning to end....

21. Who knows?
‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills…
… that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage’

22. How?
‘transmitted from generation to generation…
… constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history…
…provides them with a sense of identity and continuity’

23. What?
only consistent with internationally accepted human rights instruments
and with the principle of mutual respect

24. To be or not to be?

25. Domains: non exhaustive list
Oral traditions and expressions
Performing arts
Social practices, rituals and festive events
Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe
Traditional craftsmanship

26. Objectives safeguard ensure respect
raise awareness and ensuring mutual appreciation
provide for international cooperation and assistance

27. At the national level Identify and safeguard Adopting a general policy
One or more competent bodies
Scientific research, education and raising awareness
Report on measures taken for the ICH present in their territories

28. At the international level
List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and the Representative (Article 17)
List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (Article 16).
States Parties encouraged to submit multi-national nominations

29. Best Practices
National, subregional and regional programmes, projects and activities that best reflect the objectives of the Convention (Article 18)

30. International cooperation
Financial assistance available to States Parties, particularly developing countries

31. Decision-making process
General Assembly of the States Parties: sovereign body of the Convention, strategic orientations, election of Committee
Intergovernmental Committee (24 elected States Parties): grants international assistance and decides on inscriptions on the two lists and the Register of best practices

32. New!
Procedure for examining nominations to the Urgent Safeguarding List, proposals for the Register of Best Practices, and International Assistance requests greater than US$25,000
Files examined by a Consultative Body, composed of six accredited NGOs and six independent experts, half renewed annually

33. Intangible Cultural Heritage 1, rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15
UNESCO
1, rue Miollis, Paris Cedex 15
France
Cécile Duvelle
MEDLIHER :