unesco & heritage

UNESCO & Heritage

Montakarn SuvanatapCULTURE UNIT, UNESCO BANGKOK

Current Threats to Heritage

Heritage sites and cultural objects destroyedin land or underwaterby natural disasters and climate changeby poor management and commercial exploitationby armed conflictsthefts, pillage, illicit imports and exports

Bomb craters near the historic Plain of Jars, Lao PDR

A classroom in Mae Hong Son, Thailand


Traditions neglectedmodern economic development pressures





Traditions neglectedmodern economic development pressures

Cultural prejudice to ethnic minorities




How does UNESCO

work to protect natural

and cultural heritage?

through CONVENTIONS

Text

CONVENTIONS

treaty or agreement in international law

developed by experts

signed by governments,

legal-binding

guides policies, strategies and priorities to

the governments that have ratified it

standard-setting instruments

Text

CONVENTIONS =

treaty or agreement in international law



legal-binding



adopted under the auspices of UNESCO solely or jointly with other International Organizations.

Texttreaty or agreement in international law



legal-binding



standard-setting instrumentsCONVENTIONS =

Why Conventions?Because the problem is bigger than what a nation can handle alone.

To get commitment from different nations to work toward peace and security togetherTo set international standards for.

addressing heritage threatshow to jointly work to prevent these threats and improve a country’s safeguarding capacityhow to advance and continue cultural expressionshow to help others

CONVENTIONS

CONVENTIONShave organs!

CONVENTIONS

General Assembly of the States Parties

Member states who sign or agree to abide by

the convention

have organs!

CONVENTIONShave organs! Intergovernmental

Committeeelected by the States Parties to promotes the objectivesof the Convention, monitor the implementation and make recommendations



the convention





the convention

The Secretariatprepare

the General

Assembly biannually

makesure that

decisions are implemented



AdvisoryBodies

~ ~ ~



the convention


the General

Assembly biannually

makesure that





the General

Assembly biannually

makesure that


AdvisoryBodies

~ ~ ~ TEXT



the convention

intended to safeguard and nurture aspectsof culture and creativity

6 UNESCO CulturalCONVENTIONS

intended to safeguard and nurture aspectsof culture and creativity

etc.

6 UNESCO CulturalCONVENTIONS

Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Paris, 20 October 2005)

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible

Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)

Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (Paris, 2 November 2001)

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural

and Natural Heritage (Paris, 16 November 1972)

Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (Paris, 14 November 1970)

Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of

Armed Conflict (The Hague, 14 May 1954)

UN

ESC

O

Cul

tura

l Con

vent

ions

* Formerly there were 7 Conventions, which included Universal Copyright Convention (1952, revised in 1971)

1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 14 May 1954)

1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (Paris, 14 November 1970)

1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Paris, 16 November 1972)

2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (Paris, 2 November 2001)

2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)

2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Paris, 20 October 2005)

Cultural Programmes @ Bangkok Field Office

1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

(Paris, 16 November 1972)

The Convention

browse the most updated WH list

Links together concepts of nature conservation and cultural preservationWorld Heritage List serves as a catalyst to raising awareness for heritage preservationList of World Heritage in Danger to raise more attention to threatened sites

Tassili n'Ajjer, AlgeriaMixed natural and cultural heritage site

981 Properties from 160 States Parties759 Cultural Sites - 193 Natural Sites - 29 Mixed Sites29 Transboundary - 44 In Danger - 2 Delilsted

The Most Influential Convention yet

for the assessment of Outstanding Universal Value

• (i) represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

Taj Mahal, India

• (ii) exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of

time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in

architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or

landscape design;

The Old Town of Lijiang, China

• (iii) bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony

to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is

living or which has disappeared;

Vat Phou, Lao PDR

(iv) be an outstanding

example of a type of

building, architectural or

technological ensemble or

landscape which

illustrates a significant

stage in human history;

Darjeeling Railway, India

Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras

(v) be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement,

land use or sea use, which is representative of a culture (or cultures),

or human interaction with the environment especially when it has

become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

• (vi) be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with

beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance;

Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan

(vii) contain superlative natural phenomena

or areas of exceptional natural beauty and

aesthetic importance;

Nanda Devi National Park, India

(viii) be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history,

including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in

the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

Purnululu National Park , Australia

(ix) be outstanding examples representing significant ongoing ecological

and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial,

fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and

animals;

Kinabalu Park, Malaysia

(x) and contain the most important and significant natural habitats for

in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing

threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view

of science or conservation.

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)

Qālišuyān rituals of Mašhad-e Ardehāl in KāšānIslamic Republic of Iran

•Inscribed in 2012 on Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity•The rituals are practiced to honor the memory of Soltān Ali. The neatly cut wooden sticks are used to sprinkle rosewater onto the ceremonial carpet.

To safeguard the intangible heritage of humanityTo ensure respect for itTo raise awareness of the importance of the ICH and ensure mutual appreciation thereofTo provide for international cooperation and assistance

Objectives of the Convention

Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak, art of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpet, inscribed in 2012 on Urgent Safeguarding List

browse the most updated ICH list

153 States Parties have ratified the Convention, including 29 Asia-Pacific countries,with 298 ICH elements already listed.

Within 10 years...

A Fast-growing Convention

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) meanspractices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.


Defining Intangible Cultural Heritage

transmitted from generation to generation,constantly recreated by communities in response to

their environmenttheir interaction with nature andtheir history,

and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity

Intangible cultural heritage is:


Nôgaku TheatreJapan


Paradigm shifts in heritage conservation

Tangible (movable / immovable)

Changing Conservation

placesproducts processes

management approaches object-based value-based

Intangible

forms

TransmissionDissemination

PreservationProtection

PromotionPresentationRecognition

ResearchDocumenting Inventorying

RevitalizationRevival

PracticeCreation

MaintainingTransmission

People at the Centre of Safeguarding

Domains

Domains* not the way of the world.

Domains* not the way of the world.Different countries have different values and cultural priorities, therefore, might have prominent domains that do not exist in UNESCO’s set domains,

DomainsDifferent countries have different values and cultural priorities, therefore, might have prominent domains that do not exist in UNESCO’s set domains,which is fine!

* not the way of the world.

The Art of Azerbaijani AshiqAzerbaijan

Oral Traditions of the Aka Pygmies of Central Africa

Oral Traditions

Proverbs, riddles, tales, nursery rhymes, legends, myths, epic songs and poems, charms, prayers, chants, songs,

dramatic performances, etc.

browse the most updated ICH lists

The Royal Ballet of Cambodia

KutiyattamIndia

Tumba Francesa Cuba

Vocal or instrumental music, dance, theatre, pantomime, sung verse, certain forms of storytelling, etc.

Performing Arts


Carnival of OruroBolivia

Jongmyo Ancestral RiteRepublic of Korea

Carnival of Barranquilla Colombia

Activities that structure the lives of communities and groups linked to the life cycle of individuals and groups (initiation

rites or burial ceremonies), the agricultural calendar, the succession of seasons or other temporal systems, etc.

Social Practices,Rituals, Festive Events


Vanuatu Sand Drawings Andean Cosmovision of the Kallawaya Bolivia

Traditional ecological wisdom, indigenous knowledge, traditional healing systems and pharmacopeia, rituals,

foodways, beliefs, esoteric sciences, initiatory rites, divinations, cosmologies, cosmogonies, shamanism, possession rites, etc.

Knowledge aboutNature and the Universe


Woodcrafting Knowledge of the ZafimaniryMadagascar

China Engraved Block Printing TechniqueChina

Traditional Craftsmanship


The Lists and the RegisterInternational Cooperation and AssistanceIntangible Cultural Heritage Fund

Safeguardingat the International Level


Lists and Register

Noken multifunctional knotted or woven bag, handcraft of the people of Papua, Indonesia

Inscribed in 2012 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

(latest update of elements as of 2012)

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

31 elements

Viability is at risk despite the efforts of the community and the State Party

Needs immediate safeguarding and assistance

Lists and Register


Worship of Hùng kings in Phú Thọ, Viet NamInscribed in 2012 on the Representative List of the

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

257 elements

Contributes to ensuring visibility and awareness of the significance of the ICH and dialogue

Lists and RegisterRegister of Best Intangible Heritage Safeguarding Practices

10 elements Best reflects the principles and objectives of this ConventionImplemented withparticipatory approachBecomes a safeguarding model


Strategy for training coming generations of Fujian puppetry practitioners, China

Selected in 2012 on the Register of Best Intangible Heritage Safeguarding Practices

The UNESCO lists:Trophies or

Tools for Peace?

Culture is for sharing.

common heritage of mankind(Shared heritage)

Transnational World Heritage sitesMultinational intangible heritage elements

Struve Geodetic Arcco-nominated and managed by 10 countries: Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Republic of Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Ukraine

Transnational World HeritageThere are now 29 World

Heritage sites inscribed

and managed by more

than one countries.

The northernmost station of the Struve Geodetic Arc is located in

Fuglenes, Norway

Tartu Old Observatory, the first point of the arc, Estonia

The southmost point, Staro-Nekrassowka, Ukraine"Rudi"Republic of Moldova

Frontiers of the Roman Empire co-nominated and co-managed by 3 countries: Germany, the United Kingdom (Great Britain and North Ireland)

Transnational World HeritageThere are now 29 World

Heritage sites inscribed

and managed by more

than one countries.

Falconry, a living human heritageInscribed first in 2010 (then again in 2012)

on the Representative List, co-nominated by 13 countries:United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Morocco,

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Syrian Arab Republic

Multinational Intangible Heritage

There are now only

15 co-nominated

intangible heritage

elements.

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