Mediterranean Living Heritage(MedLiHer)

Implementing the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syria

Paris, 25 and 26 May 2009

Fernando BrugmanUNESCO

Intangible Cultural Heritage Section

The ICH Convention

Vietnamese Court Music Nha Nhac

• 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

The Cultural Space of Sosso-Bala in Nyagassola, Guinea

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

• 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

DomainsDomains

The Traditional Music of Morin KhuurMongolia

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

• Take necessary measures to ensure safeguarding (= ensure the viability of ICH)

• Identify and define elements of intangible heritage, with participation of communities, groups and NGO’s

The Garifuna Language, Dance and Music,

Nicaragua

Role of States PartiesRole of States Parties

National Safeguarding MeasuresNational 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

MechanismMechanism of the Convention 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

• 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

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

The Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah

Epic, Egypt

• 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

Intergovernmental CommitteeIntergovernmental Committee

The Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz Epic Tellers Kyrgyzstan

• 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

Functions of the CommitteeFunctions of the Committee

The Pansori Epic ChantRepublic of Korea

• 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

The Fund: International AssistanceThe Fund: International Assistance

Congos of Villa Mella Dominican Republic

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

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

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

Urgent Safeguarding List Representative List

• 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

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

CriteriaCriteria

Adopted by the General Assembly at its second session (June 2008)

CriteriaList

UL RL

U.1R.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

Two Lists: Nomination procedure

2. Preparation/Submission

Community involvement in the preparation of their nomination Multi-national nominations

3. Examination/Recommendation

Urgent Safeguarding List Representative List

Deadline: 1 September

• Conformity with the inscription criteria

• The viability of the element and the feasibility and sufficiency of the safeguarding plan.

• The risk of its disappearing

1. Preparatory Assistance

4. Evaluation/Decision

No resubmision: 4 years

• Subsidiary body

• Conformity with the inscription criteria

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

If not inscribed

Two Lists For inscription in 2009

Urgent Safeguarding List

Deadline for the submission 15 Mar 2009

Number of files received 15

Deadline for the submission 30 Sep 2008

Number of files received 111

Representative List

Number of States submitting files 35

Number of multinational files 4

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.

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

Timeframe

1 Oct 2008 (2009)1 Sep 2009 (2010)1 Sep 2010 (2011)

USL

Preparatory

Assistance

1 Mar 2009 (2009)1 Mar 2010 (2010)1 Mar 2011 (2011)

September 2009 September 2010September 2011

Deadline for

submission

Decisions to

be taken

1 Oct 2008 (2009)1 Oct 2008 (2010)1 Sep 2009 (2011)

30 Sep 2008 31 Aug 200931 Aug 2010

15 Mar 2009 (2009)31 Mar 2009 (2010)31 Mar 2010 (2011)

Article 18 RL

Sep 2009Sep 2010 Sep 2011

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

International Assistance Purposes and BudgetInternational 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)

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

International AssistanceDeadlines

Type of assistance

Emergency Assistance

DL of submission

At any timeAny amount

Preparatory Assistance 1 September< 25,000USD

Other Assistance

1 May>= 25,000USD

Any time< 25,000USA

Budget

• 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.

Accreditation of NGOs

• 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.

Accreditation of NGO Current Situation

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

UNESCO

INTANGIBLE HERITAGE SECTION

1, rue Miollis75732 Paris Cedex 15

France

Tel: 00 33 (0) 1456 84168 Fax: 00 33 (0) 1456 85752f.brugman@unesco.org

www.unesco.org/culture/ich