The Committee,
- Having examined document ITH/18/13.COM/7.b,
- Recalling Chapter V of the Operational Directives and its Decisions 4.COM 14.06 and 9.COM 5.b.2,
- Expresses its thanks to Kenya for submitting, on time, its second report on the status of the element ‘Traditions and practices associated to the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda’, inscribed in 2009 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
- Takes note of the continued efforts undertaken by Kenya to safeguard the element, in particular by finding community-driven solutions for sustained and integral development, respecting relations between the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, nature conservation, preservation of biodiversity, and income generating initiatives;
- Notes that safeguarding activities were undertaken with the support of International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, as reported in Document ITH/16/11.COM/9.c;
- Invites the State Party to ensure the continuity of mechanisms for community consultation on the monitoring, evaluation and innovation of the safeguarding measures, and to seek the necessary measures to meet the community’s need for financial assistance;
- Encourages the State Party to pursue its commitment to safeguarding the element through the enactment of relevant legislative measures, with due respect for the customary practices of the community;
- Requests that the Secretariat inform the State Party at least nine months prior to the deadline of 15 December 2021 about the required submission of its next report on the status of this element.