The Committee

1. Takes note that the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen have nominated Henna: rituals, aesthetic and social practices (No. 02116) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

Henna is a deciduous tree that grows in hot regions. Perceived as sacred by communities in Northern Africa and the Middle East, its leaves are harvested twice a year, left to dry, then ground and processed to create a paste. The specific ingredients and techniques used to prepare the paste vary according to the intended use and country. Henna paste is commonly used by women for adornment, such as to dye hair and fingertips or to decorate hands and feet. A symbol of joy, it is used in everyday life and on festive occasions such as births and weddings. Henna branches, leaves and paste are also used in crafts and for medicinal purposes, including the treatment of certain skin diseases. Its use is frequently accompanied by oral expressions such as chants, songs, proverbs and poems, and is linked to centuries-old societal rules and traditions. This includes knowledge related to the cultivation and care of the henna tree and the preparation and application of the paste. Families and communities transmit the traditions through observation and hands-on practice. Today, organizations, beauty centres, universities and the media also contribute to their transmission. A key component of traditional events, henna rituals enhance social bonds and promote communication.

2. Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.1:   The element of henna is embodied through a tapestry of arts, rituals, ceremonies, and social practices within all the submitting States. Bearers and practitioners of the element comprise communities, groups and individuals from both genders and of different age groups, backgrounds and social classes. The knowledge and skills related to the element are transmitted from older to younger generations through observation, imitation, simulation and hands-on practice. This transmission also occurs formally in schools, beauty centres, organizations and the media. Henna rituals have several social functions and cultural meanings. They serve as a social communication tool during traditional events, mark important life events, and are inherently linked to societal rules and traditions. The henna tree is considered a blessed tree and is associated with purity, fertility, health and beauty. Henna paste is also given as a gift on many special occasions, including weddings, pilgrimages, births and visits to religious shrines.

R.2:   The nomination file explains how henna contributes to various aspects of sustainable development. Henna is known for its therapeutic properties in many societies, and is used to treat sores, wounds and ailments. Henna is commonly used to moisturize the body and treat sunstroke in participating countries where a hot climate prevails. The element contributes to enhancing social cohesion in various communities of the submitting States. The use of henna at weddings, holidays and other social occasions is also a means of interacting with family and friends in a positive atmosphere that promotes peace and social cohesion. The cultivation of henna trees provides a source of income for farmers, merchants, and people interested in its medicinal properties. In addition, the henna has contributed to providing job opportunities for large segments of society in all submitting States. Finally, henna activities have contributed to the effective use and sustainability of many local environmental resources. The cultivation of henna trees relies on natural environmental resources, and chemicals are not used in the production of henna cosmetics, beauty products and certain alternative treatments. Bearers, especially farmers and their families, also ensure that henna products are stored in traditional, environmentally friendly containers, particularly those made of palm fronds. The cultivation of henna trees results in minimal waste in the submitting States.

R.3:   Communities, groups and individuals from the submitting States contributed to the planning and implementation of the safeguarding measures through various meetings and workshops that were organized during the nomination process. The practitioners and bearers arranged gatherings to discuss obstacles to the practice of the element and ways to overcome them. Discussions were held with farmers, herb merchants, beauticians, traditional healers, artisans, NGOs, and other bearers and practitioners of the element. In addition to the face-to-face meetings, several civil society organizations in the participating countries launched discussions and dialogues through social media platforms that allowed for effective communication between bearers of the element. Each participating country established a working group comprising representatives of the practitioners and bearers of the element, including different ages and genders. The goals of these working groups were to ensure the broad and effective participation of communities, groups and individuals concerned, and to ensure the implementation of the proposed safeguarding measures, which include transmission, research and documentation, preservation and protection, and promotion.

R.5:   Information regarding the inventories in each of the submitting States was provided in the nomination file. Further information about the organizations that maintain and update the inventories in the respective countries was also provided. Information about the inventorying process is also provided in the periodic reports of the submitting States.

3. Further considers that, from the information included in the file and the information provided by the submitting States through the dialogue process, the nomination satisfies the following criterion for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.4:   During the Moussem of Tan-Tan in Morocco held in June 2019, several civil society organizations expressed their desire to inscribe the henna element on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The idea was widely welcomed by the countries participating in the festival’s activities. A coordinator was appointed from each country to prepare the nomination file. Each State formed a team comprising experts, researchers, field collectors, representatives of relevant civil society organizations and individual practitioners in each respective country. The fieldwork team in each country communicated with local practitioners of the element and took charge of preparing for the nomination, including through inventorying activities and by gathering data, videos, photos and consent letters. In all countries participating in the nomination, consultations and meetings were held with women specializing in henna engravings, traditional healers, artisans and patrons of beauty centres, among others. They identified current safeguarding measures and proposed new ones. The submitting States met through their representatives in September in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to compile the collected information, identify common practices and emphasize the importance of showcasing the diversity in practices that each country wished to highlight. There was also cooperation at the international level between the countries participating in preparing the nomination file through the exchange of experiences and challenges encountered by each country’s team and ways of overcoming these obstacles. The process of preparing the file culminated in a draft statement issued in September 2022. In each submitting State, this statement was presented to the communities, groups and individuals concerned through their civil society organization representatives, with the aim of allowing them to submit final proposals. All feedback was taken into account when publishing the final draft. While the process of community involvement was sufficiently explained in the form, some submitting States provided only a handful of letters of consent from communities, and the nomination could have benefited from a more representative set of letters from the communities concerned.

4. Decides to inscribe Henna: rituals, aesthetic and social practices on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
5. Encourages the States Parties to pay attention to the potential risk of decontextualization and over-commercialization of the element, and to ensure that any unintended consequences are monitored and well-managed following the inscription of the element;
6. Reminds the States Parties of the importance of ensuring the broad participation of the communities concerned in all phases of the nomination process, including identifying and implementing the proposed safeguarding measures.