The Committee,

1. Having examined document ITH/18/13.COM/9,
2. Recalling Article 7 of the Convention, Chapter V of the Operational Directives concerning periodic reporting and Decision 7.COM 15 concerning the guidelines for the treatment of correspondence from the public or other concerned parties with regard to nominations,
3. Further recalling the Ethical Principles for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage,
4. Takes note of the increasing number of cases that are brought to the attention of the Secretariat regarding the changing status of elements inscribed on the Lists of the Convention;
5. Recognizes the need to reflect on the follow-up of inscribed elements and on ways for concerned communities, groups and, where applicable, individuals, and other stakeholders to participate in the monitoring of inscribed elements;
6. Acknowledges the link between the follow-up of inscribed elements and the ongoing reflection on the nature and purposes of the Lists of the Convention, recalls its Decision 12.COM 14 to convene an open-ended intergovernmental working group on these topics and welcomes the generous voluntary supplementary contribution of the Government of Japan to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund to organize a preliminary meeting of experts and support the convening of the above-mentioned open-ended intergovernmental working group;
7. Decides to include a reflection on the establishment of a follow-up mechanism for inscribed elements in the mandate of the above-mentioned preliminary meeting of experts and the open-ended intergovernmental working group.