Decision of the Intergovernmental Committee: 14.COM 5.b

The Committee,

  1. Having examined document LHE/19/14.COM/5.b,
  2. Recalling Decisions COM 5.c.1, 10.COM 10 and, 13.COM 5,
  3. Commends the Secretariat for the timely support provided to the governing bodies of the Convention in executing its key decisions and resolutions and for accompanying continuous efforts made by the international community to develop the Convention, notably through the development of the overall results framework, the ongoing reflection on the listing mechanisms, as well as for exploring and providing technical support for new thematic initiatives such as intangible cultural heritage in emergencies, education and urban contexts;

Governance of the 2003 Convention

  1. Further commends the Secretariat for ensuring the timely and efficient organization of the statutory meetings, the administration of nomination files, periodic reports, the accreditation and renewal of non-governmental organizations, as well as international assistance requests and notes with satisfaction the efforts made by the Secretariat to roll out the overall results framework for the Convention and the operationalization of the International Assistance portfolio;
  2. Takes note of the initiative ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention Research’ which allows for the creation of a rich source of information related to the Convention and its implementation at large;
  3. Welcomes the results of the survey on alternative and lighter ways of sharing intangible cultural heritage safeguarding experiences and decides to take these results into consideration in the ongoing global reflection on the listing mechanisms established under the Convention;

Operational Actions

  1. Expresses satisfaction with the effectiveness of the global capacity-building programme, which has enhanced national capacities to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, and further welcomes new developments in this regard notably through the creation of the sustainable development toolbox, the work on gender, and the establishment of the facilitators’ interregional working group;
  2. Invites the Secretariat to pursue its efforts in enhancing national capacities in Africa and Small Islands Developing States, including in the context of intangible cultural heritage and emergencies;
  3. Thanks States Parties and Category 2 Centres for hosting and conducting regional training workshops for facilitators in close collaboration with the Secretariat, to effectively strengthen and expand the regional network of facilitators and contribute to UNESCO’s strategic objectives in the field of intangible cultural heritage;
  4. Underlines the primary role education plays in strengthening the transmission of intangible cultural heritage, and also welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the funding priority ‘safeguarding and transmission of intangible cultural heritage through formal and non-formal education’, notably through the intersectoral work being undertaken both at Headquarters and in UNESCO Field Offices, as well as through the establishment of the clearinghouse for knowledge sharing, cooperation and innovation on intangible cultural heritage and education;
  5. Further notes the initiative on intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts, thanks the private sector of the People’s Republic of China for its generous contribution towards this initiative and invites the Secretariat to pursue its efforts in this regard;

Communication and Outreach

  1. Appreciates the implementation of the various outreach and communications initiatives carried out to enhance awareness about, and the visibility of the Convention, and encourages the Secretariat to continue its efforts in this regard;
  2. Further appreciates the additional development of the initiative, ‘Dive into Intangible Cultural Heritage’, and thanks the Government of Netherlands for its generous contribution to this initiative;

Voluntary contribution

  1. Expresses concern regarding the continued decline in voluntary contributions for the implementation of the two funding priorities of the Convention approved for the period 2018–2021 and calls on States Parties to provide additional resources to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund to support the financial sustainability and operationalization of the projects.

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