The Committee,

1. Having examined document LHE/25/20.COM/12 and its annex,
2. Recalling Chapter VI of the Operational Directives, Decision COM 11, the Operational Principles and Modalities for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Emergencies, as well as the Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage,
3. Further recalling the Outcome Document of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT 2025) and the Pact for the Future, which calls on States to, inter alia, ensure that culture can contribute to more effective, inclusive, equitable and sustainable development, as well as to integrate culture into their economic, social and environmental policies;
4. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the thematic initiatives on the (i) economic dimensions of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, (ii) safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and climate change, and (iii) safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts;

Economic dimensions of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage

5. Takes note of the progress made in the development of sector-specific guidance on the economic dimensions of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, and encourages the Secretariat to continue its efforts to design toolkits that can aid communities, groups and individuals in this regard, while exploring ways in particular to address ‘misappropriation’ and ‘misuse’ of living heritage in synergies with relevant UNESCO Culture Conventions and other international instruments;
6. Further encourages States Parties and relevant stakeholders to continue incorporating heritage-sensitive and rights-based approaches into the economic dimensions of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, and to enhance the exchange of good practices;

Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and climate change

7. Takes note of the progress made in integrating the principles of the Guidance note on climate action for living heritage within international frameworks, and invites the Secretariat to develop area specific studies and interventions that can contribute to a better understanding and monitoring of the climate change dimensions of living heritage safeguarding;

Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts

8. Welcomes the outcomes of the expert meeting on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts, and expresses its gratitude to the experts for their efforts and pertinent contributions;
9. Takes note of the Guidance note on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in urban contexts as included in the annex to document LHE/25/20.COM/12, and encourages the Secretariat to pursue its efforts in raising awareness and promoting the implementation of the Guidance note among a diverse range of stakeholders;

Ways forward

10. Appreciates the availability of the three guidance notes on the themes first outlined in 2021, and encourages the Secretariat to utilize them in the Convention’s programmes while deepening its engagement with other institutions and the wider UN network to strengthen the Convention’s contribution to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals;
11. Further encourages the Secretariat to continue its efforts to explore the implications of digital technologies on living heritage, and to take steps toward developing guidance on how to effectively harness digital tools for safeguarding purposes while addressing potential risks for communities;
12. Calls upon States Parties and potential partners to provide financial contributions through the modality of their choice in support of the ongoing thematic initiatives as well as the new initiative related to the implications of digital technologies on living heritage;
13. Requests the Secretariat to report on the progress made in the implementation of the thematic initiatives for examination by the Committee at its twenty-first session in 2026.