The Committee,

1. Having examined document LHE/25/COM/6.a,
2. Recalling Articles 7, 29 and 30 of the Convention concerning reports by States Parties and Chapter V of the Operational Directives,
3. Underlining the importance of periodic reporting on the status of elements inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, which serves as a key monitoring tool for the States Parties concerned and for the Committee to assess the viability of elements at risk,
4. Thanks the States Parties that submitted their reports on time, and urges States Parties to submit their overdue reports to allow the Committee to carry out a comprehensive and informed assessment of the current viability of the elements concerned;
5. Observes that the recommendations of the Committee provided in its previous decisions on the reports on inscribed elements were mostly considered and reflected in updated safeguarding plans, while inviting States to further improve referencing where needed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information in future reports, avoiding unnecessary repetition of content from previous cycles;
6. Commends the States Parties for the enhanced viability of the elements concerned, as demonstrated by: (a) increased engagement of youth and women in safeguarding efforts; (b) improved working conditions of bearers and practitioners; (c) growing numbers of active practitioners; (d) strengthened teaching and learning processes; and (e) reinforced and broader cross-sector collaborations among stakeholders;
7. Further commends the States Parties for the sustained attention to participatory and inclusive approaches to safeguarding, as well as for their commitment to the environmental preservation and socioeconomic development of the communities concerned, in line with the principles of sustainable development;
8. Acknowledges the potential of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding to contribute meaningfully to gender equality and gender sensitivity, bearing in mind the essential and often leading roles played by women, and encourages States Parties to strengthen their efforts to promote gender equality and inclusivity across all stages of safeguarding while fostering a broader understanding of gender roles beyond visible participation in the enactment of living heritage practices;
9. Also encourages continued efforts to mobilize resources and strengthen synergies among national, regional and international public and private funding mechanisms, while acknowledging the relevant contributions made through the International Assistance mechanism for the safeguarding of many elements, and notes that coordinated and diversified fundraising strategies are essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of safeguarding plans and measures;
10. Expresses concern that, in certain instances, the implementation of safeguarding measures has been seriously impeded or disrupted by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, recognizes the considerable challenges faced by States Parties and communities in ensuring the viability of living heritage in emergency situations, and underlines the vital importance of sustained international cooperation and support in enabling safeguarding efforts when conditions permit;
11. Recalls that the designations used in the reports submitted by the States Parties do not imply any opinion on the part of the Committee or UNESCO with regard to: (a) the legal status of any country, territory, city or area; (b) the legal status of its authorities; (c) the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries; or (d) references made to specific historical events;
12. Requests the Secretariat to take appropriate measures to ensure that the reporting States Parties are duly informed of the timeline for the submission of their next reports, in view of the move towards a single global submission system for periodic reporting, with the first deadline set on 30 June 2027;
13. Decides to submit for examination by the General Assembly at its eleventh session a summary of the reports submitted by States Parties on the current status of elements inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding examined during the present session.