Decision of the Intergovernmental Committee: 20.COM 6.A.1

The Committee,

  1. Having examined document LHE/25/20.COM/6.a,
  2. Recalling Chapter V of the Operational Directives and its Decision COM 8.a.1,
  3. Expresses its appreciation to Colombia for submitting, on time, its first report on the status of the element ‘Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and Nariño’, inscribed in 2020 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
  4. Takes note of the efforts undertaken by the State Party to safeguard the element, notably through the enhancement of its transmission via capacity-building initiatives and newly established training programmes, the improvement of working conditions for practitioners and bearers, the increased participation of both male and female practitioners (accompanied by a diversification of their roles), the advancement of research and documentation activities, the raising of public awareness regarding the element, and the strengthening of its visibility and overall viability;
  5. Further takes note of the strong community participation reported, as well as the active engagement of women in safeguarding, innovation and leadership roles, thus reinforcing the transmission of knowledge and fostering gender equality;
  6. Encourages the State Party to pursue its efforts to protect, cultivate and sustainably manage the natural resources associated with the element, to support practitioners and bearers in their commitment to sustainable practices, the preservation of biodiversity and safeguarding of their living heritage (including by improving their livelihoods and working conditions), and to sustain the engagement of various governmental and non-governmental entities in enhancing the viability of the element;
  7. Notes the planned expansion of the market, the elaboration of a sustainable tourism plan and other commercial activities to improve the economic viability of the practice, and recalls the importance of assessing the potential impact of such measures and of preventing the decontextualisation and over-commercialization of the element.

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