Decision of the Intergovernmental Committee: 20.COM 6.A.7

The Committee,

  1. Having examined document LHE/25/20.COM/6.a,
  2. Recalling Chapter V of the Operational Directives and its Decisions COM 8.1, 12.COM 8.c.1, and 16.COM 7.a.7,
  3. Expresses its appreciation to Botswana for submitting, on time, its third report on the status of the element ‘Earthenware pottery-making skills in Botswana’s Kgatleng District’, inscribed in 2012 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
  4. Takes note of the continued efforts of Botswana to safeguard the element, particularly through the strengthening of stakeholder networks, a participatory approach involving master potters and educational institutions in structured apprenticeship and youth training as well as its commitment to inclusive, community-led safeguarding and interdistrict cooperation;
  5. Invites the State Party to continue building the capacity of key stakeholders and to uphold participatory safeguarding, and encourages assessment of practice conditions, improved access to natural resources, and monitoring of bearers’ living conditions and migration factors, along with regular evaluation of safeguarding outcomes;
  6. Also encourages the State Party to support research and documentation on the element, with a focus on knowledge and belief systems, including evolving taboos and new religious dynamics, to ensure the continued viability of the element;
  7. Also invites the State Party to pursue sufficient and diversified fundraising to ensure that practitioners benefit directly from heritage-based economic activities, and to support the creation of a National Potters’ Network.

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