The Committee

1. Takes note that Morocco has nominated Moroccan Caftan: art, traditions and skills (No. 02077) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

The caftan is a long tunic worn by people of all genders and ages for special occasions and celebrations. It comes in different styles and fabrics and can be worn with or without a decorative belt. Emanating from diverse cultural backgrounds, the traditional garment is known for its central opening, buttons and rich, hand-made decorations, often including embroidery, beads and sequins. The caftan is worn during important social and religious events such as weddings, baptisms, coming-of-age rituals and festivals.

2. Considers that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

R.1:   The production of the caftan involves skilled craftspeople, including the weavers who produce the fabrics (brocade, velvet and silk), the tailors who shape the garment, and the artisans who create the buttons, braids and embroidery. The related knowledge and skills are passed down informally, both within families and through apprenticeships taking place in workshops, as well as through formal education in training centres and fashion schools. A meaningful element of community life and shared heritage, the caftan is a marker of social status and belonging. It is also a source of income for the many people involved in its production and sale.

R.2:   The submitting State Party consistently identifies how the element contributes to sustainable development and how its inscription would ensure the visibility and awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage. While people of different genders and ages wear the caftan, there is a division of the activities performed by men and women in its production, and all producers benefit from the income generated by its sale. Thus, gender equality, social cohesion, and inclusive economic development are promoted by the sociocultural practices associated with the caftan. The inscription of this element would strengthen its importance at the local level for artisans, designers and individuals who continue to wear, request and collect it. At the international level, festivals and fashion shows will promote its appreciation around the world.

R.3:   The nomination file demonstrates a rich array of safeguarding efforts carried out by both communities and public authorities, and the safeguarding plan is based on a continuum of existing measures. These measures are robust and multi-layered, combining safeguarding with innovation and economic development. Communities play a central role both as practitioners and users, actively contributing to sustaining and transmitting the tradition. Their involvement in cooperatives, training, exhibitions and consultations ensures culturally grounded and inclusive safeguarding. This approach is strengthened by the collaboration with government bodies, museums and educational institutions.

R.4:   The request for nomination came from communities, and the nomination process involved the government, researchers with expertise in intangible cultural heritage, and artisans. A number of meetings and workshops were organized in several cities, which were followed by a national workshop in 2023. All these activities were carried out with the participation of the communities concerned. Bearers actively discussed the nomination and voiced their enthusiastic support for its inscription, which is reflected in around thirty diverse testimonials in the nomination video and in a wide range of written consent forms.

R.5:   The element was included in the Inventory and Documentation of Moroccan Cultural Heritage in 2014. This inventory is managed by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage in the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication. It is updated each time a new item is recorded in the inventory database or an existing item has been updated or modified. The inventory and updating processes require the expression of will and contribution of the bearers of the element or the associations involved in its safeguarding.

3. Decides to inscribe Moroccan Caftan: art, traditions and skills on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
4. Considers that the nominations are prepared and completed to best carry the aspirations and voices of communities, groups and individuals concerned for the safeguarding of their living heritage, and takes note that elements of intangible cultural heritage are spread amongst communities in the region and beyond.