NGOs have an important role to play in the implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. At the national level, they can operate between communities and governments and should be involved in identifying and defining intangible cultural heritage and in other appropriate safeguarding measures. At the international level, NGOs can have advisory functions, once they are accredited by the Committee, in particular to make recommendations to the Committee on nomination files for the Urgent Safeguarding List and proposals of best safeguarding practices.

Organized by the Estonian Folk Culture Development and Training Centre and the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO in close cooperation with UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Section, this capacity-building workshop provided up-to-date information on the Convention to NGOs and governmental counterparts in order to strengthen their capacities to contribute to its implementation and to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.

The participating countries were Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Serbia, in addition to trainers and UNESCO representatives. It has been financially supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture and UNESCO.

Documents

• Agenda: English
• Participants: English
• Intangible cultural heritage keywords - Cécile Duvelle: English: Slideshow - Handout
• The role of NGOs in safeguarding ICH at national level as foreseen in the Convention and cooperation with other players - Harriet Deacon: English: Handout - Slideshow
• The activities of NGOs in the field of ICH and cooperation with governmental counterparts and/or communities: the experience of Norway - Eivind Falk: English
• The activities of NGOs in the field of ICH and cooperation with governmental counterparts and/or communities: the experience of Belgium - Jorijn Neyrinck: English
• Safeguarding ICH: key safeguarding measures - Wim van Zanten: English

Contact: Ms.Margit Siim
Webpage dedicated to the meeting on the website of the Estonian Folk Culture Development and Training Center: http://www.rahvakultuur.ee/?s=997