Safeguarding our living heritage

2003 Convention The Lists

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Girls from Muraka Primary School, Kakamega County, reciting a poem on traditional foods during a foodways fair.

© Patrick Maundu, Kenya, 2012

Girls from Muraka Primary School, Kakamega County, reciting a poem on traditional foods during a foodways fair.

News

UNESCO Cairo strengthens collaboration for the Safeguarding of Living Heritage in Sudan

20 September 2023 – Sudan,

Eleventh C2C coordination meeting

Category 2 Centres explore future avenues for collaboration

14 September 2023 – Bulgaria,

Co-organized by the UNESCO Living Heritage Entity and the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern

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Stamp 20th anniversary Living Heritage

Special edition stamp to honor the Living Heritage

8 September 2023

As 2023 marks the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention, the special edition stamp ‘20 years… Let’s celebrate living heritage’ will

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The Seoul Vision: outlining the future of safeguarding living heritage

The Seoul Vision: outlining the future of safeguarding living heritage

31 August 2023 – Republic of Korea,

During the two-day Global Meeting held in Seoul, on 25 and 26 July 2023, for the 20th anniversary of the Convention for the

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New publication on community inventorying Living Heritage in Egypt

New publication on community inventorying Living Heritage in Egypt

22 August 2023 – Egypt,

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary celebration in Egypt organized in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the

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Schedule of Statutory Meetings in 2023

Toolkit for requesting International Assistance

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Statutory meeting and activities

18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee
4/12/2023 - 9/12/2023
Kasane (Botswana)

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9th session of the General Assembly
5/07/2022 - 07/07/2022
Paris (France)

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Reflection on a broader implementation of Article 18 of the 2003 Convention

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General Assemblies 9.GA (2022) 8.GA (2020) 7.GA (2018) 6.GA (2016) 5.GA (2014) 4.GA (2012) 3.GA (2010) 2.GA (2008) 1.EXT.GA 1.GA (2006)

We are Living Heritage

20th anniversary 2003-2023

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Events

18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee

04/12/2023 - 09/12/2023
Kasane (Botswana)

Naples Conference on Cultural Heritage in the 21st century

27/11/2023 - 29/11/2023
Naples (Italy)

Third meeting of the 18.COM Bureau

02/10/2023 - 02/10/2023
UNESCO Headquarters (France)

Meeting of experts (category VI) on Economic dimensions of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding

27/09/2023 - 28/09/2023
UNESCO Headquarters (France)

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Themes & programmes

Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous peoples hold a rich diversity of living heritage, including practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development

The notion of ‘sustainability’ in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development echoes the concept of ‘living heritage’ in the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

>Priority Africa

Priority Africa

Africa’s rich living heritage plays a fundamental role in building a strong cultural identity and shared values across the region.

Education

Education plays a key role in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Emergency situations

Emergency situations

Living heritage throughout the world is increasingly affected by emergencies, including conflicts and disasters caused by natural and human-induced hazards.

Capacity Building

Capacity Building

The Programme was put in place in 2009 to support countries in safeguarding their intangible cultural heritage and harness its potential for sustainable development, while promoting broad public knowledge and support for the Convention.

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