The deadline of 31 March is fast approaching for submitting nominations to the Lists of the 2003 Convention, proposals to the Register for Good Safeguarding Practices and Requests for International Assistance for examination by the Intergovernmental Committee in November/December 2021.
As has been the case for previous cycles and in line with the Committee’s decisions, the Secretariat will process approximately 50 files for examination in 2021 by applying paragraph 34 of the Operational Directives, while ensuring the treatment of at least one file per submitting State for the 2020-2021 period.
The Secretariat is aware that, given the exceptional circumstances related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many submitting States are being impacted and are not able to finalize their nomination files as they would like to.
Consequently, the Secretariat intends to exercise leniency in treating the nominations under the 2021 cycle as follows:
- Nominations, including all required supporting documents/video/photos, should still be submitted by 6 p.m (Paris time) on 31 March 2020 using the forms for the 2021 cycle available online.
- Given the particular situation this year, electronic submission is compulsory. In this regard, submitting States may make submissions by email to ICH.nominations@unesco.org. A short message will be generated automatically to acknowledge receipt. Hard copies may be submitted later.
- Submitting States who wish to continue to complete their files may, on an exceptional basis, do so by indicating in the form those activities which could not be completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (for example, consultations with communities, finalization workshops etc…). Submitting states have until 30 September to complement those aspects of the files which they indicated they would need to complete, as this corresponds to the completeness check deadline as stipulated in the Operational Directives (paragraph 54).
- In parallel, the Secretariat will also strive to perform the usual technical completeness check to identify any missing information before 30 June 2020 in accordance with paragraph 54 of the Operational Directives of the Convention. Once again, the submitting States concerned will be able to revise the nomination form(s) for the deadline of 30 September 2020.
Needless to say, the above-mentioned process is subject to further changes given the evolving nature of the pandemic. The Secretariat seeks understanding and patience of submitting States Parties in this regard.
Please send emails for any clarification or further information to: ICH.nominations@unesco.org.