ANNEX: Operational directives for the accreditation of non-governmental organizations

Criteria for accreditation

1.

Non-governmental organizations shall have proven competence, expertise and experience in safeguarding (as defined in Article 2.3 of the Convention) intangible cultural heritage belonging to one or more specific domains such as specified, inter alia, in Article 2.2.

2.

Non-governmental organizations shall also:

a.    have a local, national, regional or international nature, as appropriate;
b.    have objectives that are in conformity with the spirit of the Convention and, preferably, statutes or bylaws that conform with those objectives
c.    cooperate in a spirit of mutual respect with communities, groups, and, where appropriate, individuals that create, maintain and transmit intangible cultural heritage;
d.    possess operational capacities, including:

       i.      a regular active membership, which forms a community linked by the desire to pursue the objectives for which it
               was established
       ii.     an established domicile and a recognized legal personality as compatible with domestic law;
       iii.    having existed and having carried out appropriate activities for at least four years when being considered for
              accreditation;

Modalities and review of accreditation

3.

The Committee asks the Secretariat to receive requests from non-governmental organizations and submit recommendations to it with regard to accrediting them and with regard to maintaining or terminating relations with them.

4.

The Committee submits its recommendations to the General Assembly for decision, in conformity with Article 9 of the Convention. In receiving and reviewing such requests, the Committee shall pay due attention to the principle of equitable geographical representation based on information provided to it by the Secretariat. Accredited non-governmental organizations should abide by applicable domestic and international legal and ethical standards.

5.

The Committee reviews the contribution and the commitment of the advisory organization, and its relations with it, every four years following accreditation, taking into account the perspective of the non-governmental organization concerned.

6.

Termination of relations may be decided at the time of the review if the Committee deems it necessary. If circumstances require, relations may be suspended with the organization concerned until a decision regarding termination of these relations is taken. 

Advisory functions

7.

Accredited non-governmental organizations may be invited by the Committee to provide it, inter alia, with reports of examinations as a reference for the Committee  to evaluate:

a.    nominations for the Urgent Safeguarding List;
b.    the programmes, projects and activities mentioned in Article 18 of the Convention;
c.    requests for international assistance;
d.    the effects of safeguarding plans for elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List.

Procedure for accreditation

8.

A non-governmental organization requesting accreditation to act in an advisory capacity to the Committee shall submit to the Secretariat the following information:

a.    a description of the organization, including its full official name;
b.    its main objectives;
c.    its full address;
d.    its date of founding or approximate duration of its existence;
e.    the name of the country or countries in which it is active;
f.     documentation showing that it possesses operational capacities, including proof of:

       i.      a regular active membership, which forms a community linked by the desire to pursue the objectives for which it
               was established
       ii.     an established domicile and a recognized legal personality as compatible with domestic law;
       iii.    having existed and having carried out appropriate activities for at least four years when being considered for
               accreditation;

g.    its activities in the field of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage;
h.    a description of its experiences cooperating with local communities, groups and intangible cultural heritage
       practitioners.

9.

Requests for accreditation should be sent to the Secretariat at least three months before an ordinary session of the Committee, preferably by e-mail to: ***@unesco.org, or by postal mail to:

UNESCO Section of Intangible Cultural Heritage
NGOs
1, rue Miollis
75732 Paris cedex 15
France
Tel.: +33 (0)1 4568………..

10.

The Secretariat shall register the proposals and keep up to date a list of non-governmental organizations accredited to the Committee.