As a follow-up to the sub-regional meeting in the Pacific on the 2003 Convention (Nadi, Fiji, December 2007), UNESCO is organizing a series of national consultation meetings to assist Pacific Member States in the ratification and implementation of the 2003 Convention. The Tongan inter-departmental meeting is the third national consultation meeting organized in 2008, following those of Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, 18-19 March 2008) and Fiji (Suva, 21-22 May 2008).

The meeting is aimed at providing governmental officers in different departments with information and assistance that might contribute to the ratification and implementation of the 2003 Convention. Legislation, programmes and activities related to the safeguarding of Tonga’s intangible heritage will be shared among the participants.

The meeting will be organized immediately after the Second Pacific meeting on the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is also held in Tonga from 2 to 4 December 2008, and will be attended by representatives from most of the Pacific States.

Contact in Apia office: E. Waterman, UNESCO Apia