The objective of the inter-departmental meeting is to bring together all Vanuatu governmental actors involved in the ratification procedure of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

As a follow-up to the first and second sub-regional meetings in the Pacific on the 2003 Convention (Fiji, December 2007 and Tonga, December 2008), UNESCO has organized a series of national consultation meetings to assist Pacific Member States in the ratification and implementation of the 2003 Convention. The Vanuatu inter-departmental meeting is the fourth national consultation meeting, following those of Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, 18-19 March 2008), Fiji (Suva, 21-22 May 2008), and Tonga (Fua’amotu, 5 December 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 Vanuatu’s intangible heritage, including Vanuatu Sand Drawings on the Representative List, were shared among the participants.

Contact in Apia office: E. Waterman, UNESCO Apia