The Convention provides in Article 29 that States Parties shall submit to the Committee reports on the legislative, regulatory and other measures taken for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in their territories. The Committee examines those reports, in accordance with Article 7 (f), and summarizes them for the General Assembly.
Working documents of the Committee on periodic reporting
The Secretariat has developed a dedicated webpage which includes references to the reports already examined by the Committee, their summaries as well as future deadlines for reports on the status of elements inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Reporting on the implementation of the Convention and on the status of elements inscribed on the Representative List
The calendar for the first regional cycle of reporting on the implementation of the Convention and on elements inscribed on the Representative List is presented on the web page for submissions and deadlines.
Periodic reporting allows States Parties to assess their implementation of the Convention, evaluate their capacities for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, report on their inventories of intangible cultural heritage and update the status of elements inscribed on the Representative List. They are also one of the Convention’s key mechanisms for international cooperation, allowing States and communities to benefit from the experience gained in other States Parties and to exchange information on effective safeguarding measures and strategies.
Discover the first cycle of the reformed periodic reporting exercise
Periodic reporting under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention: the Arab States region
Country focal points from the Arab States share their experience on the first reformed cycle of periodic reporting under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Secretariat organized tailored capacity-building and peer-to-peer learning activities to support the implementation of the periodic reporting exercise in the region, in collaboration with the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in the United Arab Emirates.
Periodic reporting under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention: the Europe region
Country focal points, bearers and facilitators from Europe share their experience on the first reformed cycle of periodic reporting under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The online training of country focal points for periodic reporting in Europe was organized by UNESCO in partnership with the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO.
Periodic reporting under UNESCO’s 2003 Convention: the Latin America and the Caribbean region
Country focal points from Latin America and the Caribbean share their experience on the first reformed cycle of periodic reporting under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The online training of country focal points for periodic reporting in Latin America and the Caribbean was organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Latin America (CRESPIAL).
Reporting on elements inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List
Reports on each element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List are to be submitted on 15 December of the fourth year following the year of inscription, and every fourth year thereafter
When elements are inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, the submitting State Party commits itself to take safeguarding measures aimed at strengthening the viability of the heritage concerned. Four years after inscription, the State Party reports to the Committee on the current situation of the element, the effectiveness of the safeguarding measures it has implemented, and the challenges it has encountered, allowing the Committee, State Party and community concerned to monitor whether the inscription is achieving its goal of focusing attention and resources on heritage at risk so that it can continue to be practised and transmitted.