ICH International heritage beyond borders safeguarding through international

ICH International heritage beyond borders: safeguarding through international cooperation Cécile Duvelle Secretary, Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Chief, Intangible Cultural Heritage Section UNESCO Intangible heritage beyond borders: safeguarding through international cooperation Bangkok, Thailand – 20 and 21 July 2010

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: • Adopted in 2003 • Entered into force in 2006 • Became fully operational in 2008 with the adoption of its Operational Directives International cooperation in the Convention ICH Cooperating to safeguard intangible cultural heritage

127 States Parties have ratified the Convention, from most parts of the world International cooperation in the Convention ICH Cooperating to safeguard intangible cultural heritage

The Convention defines intangible cultural heritage as: ‘the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills (…) that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage’ International cooperation in the Convention ICH Defining intangible cultural heritage

The Convention also stresses that ICH: • is transmitted from generation to generation • is continuously evolving • provides communities and groups with a sense of identity and continuity • for the purposes of the Convention, must be consistent with international human rights and principle of mutual respect International cooperation in the Convention ICH Defining intangible cultural heritage

Oral traditions and expressions Performing arts The Hudhud Chants of the Ifugao (Philippines) The Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo of Bahia (Brazil) International cooperation in the Convention ICH Defining intangible cultural heritage

Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe The Andean Cosmovision of the Kallawaya (Bolivia) International cooperation in the Convention ICH Defining intangible cultural heritage

Social practices, rituals and festive events ICH Defining intangible cultural heritage Traditional craftsmanship The Indonesian Kris (Indonesia) The Carnival of Binche (Belgium) International cooperation in the Convention

• To safeguard the intangible heritage of humanity • To ensure respect for it • To raise awareness of the importance of the ICH and ensure mutual appreciation thereof • To provide for international cooperation and assistance International cooperation in the Convention ICH Objectives of the Convention

ICH Obligations of States Parties at the national level States Parties’ obligations: • To identify and safeguard the ICH on their territory, in cooperation with communities • To elaborate one or more inventories and regularly update them • To integrate safeguarding into planning processes • To submit periodic reports on their efforts to the Committee International cooperation in the Convention

ICH Opportunities at the international level States Parties may nominate elements of the ICH on their territories for inscription: • On the Urgent Safeguarding List • On the Representative List • Multi-national nominations are encouraged to be submitted when an element is found on the territory of more than one State Party International cooperation in the Convention

ICH Opportunities at the international level States Parties may also: • propose national, sub-regional and regional programmes, projects and activities that best reflect the principles and objectives of the Convention for inscription on the Register of Best Practices International cooperation in the Convention

• States Parties may benefit from international financial assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund • When evaluating international assistance requests, the Committee may consider whether they imply cooperation at the bilateral, regional or international levels International cooperation in the Convention ICH Opportunities at the international level

ICH Communities: at the heart of the Convention • Communities, groups and individuals enact, transform and transmit ICH • Only they can decide what is their heritage • It is borne by them, and exists only among them • Geographical location or distribution of intangible heritage is thus always about the geographical location of its practitioners Intangible heritage beyond borders

ICH Shared heritage: challenge and opportunity Countless expressions of intangible heritage are shared beyond borders, because: • • Borders distinguish States, not communities Voluntary or forced migrations Nomadic communities Constant borrowing and sharing of ICH among communities Intangible heritage beyond borders

• Given that intangible heritage often straddles borders, how can it be an opportunity for international cooperation, understanding and mutual respect? • How can we reduce the possibility that intangible heritage will be the subject of competition, misunderstandings or discord among neighbours? Intangible heritage beyond borders ICH Shared heritage: challenge and opportunity

• How to encourage States not yet party to the Convention to ratify it? ICH Shared heritage: challenge and opportunity • How could the experiences of neighbouring States that have already ratified be useful in supporting this process? Intangible heritage beyond borders

ICH Shared heritage: challenge and opportunity • How to ensure that due attention is paid to information provided by communities about shared heritage? • How could the question of shared heritage best be addressed in inventorying? • How to facilitate the sharing of information on inventory-making on a regional and subregional levels? Intangible heritage beyond borders

• How could States be encouraged to cooperate concerning shared heritage? • How to ensure that considerations relating to antiquity, origin or authenticity are not introduced when identifying intangible heritage? Intangible heritage beyond borders ICH Shared heritage: challenge and opportunity

• What incentives might facilitate multinational nomination files or proposals? • How can category 2 centres in Asia and the Pacific region facilitate regional cooperation on shared intangible heritage? Intangible heritage beyond borders ICH Shared heritage: challenge and opportunity

ICH Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO 1, rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France Cécile Duvelle: c. duvelle@unesco. org www. unesco. org/culture/ich Photographic Credits: The Hudhud Chants of the Ifugao © Renato S. Rastrollo / NCCA-ICH /UNESCO; The Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo of Bahia © Luiz Santoz / UNESCO; The Andean Cosmovision of the Kallawaya © Vice Ministerio de Cultura; The Indonesian Kris © Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia