42 C Job: 202304122 General Conference 42 C/63 8 November 2023 Original: English Item 4.22 of the agenda A PROCLAMATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OUTLINE Source: 217 EX/Decision 43. Background: This item has been included in the provisional agenda of the 42nd session of the General Conference, following the decision of the Executive Board at its 217th session (217 EX/Decision 43). Purpose: The document presents a proposal to proclaim 17 October International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, following the endorsement by the Executive Board at its 212th session. The corresponding explanatory note is contained in the document. Decision required: paragraph 16. 42nd session, Paris 202342 C/63 Background 1. Intangible cultural heritage constitutes an important factor in promoting, protecting and maintaining cultural diversity in the face of numerous challenges including growing globalization. It refers to the practices, representations, expression as well as the knowledge, know-how and skills transmitted from generation to generation within communities, created and transformed continuously by them, recognized as a part of their cultural heritage and depending on the environment and interactions with history and nature. 2. Intangible cultural heritage provides communities with a sense of identity. Its understanding contributes to intercultural dialogue, ensures mutual respect and encourages social cohesion. It has great potential and constitutes cultural capital that may be used as an important driver for the development and cooperation between communities and nations. With expanding globalization intangible cultural heritage has great value and mission in protecting our diversity and cultural richness. 3. UNESCO is the only specialized agency within the United Nations system with a specific mandate in the field of culture. This Organization works to safeguard cultural heritage and promote cultural diversity as a force of dialogue and development. It assists Member States in the elaboration and implementation of measures for an effective safeguarding of their cultural heritage and encourages international cooperation. Among those measures, the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was a major step. 4. The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is one of the most powerful and legally binding normative instruments of UNESCO in the fields of culture and cultural heritage. Adopted in 2003, this Convention is designed to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage, as well as raise awareness of its importance. The Convention binds its States Parties to put in place measures at national level in order to ensure the viability of their intangible cultural heritage and encourages regional and international cooperation in the implementation of this Convention. 5. Discussions regarding protection of the intangible cultural heritage among UNESCO Member States began in the 1970s. On this basis UNESCO adopted a Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore in 1989 and commenced in 1993, the Living Human Treasures programme followed by the programme on Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 1998. All those actions led to the decision of the General Conference of UNESCO in 2001 to elaborate the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was finally adopted on 17 October 2003 and came into force on 20 April 2006. As of June 2023, the 2003 Convention counts 181 States Parties. 6. The 2003 Convention has established an Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which plays a fundamental role in the protection of the intangible cultural heritage. The core functions of the Committee are to promote the objectives of the Convention, provide guidance on best practices and make recommendations on measures for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. The Committee also examines requests submitted by States Parties for the inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as well as proposals for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. The Committee is also in charge of granting international assistance from the ICH Fund. To date, this Committee has inscribed on the List 676 elements corresponding to five regions and 140 countries. 7. UNESCO and its legal system including 2003 Convention mechanisms continue to play an important role in the safeguarding of the world’s intangible cultural or living heritage. A celebration of the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will provide occasion to highlight the core role of the Organization and raise global awareness in this field.42 C/63 – page 2 8. This day could also be a driver of further discussion on how to develop mechanisms of protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage between many different stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, the private sector and the communities, groups and individuals concerned. This could also enhance dialogue between UNESCO and its Member States and contribute to the better and more efficient implementation of Organization’s programmes with regard to the intangible cultural heritage. 9. The International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage aims also to draw global attention for the challenges which intangible cultural heritage faces nowadays, those include problems such as conflicts, emergency situations, climate change and lack of resources. This day will help raise awareness about the vulnerability of the living heritage often related to the built environment and its tangible part and create additional capacity for safeguarding. 10. Therefore, 17 October, the day when the Convention was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO during its 32nd session, is proposed to be proclaimed the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This day will be celebrated by all stakeholders in recognition of the global value of the intangible cultural heritage. It will encourage capacity building and awareness raising actions in promotion and protection of the “living heritage”. Celebration objectives and implementation 11. The International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will emphasize the role of the intangible cultural heritage for humanity and provide everyone with the opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity through the living heritage. UNESCO and Member States could, where possible, organize a variety of events to enable exchange of best practices and knowledge regarding intangible cultural heritage. In this context, the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will also serve as a special invitation to draw attention to the value of the intangible cultural heritage transmitted from generation to generation. 12. The celebration of the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will encourage mutual understanding and cooperation between communities and societies. It will help in understanding that intangible cultural heritage is a carrier of values, peace and tolerance. This celebration should focus in particular on the young generation, serving as an educational platform of exchange of experience and knowledge regarding intangible cultural heritage and its importance to humanity. 13. Moreover, the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will provide an annual occasion for a global discussion on the challenges currently endured by the culture sector including but not limited to ICH. It will unite relevant stakeholders and underscore UNESCO’s mandate and commitment for taking a leadership role in this field. Member States and Secretariat are invited to organize events such as a series of conferences and workshops among other activities, bringing together the public and private sector, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society and youth, experts, as well as educational and research institutions, not to forget to mention the communities, groups and individuals concerned. 14. On the date of 17 October, it is proposed that the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is celebrated annually to highlight the importance of the living heritage and its significance for the humanity, the objectives of the celebration of this day include the following: (a) promote public awareness on the intangible cultural heritage and its value for the humanity, cultural diversity and national identity; (b) highlight the need of the universal mechanisms to identify and safeguard intangible cultural heritage;42 C/63 – page 3 (c) strengthen the discussion on best practices and measures to safeguard and promote intangible cultural heritage; (d) encourage international collaboration and dialogue on future strategies related to the intangible cultural heritage; (e) promote the capacity-building measures with regard to the intangible cultural heritage; (f) encourage state parties to re-commit or re-affirm their commitment to the provisions of the Convention articles; (g) encourage state parties to be intentional in planning for and including ICH in their national programming efforts; (h) encourage Member States to allocate resources for ICH and or form partnerships and collaborations with private sector; (i) raise the profile and visibility of ICH practitioners. 15. The twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the 2003 Convention lays a perfect ground to establish the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This celebration will support Member States in implementing the document and raising global awareness on the important role of the intangible cultural heritage as a part of our identity and mediator of mutual understanding. It will also emphasize UNESCO’s leading role in the field of culture. The occasion will serve as a reminder to collective and inclusive work and address new challenges with regard to the intangible cultural heritage. Proposed draft resolution 16. In light of the above, the General Conference may wish to adopt a resolution along the following lines: The General Conference, Recalling decision 217 EX/43, Having examined document 42 C/63, Acknowledging the vital role of the intangible cultural heritage to humanity and the need for its safeguarding for the future through the generations, Considering that the capacity-building and awareness-raising actions with regard to the intangible cultural heritage are crucial in addressing global challenges and promoting mutual understanding, Noting with appreciation UNESCO’s and States Parties’ commitments and actions taken within the framework of the 2003 Convention to safeguard and promote intangible cultural heritage, Also noting that in 2023, the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage celebrates its 20th anniversary, Recognizing UNESCO’s leadership role in the field of culture and the importance of 2003 Convention mechanisms in the safeguarding of the living heritage, in its understanding and in promoting international cooperation in this regard,42 C/63 – page 4 Further noting that the proclamation of an international day of the intangible cultural heritage will have no financial impact on the regular budget of the Organization, 1. Invites the Director-General to support all efforts that will lead to the proclamation of an international day of the intangible cultural heritage on 17 October of each year, as one of the days marked by UNESCO; 2. Decides to proclaim 17 October of each year International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Printed on recycled paper