The United Nations List of Intangible Cultural Heritage has received a new member
KASANE, Botswana, KABORONE, 9 December – The 18th ordinary session of UNESCO's Inter-Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IAC) concluded in Kasane, a city in northern Botswana. The current session decided to inscribe 55 elements from 72 countries on the United Nations List of Intangible Cultural Heritage to provide international recognition and protection for these unique cultural heritages.
Of this year's 55 projects, 45 are inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including the Rotterdam Summer Carnival in the Netherlands, Atlas in Tajikistan, Traditional Knowledge and Skills for Fabric Production in Adrasas and the Zanggo Festival in Oyo State in Nigeria. In addition, six items, including traditional glassblowing in Syria and traditional knowledge, methods and practices of olive cultivation in Turkey, were inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of safeguarding. In addition, four projects, including the tradition of foster care in Haier, Belgium: a community-based model of care, and the innovative dissemination of the Swedish tradition and musical instrument-making traditions by the Nikohepaqin community, were inscribed on the Register of Good Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The session opened on 4 December and lasted several days. According to UNESCO, more than half of the items inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage this year have related knowledge and skills mainly passed on from generation to generation within the family, highlighting the vitality of intangible cultural heritage and the diversity of transmission methods.
This year, 12 nominations from sub-Saharan African countries were approved, the highest number since 2008. For the first time, five countries, including Angola, the Bahamas, Cameroon, Djibouti and Grenada, have intangible cultural heritage items inscribed on UNESCO's living heritage list. This marks significant progress in the safeguarding and transmission of intangible cultural heritage in these countries.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which aims to safeguard intangible cultural heritage represented by traditions, oral expressions, festive rituals, handicrafts, dances, etc. Currently, 730 projects from 145 countries have been inscribed on UNESCO's Living Heritage List, a testament to the cultural diversity of the world.
As a statutory body of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Inter-Commission for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO** is committed to promoting the safeguarding and transmission of intangible cultural heritage. At the heart of this work is the global preservation of intangible cultural heritage such as traditions, oral expressions, festive rituals, handicrafts, and dances, ensuring that these valuable cultural resources are preserved and passed on to future generations.
At a time when cultural diversity is increasingly valued, the protection of intangible cultural heritage is particularly important. Through UNESCO's efforts, countries have come together to contribute to the transmission of intangible cultural heritage, paving the way for sustainable cultural development. This has also made people around the world more aware that cultural diversity is the cornerstone of building a harmonious world, and its inheritance and protection are indispensable.