The eyes of the global living heritage community are fixed on Rabat, which will host the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, from November 28 to December 3.
After two successive sessions (2020 and 2021) held online, due to Covid-19, the speakers chose the capital of the Kingdom, known for the richness and density of its centuries-old cultural and civilizational legacy, to organize there, this time in face-to-face mode, the most important international event dedicated to the intangible heritage of Humanity.
This annual meeting, which will be attended by representatives of States Parties, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions and other stakeholders from around the world, will be chaired by Morocco, in the person of Samir Addahre, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco with UNESCO.
During this 17th session, the Committee, composed of 24 representatives elected from among the 180 States parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, will have its work cut out for it.
The agenda provides, in fact, the examination of 24 reports on an element inscribed on the List of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding and 42 reports from European States Parties on the implementation of the Convention of 2003 and on the current state of the elements inscribed on the Representative List.
The Committee will also work on four nominations for the Urgent Safeguarding List, 46 nominations for the Representative List, 5 proposals for the Register of Good Practices and a request for international assistance.
The choice of Morocco to host this global high mass is not accidental. As UNESCO points out, the Kingdom “played an active role in the adoption of the 2003 Convention, even before its ratification, since it actively participated in the drafting of the Convention before its approval.”
In addition, Morocco has twelve elements registered on the lists of the 2003 Convention, recalls the UN organization, specifying that among these 12 elements, the Kingdom is part of three multinational files which include a high number of countries in the region: “Date palm: knowledge, skills, traditions and practices”, “Arabic calligraphy: knowledge, skills and practices” and “Knowledge, skills and practices relating to the production and consumption of couscous”.
In addition to Morocco, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO is made up of Germany, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, the Coast of Ivory, Ethiopia, India, Malaysia, Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechia and Vietnam.
The Committee is responsible in particular for promoting the objectives of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, advising on best practices and making recommendations on measures to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. It also studies applications for inclusion on the UNESCO lists, as well as program or project proposals.
The Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a UNESCO treaty adopted by the General Conference of the UN organization on October 17, 2003 and entered into force in 2006.
Its objectives are to ensure the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned, and raising awareness at local, national and international levels of the importance of intangible cultural heritage and its mutual appreciation and to international cooperation and assistance in this matter.
2024-09-29 22:05:21