Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003
Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003
Summary
The Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO in 2003. This Convention is a part of the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972 in order to promote the identification, protection and safeguarding of natural cultural heritage.
This Convention also basis on other international documents, such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights of 1948, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, as well as the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of 2001.
The Convention highlights the need to distinguish between intangible heritage and natural and material heritage. By the intangible cultural heritage it is understood:
(..) the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills � as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith � that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.
Central themes of the Convention are the safeguarding, respect and awareness rising towards intangible cultural heritage. This heritage is manifested in oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; performing arts; social practices, rituals and festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe and traditional craftsmanship.
To protect and safeguard cultural heritage the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was established. At national level, the Convention also establishes responsibilities and obligations for the State Members towards this document.
Summary
The Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO in 2003. This Convention is a part of the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage which was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972 in order to promote the identification, protection and safeguarding of natural cultural heritage.
This Convention also basis on other international documents, such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights of 1948, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, as well as the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of 2001.
The Convention highlights the need to distinguish between intangible heritage and natural and material heritage. By the intangible cultural heritage it is understood:
(..) the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills � as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith � that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.
Central themes of the Convention are the safeguarding, respect and awareness rising towards intangible cultural heritage. This heritage is manifested in oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; performing arts; social practices, rituals and festive events; knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe and traditional craftsmanship.
To protect and safeguard cultural heritage the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was established. At national level, the Convention also establishes responsibilities and obligations for the State Members towards this document.
Documents
Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003
September 2010
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