Understanding UNESCO Convention On Intangible Cultural Heritage

By Mohammed Ahmed Ozegya

The intangible cultural heritage has been in existence for a very long time. It is the chain web between the past and the present ways of life, and revolves around the awakening of the power of the past generation via the accession.

In order to preserve this intangible heritage globally, the United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) held a General conference referred to as the UNESCO Convention, in Paris from 29th of September to 17th October 2003.

The meeting was convened under the human right instrument, that is, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and the International Convention of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966).

It considered the importance of the intangible cultural heritage as a mainspring of cultural diversity and a guarantee for sustainable development as underscored in the UNESCO recommendation on the safeguarding of traditional culture and folklore of 1989 in UNESCO universal declaration on cultural diversity of 2001, held in the Istanbul.

The declaration adopts the 2003 convention to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage, ensure respect for intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned, and raise awareness at the local national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof.

It is also aims to maintain cultural diversity in the face of globalisation. This includes taking necessary memoirs to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage present in their remtay define and inventory of ICH with the participate of the community concern adopt policies and establish institutions to monitor and promote it, encourage research and take other appropriate safeguarding measures, submit regular progress reports to committee, nominate elements to the list of ICH in need of urgent safeguarding.

The texts of the 2003 convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage comprise the framework and governance documents. These texts are periodically revised and published by UNESCO to help government officials, policy makers, NGO’s and international organizations understand and implement the convention.

The compilation of basic text typically includes the convention text which is the foundational legal document and, operational directives which comprises the  practical guideline for implementing the convention. They cover the criterial and procedures for inscribing living heritage in need of urgent safeguarding) and the use of the intangible cultural heritage found.

Others are the rules of proceeding. This serves as the governing guide lines for the general assembly of the state parties and the intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural;financial regulations that spells out the specific rules for managing the special account for the fund for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage.

According to article 1 of the basic texts, the primary goals of the convention are to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, ensure respect for the living heritage of communities, groups and individual, raise awareness at all levels, about the importance of the heritage, and provide international cooperation and assistance.

– Ozegya is with Lafia office of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments