Assessing the Current State of Implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Assessing the Current State of Implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2003. It aims to preserve and promote living cultural traditions and expressions of communities around the world. The Convention defines intangible cultural heritage as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, and instruments associated with cultural traditions. The Convention calls on countries to identify and safeguard their intangible cultural heritage and to implement measures to protect it.

Over the years, countries have made significant progress in implementing the Convention. Today, more than 177 countries have ratified the Convention, and they have established various measures to protect and promote their intangible cultural heritage. For instance, some countries have created national inventories of their living heritage, while others have established museums, performance spaces, and documentation centers to preserve and showcase their cultural heritage.

However, despite the progress made, some challenges remain. For one, many countries’ inventories of their intangible cultural heritage are incomplete or inadequate. They may omit certain practices or expressions or inaccurately represent the cultural value of some elements. Furthermore, some countries have not allocated adequate resources to safeguard their intangible cultural heritage, leading to the neglect and disappearance of certain cultural practices.

Another challenge is the competition between globalization and cultural diversity. The forces of globalization often promote a homogenized cultural model, which can threaten the diversity of living cultural traditions across the world. These challenges require a comprehensive approach to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage that incorporates various dimensions, including legal, social, and economic.

Nevertheless, there are success stories of countries that have successfully integrated the Convention into their cultural policies. For instance, Japan has a comprehensive system for protecting and promoting its intangible cultural heritage, which includes designating important intangible cultural heritage properties and creating programs to foster and promote traditional cultural elements.

In conclusion, the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has made a significant contribution to the preservation and promotion of living cultural traditions across the world. While there are challenges in implementing the Convention, more efforts are needed to ensure the continued existence and vitality of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Through the concerted efforts of governments, civil society, and international organizations, we can work towards preserving the world’s cultural diversity for future generations.