UNESCO:Conventions,Proclaimations and Declarations

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established on 16 November 1945 works as a specialized agency of the United Nations with a purpose to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture. One of the five major programs of UNESCO focusses on preservation and promotion of cultural diversity which it promotes through the various conventions, proclamations and declarations defining the guidelines and best practices.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Website

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UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity

The declaration was adopted by the 31st Session of the General Conference by UNESCO, held in Paris on November 2nd, 2001. ‘The Declaration aims both to preserve cultural diversity as a living, and thus renewable treasure that must not be perceived as being unchanging heritage but as a process guaranteeing the survival of humanity; and to prevent segregation and fundamentalism which, in the name of cultural differences, would sanctify those differences and so counter the message of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.’

Intangible Cultural Heritage - A Mirror of Cultural Diversity

The First communiqué, (Istanbul Declaration), third Round Table of the Ministers of Culture on “Intangible Cultural Heritage, mirror of cultural diversity”, held in Istanbul on September 16th and 17th 2002 jointly understood the need of safeguarding and transmission of the intangible heritage in order to ensure sustainability of the vulnerable, yet constantly recreated heritage. The communiqué endorsed that governments need to take resolute action respecting the contexts in which the intangible cultural heritage is expressed and disseminated, and emphasized urgent action and cooperation of the participating members.

UNESCO First Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity: 2001

On May 18, 2001, for the first time, UNESCO proclaimed 19 of the world’s most remarkable examples of the oral and intangible heritage. Selected by a 18-member jury, the winning entries were chosen for their outstanding value as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The global proclamation emphasizes the importance of protecting this outstanding but endangered heritage - cultural spaces and forms of popular and traditional expression - and of preserving cultural diversity.

UNESCO Second Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity: 2003

28 oral and intangible heritage out of 56 candidature from over 60 Member States were proclaimed as the Masterpieces by UNESCO on 7th November 2003.

UNESCO Third Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity: 2005

43 new masterpieces were proposed to the Director-General by an 18-member jury chaired by Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan. The jury met from 20 to 24 November to examine 64 national and multinational candidatures. A total of 47 masterpieces were proclaimed in 2001 and 2003.

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The 2003 Convention proposes safeguarding living intangible cultural heritage with measures such as definition, identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection, promotion, enhancement, transmission (particularly through formal and non-formal education), as well as revitalization of the various aspects of the intangible heritage.

UNESCO Conventions, Recommendations and Declarations Concerning the Protection of the Cultural Heritage

By Roland LIN Chih-Hung
Chih Hung lists five Conventions, eleven Recommendations and two Declarations that are directly relevant to ensure the effective preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage, which have been adopted by UNESCO.

Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

The convention was held in Paris on October 20th, 2005 with the objective to protect, promote and reaffirm respect for the diversity of cultural expressions, along with an aspiration to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in meeting the highlighted objectives. The convention defines terms related to ‘culture’, apart from underlining the rights and obligations of the parties involved.

Recommmendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images