Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage

This convention was passed by UNESCO in October 2003 as a new international legal instrument to complement the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The objectives of this new convention are: safeguard immaterial cultural heritage, respect all group and individual immaterial cultural heritage, increase awareness at local, national and international scales of the importance of immaterial cultural heritage and its reciprocal recognition, and cooperate and provide international assistance. It is understood that ‘immaterial cultural heritage’ is present above all in the following contexts: a) traditions and oral communication, including language, as vehicles of expression; b) arts and performance; c) rituals, social uses and celebrations; d) knowledge and uses of the natural world and the universe; and e) traditional craft techniques. The convention was ratified in record time by the participating states and entered into effect on 20 April 2006.