Basic texts of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on October 17, 2003, in Paris. The Convention aims to protect intangible cultural heritage, foster peace and cooperation among people and even address challenges such as climate change. Since 2003, 180 States have become party to this Convention. India ratified the Convention on September 9, 2005. Over the years, the basic texts of the Convention have undergone several changes including extensive revisions made to the Rules of Procedure in July 2022. This publication was compiled and released in 2022 following these changes, and consists of eight documents and five annexes making up the basic texts of the convention. The ‘Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage’ is the first document comprising of 40 articles across nine sections: General Provisions (Section I); Organs of the Convention (Section II); Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the National Level (Section III); Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the International Level (Section IV); International Cooperation and Assistance (Section V); Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund (Section VI); Reports (Section VII); Transitional Clause (Section VIII); and Final Clause (Section IX). ‘Operational Directives for the Implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage’ adopted in 2008 is the second basic text...