Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

Abstract This chapter assesses the drafting of the 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), the result of three decades of consideration within UNESCO. For many UNESCO Member States—especially in the African, Asia-Pacific, and Latin American regions—ICH constitutes a major part of their cultural heritage. The contribution that it can make to social and economic development in such societies was an important factor in the desire to strengthen international safeguarding of this heritage. UNESCO’s 2003 Convention was developed within two main international law and policy contexts: human-centred and sustainable development and the growing importance accorded to cultural rights. The 2003 Convention makes clear the role of cultural heritage in preserving cultural diversity; ensuring truly sustainable development models; protecting human rights and the cultural identities of individuals, social groups, and communities; and protecting the right of communities to be themselves socially and economically sustainable through their heritage.