This website is developed and maintained with the support of the Governments of Spain and Japan. Criteria and timetable of inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
Following the decision made by the Committee at its seventh session in Paris in December 2012, the Urgent Safeguarding List includes now 31 elements. The elements along with corresponding documentation (nomination form, photos and video) can be consulted from the Lists page.
The selection criteria and the procedures leading to inscription on the Convention’s lists were revised by the General Assembly in June 2012. For a complete presentation of the procedures, please refer to the Operational Directives and download corresponding nomination format from the forms page.
Criteria for inscription on the Urgent Safeguarding List
In nomination files, the submitting State(s) Party(ies) is(are) requested to demonstrate that an element proposed for inscription on the Urgent Safeguarding List satisfies all of the following criteria:
- U.1 The element constitutes intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention.
- U.2
- a. The element is in urgent need of safeguarding because its viability is at risk despite the efforts of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals and State(s) Party(ies) concerned;
(or) - b. The element is in extremely urgent need of safeguarding because it is facing grave threats as a result of which it cannot be expected to survive without immediate safeguarding.
- a. The element is in urgent need of safeguarding because its viability is at risk despite the efforts of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals and State(s) Party(ies) concerned;
- U.3 Safeguarding measures are elaborated that may enable the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned to continue the practice and transmission of the element.
- U.4 The element has been nominated following the widest possible participation of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.
- U.5 The element is included in an inventory of the intangible cultural heritage present in the territory(ies) of the submitting State(s) Party(ies), as defined in Article 11 and Article 12 of the Convention.
- U.6 In cases of extreme urgency, the State(s) Party(ies) concerned has (have) been duly consulted regarding inscription of the element in conformity with Article 17.3 of the Convention.
Timetable and procedures for inscription
Phase 1: Preparation and submission
- 31 March Year 0
- Deadline for preparatory assistance requests for the elaboration of nominations.
- 31 March Year 1
- Deadline by which nominations must be received by the Secretariat. Files received after this date will be examined in the next cycle.
- 30 June Year 1
- Deadline by which the Secretariat will have processed the files, including registration and acknowledgement of receipt. If a file is found incomplete, the State Party is invited to complete the file.
- 30 September Year 1
- Deadline by which missing information required to complete the files, if any, shall be submitted by the State Party to the Secretariat. Files that remain incomplete are returned to the States Parties that may complete them fora subsequent cycle.
Phase 2: Evaluation
- December Year 1 - May Year 2
- Evaluation of the files by the Consultative Body.
- April – June Year 2
- Meeting for final evaluation by the Consultative Body.
- For weeks prior to the session of the Committee
- The Secretariat transmits the evaluation reports to the members of the Committee. The files and evaluation reports will also be available on-line for consultation by States Parties.
Phase 3: Examination
- November Year 2
- The Committee examines the nominations and makes its decisions.