This website is developed and maintained with the support of the Governments of Spain and Japan. Adoption of the Convention
The General Conference adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in plenary on 17 October 2003 following a series of expert meetings in 2002 and 2003.
Entry into force
The Convention enter into force on 20 April 2006, three months after the ratification of the 30th State (Romania), and the first General Assembly took place on June 2006 for the election of the first Intergovernmental Committee.
Directives for its implementation
The General Assembly approves on 19 June 2008 a first version of the Operational Directives for the Implementation of the Convention which define, among others, the modalities for the inscription on the lists, the granting of financial assistance or the submission of periodic reports.
First inscriptions
In October 2009, the Committee proceeded with the first inscriptions on the Representative List and on the Urgent Safeguarding List.
First periodic reports
The first periodic reports by the States Parties highlight the challenges of the safeguarding at national level and the importance of strengthening the capacity of a multitude of actors to establish an effective framework for the viability of the intangible heritage.
A global impact
With some 150 States Parties to the Convention, 156 accredited NGOs in the field of intangible heritage and 77 trainers in support of the 66 first countries benefitting from the UNESCO global capacity-building strategy (English|French), the intangible heritage family is expanding and strengthening.
Tenth anniversary 2003-2013: Share your activities!
From its adoption in October 2003 until the submission of the first periodic reports in 2011 and 2012, the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has achieved many milestones at both the international and national levels.
The tenth anniversary offers a wide range of actors the opportunity to make an initial assessment and to explore the key challenges, constraints and possibilities related to its implementation.
All stakeholders involved in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage are invited to share on this site the events and activities they organize to celebrate this anniversary. All activities can then be immediately consulted on a map, a calendar and a list in their original language.
Last activity announced
Le Maroc célèbre le 10e anniversaire de la Convention
01-10-2013/31-12-2013, Marrakech, Agadir, Laâyoune, Ouarzazate, Errachidia, Sefrou, Nador, Chefchaouen, Tanger, El Jadida, Tan Tan, Rabat (Morocco)Dans le cadre de la célébration du dixième anniversaire de la Convention de 2003, la Direction du patrimoine culturel (Ministère de la Culture, Maroc) prépare une exposition grandiose à l'image de la richesse extraordinaire et de la diversité du patrimoine culturel immatériel marocain participant ainsi de la diversité culturelle à l'échelle de l'humanité toute entière. L'exposition itinérante sera montée dans les principales villes marocaines.… Read moreSee all scheduled activities on a map, a calendar or a list.