The 19th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (19.COM) was held from December 2 to 7 in Asuncion (Paraguay). As every year, this event was an opportunity to promote international cooperation around the safeguarding of living heritage in a festive spirit. Nearly 1,000 participants from the 184 states parties to the Convention countries came together to discuss the new developments of the 2003 Convention.
New registrations
This year, 58 new elements were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity, bringing the total to 667.
European states submitted 22 items for inscription, including the multinational inscription of the art of dry-stone construction (Croatia – Cyprus – France – Greece – Italy – Slovenia – Spain – Switzerland – Andorra – Austria – Belgium – Ireland – Luxembourg), equestrian art in Portugal and the Pysanka, Ukrainian tradition and art of decorating eggs (Ukraine – Estonia). In addition, we also saw a number of existing multinational dossiers develop further and welcome new countries, such as manual bell ringing (Spain and Italy). There were also 3 proposals for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, including the School of crafts ÚĽUV in Ukraine and the program to safeguard the kobza and hurdy-gurdy tradition in Serbia.
This year has been marked by a significant transition, with the introduction of changes to the List systems, including the possibility to move items from one List to another, and the simplification of nomination forms.
Living Heritage and Sustainable Development
This year, a stronger emphasis on the links between living heritage and sustainable development was noticeable in the Listed heritage. The files demonstrate that ICH is deeply intertwined with the betterment of society. Through education, health, environmental stewardship, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods, ICH contributes to a more resilient and sustainable world. In particular, many nomination files emphasized the role of ICH in fostering peace. In a world increasingly divided by differences, living heritage serves as a reminder of our shared humanity. It brings people together, encouraging mutual respect, understanding, and encourages unity in diversity.
Connections Cycle
The Evaluation Body named this year the “Connections cycle“. This underscores the power of ICH to create connections — connections that transcend geographic boundaries, histories, languages, and differences.
- We have seen how ICH connects us with our natural and urban environments, deepening our relationship with the places we inhabit.
- We witnessed how ICH connects communities, creates bonds between people, and promotes social cohesion.
- And, on a global level, ICH connects communities in different countries, even across continents, demonstrating how our cultural heritage can bring us closer together, regardless of where we come from. It reminds us that we are all part of one global community.
This cycle also demonstrated the relationship between intangible and tangible heritage. Physical spaces, cultural spaces, such as historic buildings and sites, their functions, values and significance, often intertwine with ICH.
2024, a special year for the PCI
This Committee also provides an opportunity to review the past year’s achievements.
The first celebration of the International Day for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took place on November 17, 2024. To mark the occasion, dozens of events were organized around the world.
2024 also saw the rise in importance and rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. Numerous events were organized to address this new challenge. UNESCO organized an international webinar on the impact of AI on living heritage. The focus was on using AI to protect endangered languages by making them accessible. Experts also explored the ethical issues involved in using such tools to safeguard living heritage, highlighting the double-edged character of this tool.
Towards a best practice platform
The 19.COM also offered the occasion to present the next steps towards the proposed platform for sharing good safeguarding practices. This platform will be a further step in international sharing and cooperation. It aims to provide a digital space for the exchange of knowledge to strengthen safeguarding, encourage interaction and cooperation between heritage communities, while promoting living heritage.
The launch of a first test version is scheduled for 2025, adding a new dimension to global efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage. The Netherlands has committed itself as a donor to the development of this digital platform.
Project to create a category 2 centre in Belgium
Another memorable moment of the 19.COM was certainly the announcement of the ambitious project to create a new category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO. UNESCO category 2 centres work as international hubs for cooperation, knowledge and capacity building around intangible heritage and the UNESCO 2003 Convention. Eight centres are already active worldwide. Until now, however, there has been no such centre in Western Europe -the so-called UNESCO “Group 1” region.
Within Belgium, Flanders is currently working to develop a category 2 centre in the region, preparing a proposal for submission to UNESCO by 2026. Many partners -other European countries, the governmental partners in Belgium, the ENFP network, accredited NGOs, facilitators and the wider heritage field – will be consulted and invited in a collaborative spirit to bring this project to fruition over the coming years.
The 2003 Convention and thematic areas of development
In recent years, culture has become a key pillar of sustainable development, as highlighted in the 2023 “Seoul Vision”, which is based on the 2022 MONDIACULT declaration that recognized culture as a global public good. This vision emphasizes that culture, including living heritage, is not only a fundamental right but also a crucial element for sustainable development. Through its thematic pathways, UNESCO explores how intangible heritage plays a role in areas like urban coexistence, disaster management, and business sustainability, providing tools and strategies to support member states.
Since 2021, three specific paths have focused on aspects of intangible heritage and sustainability:
- Economic dimensions of safeguarding living heritage
- Climate change and safeguarding living heritage
- Safeguarding living heritage in urban contexts
A new theme was introduced in 2024:
- The impact of digital technologies and AI on heritage safeguarding.
Throughout 2024, particular focus has been placed on climate change. Following a global survey in 2022, expert meetings were held in 2023 and 2024 with experts in the field of ICH, disaster risk reduction and climate change. A ‘Guidance Note’ could thus be presented at 19.COM. This guidance note identifies key concepts and insights and proposes a comprehensive approach, potential strategies and tools to climate action for living heritage – rights-based and people-centred. The Guidance Note highlights also three priority areas of future action: policy guidance, partnerships and capacity development.
The 20th session of the Committee (20.COM) is scheduled for December 8-13, 2025, in New Delhi, India.
