Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is deeply rooted in community engagement, respect, and shared values. However, practical situations often give rise to complex ethical challenges. How do we ensure informed consent? How do we balance community practices with public policy, or address tensions such as commodification, cultural appropriation, or animal welfare?
Recognising the need to openly discuss such dilemmas, the European Network of Focal Points to the 2003 Convention (ENFP) has launched an Ethics Initiative, inviting professionals across Europe to share experiences, examples, and approaches to better navigate ethical tensions in ICH safeguarding.
What is the ENFP Ethics Initiative?
- Identify recurring ethical concerns in ICH safeguarding;
- Gather real-world examples from across Europe;
- Share practical approaches and tools;
- Facilitate collective reflection and mutual learning.
This initiative began with a survey distributed within the network to collect cases, questions, and experiences related to ethical dilemmas. The results will be presented at the kick-off meeting in July 2025 and will help shape the direction of the year-long programme.
Themes explored
The initiative focuses on the following key areas:
- Animal welfare and nature-based practices – where traditional activities may come into conflict with legal or ethical standards for animal rights.
- Dialogue and representation – exploring how bearers, the public, and institutional voices interact, and the role of power in shaping heritage narratives.
- Informed consent and commodification – addressing how communities are (or are not) included in decisions, and the consequences of commercialising heritage.
- Cultural appropriation and equity – reflecting on the intersection of heritage with identity, justice, and representation.
- Tools for navigating dilemmas – identifying frameworks, methodologies, and peer-based tools that can support practitioners.
Sharing Experiences
At the heart of the initiative are the practical examples contributed by ENFP members. These case studies form a living archive of dilemmas and responses from across the region. Each case is structured with the following format:
- Where and when the situation occurred;
- What heritage element was involved;
- What the ethical challenge was;
- What actions or dialogue followed;
- What learning outcomes emerged.
As the initiative progresses, selected case studies (text and images) will be published on this page.
Next events
Four online Peer Exchange Sessions are being held in 2025, each focusing on a particular ethical theme. These events are co-hosted by members of the ENFP Steering Committee and other engaged professionals.
Each session includes:
- Breakout discussions based on real examples provided by ENFP members;
- Collective reflection on solutions, dilemmas, and shared learning;
- A written summary available after the session.
Calendar:
- 8 July– Kick-off plenary: ICH ethics overview + breakout sessions on multiple themes
- 17 September– Animal welfare & nature-based ICH
- More information to come
- Link to the meeting
- 14 October– Dialogue, consent, commodification, and authorised heritage discourse
- More information t come
- Link to the meeting
- 21 November– Problem-solving tools and practical approaches
- More information to come
- Link to the meeting
This is a network-wide initiative, and contributions are always welcome. If you would like to:
- Share a case or challenge;
- Contribute to an upcoming session;
- Suggest tools, reading, or methods,
Please contact us.
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Image reference: Glowing discs rotating on their sticks at the Bürgler Funkenfeuer, Dornbirn, Austria, February 2012. Photo by: Thomas Loß (more)
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