The Role of UNESCO in Cultural Management By Linina Phuttitarn, UNESCO Bangkok
22 January 2014 “Tastes of Asia – A Cultural Journey: Asian Peace through Cultural Understanding"
“Only through understanding of different cultures can the basis of peace be built” – Dr. Lee Khim Shin
- Multiculturalism - Respect and understanding
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What is UNESCO? •
Founded in 1945, UNESCO is the only UN agency that has the main mandate in culture.
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The Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed” – “The purpose of the Organization [UNESCO] is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.”
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195 member states and 9 associate members
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Headquarters in Paris
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More than 2,000 employees of 170 nationalities in 66 Field Offices and Liaison Offices 3
What is UNESCO? • The General Conference – Consists of the representatives of the Member States – Meets every two years, attended by member States, associate members, observers for non-member States, IGOs and NGOs – Objectives • To set programmes and budget of UNESCO • To elect members of the Executive Board • To appoint, every four years, the Director-General
• Executive Board – Examines UNESCO’s programme of work and corresponding budget estimates submitted by the Director-General – Consists of 58 Member States, each with a four-year term of office – Meets twice a year except for the General Conference year
• Secretariat – Consists of staff members assigned by Director-General – Prepares and organises all meetings of the Board and its organs 4
UNESCO’s 5 Functions 1. Laboratory of ideas and generating innovative proposals and policy advice 2. Developing and reinforcing the global agenda in its fields of competence through policy analysis, monitoring and benchmarking; 3. Setting norms and standards in its fields of competence and supporting and monitoring their implementation; 4. Strengthening international and regional cooperation in its fields of competence, and fostering alliances, intellectual cooperation, knowledge-sharing and operational partnerships; 5. Providing advice for policy development and implementation, and developing institutional and human 5 capacities.
UNESCO Bangkok • Established in 1961 as “Asia Regional Office for Primary and Compulsory Education” • In 1987: Principal Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (PROAP) • Regional function: 48 countries in Asia and the Pacific + 2 associate members 6
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Education
Natural Sciences
Social & Human Sciences
Culture
Communica -tion & Information
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What is Culture? 8
Definition of Culture • “set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, not only art and literature, but lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs” - UNESCO, 2001
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What does UNESCO do for Culture? 10
DRAFT MEDIUM–TERM PROGRAMME (2014 - 2021)
Overarching Objective Supporting inclusive social development, intercultural dialogue, rapprochement of cultures, creativity, cultural diversity, and heritage transmission. 11
What is a Convention?
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• Treaty, agreement in international law X • Developed by experts • Signed by governments •T Legally-binding • Will guide policies, strategies, priorities of the governments which have ratified it 13
UNESCO Conventions Key Culture International Instruments 1954: Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention
1970: Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property 1972: Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
2001: Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2003: Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2005: Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
Heritage
Tangible Intangible
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The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
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Intangible Cultural Heritage (The 2003 Convention) Today‌ 158 States Parties have ratified the Convention, including 48 Asia-Pacific countries, with 327 ICH elements already listed.
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The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage • 32nd General Conference of UNESCO • Adopted on 17 October 2005 • Entered into force on 20 April 2006 • Became fully operational in 2008 with the adoption of its Operational Directives
Objectives • To safeguard the intangible heritage of humanity • To ensure respect for it • To raise awareness of the importance of the ICH and ensure mutual appreciation thereof • To provide for international cooperation and assistance 18
Defining Intangible Cultural Heritage The “intangible cultural heritage” means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. […]
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Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage TANGIBLE
buildings sites landscapes spaces townscapes artefacts crafts monuments
INTANGIBLE
oral traditions & expressions performing arts social practices rituals & festive events knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe traditional craftsmanship
Defining intangible cultural heritage
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Expressions Representations Practices Knowledge Skills
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+associated: Instruments Objects Artefacts Cultural spaces
The intangible cultural heritage is… • transmitted from generation to generation, • constantly recreated by communities in response to – their environment – their interaction with nature and – their history,
• and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity 22
Defining Intangible Cultural Heritage
Transmission Community participation Value-based Living heritage
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Domain 1: Oral traditions
Oral Traditions of the Aka Pygmies of Central Africa
The Art of Azerbaijani Ashiq Azerbaijan
Proverbs, riddles, tales, nursery rhymes, legends, myths, epic songs and poems, charms, prayers, chants, songs, dramatic performances, 24 etc.
Domain 2: Performing Arts
The Royal Ballet of Cambodia
Kutiyattam India
Tumba Francesa Cuba
Vocal or instrumental music, dance, theatre, pantomime, sung verse, certain forms of storytelling, etc.
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Domain 3: Social Practices, Rituals, Festive Events
Jongmyo Ancestral Rite
Carnival of Oruro
Carnival of Barranquilla
Republic of Korea
Bolivia
Colombia
Activities that structure the lives of communities and groups linked to the life cycle of individuals and groups (initiation rites or burial ceremonies ), the agricultural calendar, the succession of seasons or other temporal systems, etc.
Domain 4: Knowledge about Nature and the Universe
Vanuatu Sand Drawings
Andean Cosmovision of the Kallawaya Bolivia
Traditional ecological wisdom, indigenous knowledge, traditional healing systems and pharmacopeia, rituals, foodways, beliefs, esoteric sciences, initiatory rites, divinations, cosmologies, cosmogonies, shamanism, possession rites, etc. 27
Domain 5: Traditional Craftsmanship
China Engraved Block Printing Technique
Woodcrafting Knowledge of the Zafimaniry Madagascar
China
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Changing Conservation Tangible •
Focus on physical fabric (things)
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Experts decide
• Authenticity to be
protected: about keeping it exactly the same as in the old days.
Intangible “Living Heritage” • Focus on significance (value) • Focus on continued practice • Communities decide in collaboration with others where needed.
• Viability to be safeguarded: •Protecting value/significance to the community •Allowing for healthy change while protecting significance.
Changing Conservation Paradigm shifts in heritage conservation Tangible (movable / immovable) / Intangible
from places and products to processes
from an object-based to a value-based management approach
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Safeguarding ICH Revitalization Revival
Transmission Dissemination
Preservation Protection
Practice Creation Maintaining Transmission
Research Documenting Inventorying
Promotion Presentation Recognition
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Inter-generational transmission as a key measure for safeguarding ICH – If the ICH is not practiced and passed on to the younger generations, the community may lose access to the ICH. – Transmission is when practitioners pass on practices, skills, knowledge and ideas to succeeding generations, in formal or non-formal ways. – Transmission focuses on communicating the significance, history and associated values of the cultural expression concerned. It focuses on the processes rather than the objects or products. – Intergenerational transmission is a distinctive feature of ICH and the best guarantee of its viability. – When traditional forms of transmission are weakened or broken, formal or non-formal education may be an alternative and contribute to the safeguarding and transmission of ICH.
Communities A key role in ICH Safeguarding Preamble Recognizing that communities, in particular indigenous communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals, play an important role in the production, safeguarding, maintenance and re-creation of the intangible cultural heritage, thus helping to enrich cultural diversity and human creativity, Aymara communities Bolivia, Chile and Peru
Communities A key role in ICH Safeguarding Article 15 – Participation of communities, groups and individuals. Within the framework of its safeguarding activities of the intangible cultural heritage, each State Party shall endeavour to ensure the widest possible participation of communities, groups and, where appropriate, individuals that create, maintain and transmit such heritage, and to involve them actively in its management.
Oral Heritage and Cultural Manifestations of the ZĂĄpara People Ecuador, Peru
Some key points • Community ownership of ICH rather than State ownership • Definitions of intangible heritage place great value on the significance of the heritage to communities, groups or individuals who practice that heritage. • The element must be still be practiced (‘living’) The Cultural Space and Oral Culture of the Semeiskie, Russian Federation
Reasons for community involvement • Central tenet of the Convention • Increasingly central also to the management of tangible heritage
• Community members enact ICH, and identify with it; • ICH belongs to their heritage; • Safeguarding means continued practice and transmission by them; • Safeguarding requires their participation and consent
Community participation in what?
Identifying and defining Inventorying Awareness raising Capacity building Safeguarding, management Nominations International assistance requests Periodic reporting
Protecting the rights of communities - States Parties should try to ensure that the rights of communities, groups and individuals are duly protected when raising awareness about their ICH or engaging in commercial activities. - Consent
Safeguarding at the International Level • The Lists and the Register • International Cooperation and Assistance • Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund
Nôgaku Theatre Japan 39
Intangible Heritage Lists and Register
Hudhud Chants of the Ifugao, Philippines
• Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding List: 35 elements • Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: 281 elements • Register of Best Intangible Heritage Safeguarding Activities (Art. 18): 11 elements
• Total of 327 elements listed by 98 Member States *21 countries from Asia and the Pacific Find out more: www.unesco.org/culture/ich
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Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity • Inscription of the element will contribute to ensuring visibility, awareness of the significance of the ICH and dialogue • Nominated following the widest possible participation of the community or individuals concerned • Included in an ICH inventory present in the territory(ies) of the submitting State(s) Party(ies)
• Safeguarding plan • No international assistance 44
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knowledge of nature preparation follows seasons
Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea (2013) Spring – seafood ferment/summer – salt/late summer – dry chilli/autumn – collective kimjang/ winter
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harmony with nature understanding of nature and ensuring sustainability
Mediterranean diet, 2013 51
science and art of chemistry in pairing ingredients and selecting methods
Traditional Mexican cuisine (2010) 52
Turkish coffee culture and tradition (2013) 53
health and longevity medicinal benefits of foods
Traditional Mexican cuisine (2010) 54
selection and pairing of ingredients, recipes, food and beverages, table setting, utensils
The gastronomic meal of the French (2010) 55
craftsmanship of utensils and objects
Turkish coffee culture and tradition (2013) 56
Turkish coffee culture and tradition (2013) 57
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source of creativity and cultural expression
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collective participation in the entire traditional food chain: from planting and harvesting to cooking and eating
Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea (2013) 61
social cohesion peace and harmony
Source: http://www.esanguide.com/ 62
preparing and sharing meals draw circles of family and friends closer together and, more generally, strengthens social ties
The gastronomic meal of the French (2010) 63
social custom celebrating the most important moments in the lives of individuals and groups
The gastronomic meal of the French (2010) 64
symbol of hospitality, friendship, refinement and entertainment an opportunity for intimate talk and the sharing of daily concerns
Turkish coffee culture and tradition (2013) 65
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vehicle for interaction between people and the deities, as well as with the rest of the community and their ancestors
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transmission long-practiced knowledge of the tradition preserved in individuals’ memories get passed on to younger generations
Traditional Mexican cuisine (2010) 69
family heritage specific methods and ingredients used are considered an important family heritage
Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea (2013) 70
intercultural dialogue and creativity transcends beyond national borders
Mediterranean diet, 2013: Cyprus, Croatia, Spain, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal
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Traditional Mexican cuisine (2010) 74
Safeguarding ďƒ viability and continued practice
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Culture Unit
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Bangkok Office
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