UNESCO and world intangible cultural heritage

2010. 1. 10. 22:10Report/Martial Arts

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Write by Dr. Heo
 UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage and Martial Arts
2009 World Martial arts Aeminar,  World Martial Arts Academy

To preserve and restore the endangered cultural heritage, UNESCO chose ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ and adopted a resolution to protect them at a general meeting in 1997. In other words, UNESCO aimed to confirm and protect intangible cultural heritage. The registration started in May 2001, and the eligibility is decided biannually by the international review committee appointed by the UNESCO secretary general.

In 2001, 19 items were chosen. Since then, 28 and 43 items were selected in 2002 and 2005 respectively. This kind of system changed to ‘the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding’ at the 2nd Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. As of January 2009, 90 items from 68 countries are enlisted on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is under application for registration according to the new system.

UNESCO has concerned about cultural diversity. Cultural diversity refers to cultural differences that are found in language, costume, tradition, social formation method, moral and religious ideal and interaction with others. In fact, the protection, maintenance and improvement of cultural diversity are an essential element for the sustainable growth of the present and future generations. UNESCO has made continued efforts to properly respond to cultural uniformity, commercialization and dependency by raising various cultural values and overcome racial conflicts through a respect for pluralistic values.

At the 31st UNESCO General Conference (2001), ‘the Declaration on Cultural Diversity’ was adopted. In 2005, the 33rd UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CCD).

The said declaration and convention insist that cultural products and services should not be handled as simple products and consumer materials, and proper cultural policies should be established. Furthermore, it is clearly stated that cultural diversity is essential and must be strengthened.

Cultural heritage is the trace of the past and creature of the history. It is a valuable asset that has been handed down from the past and should be handed down to the next generation. Basically, it cannot be restored with sustainability (handed down from the past, handed down to the future). If this kind of valuable asset disappears, it could be a disaster to humankind. Therefore, UNESCO has focused on protecting cultural heritage since its foundation and made various efforts (ex: enactment of international convention, holding an international conference, publication of related data, etc.) to protect the valuable cultural heritage. In particular, the preservation of world record heritage has been promoted by enacting the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1972 and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003. Then, it has been emphasized that the world heritage is the assets of all humans, which should be properly preserved by the world. 

‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ was first declared in Mary 2001. The eligibility is decided biannually by the international review committee appointed by the UNESCO secretary general. The review committee consisted of 18 review members examines the cultural heritage in accordance with the criteria which include cultural value, tradition, cultural identity, promotion of cultural exchange, social and cultural role in modern society, functional and technical excellence, distinctive cultural tradition and risk of extinction.

The strategy of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage is to properly preserve the oral and intangible heritage and encourage individuals and organizations to the project. In general, the following efforts are required:

1) To recommend each member country to establish an intangible cultural heritage protection committee and appoint the committee members
2) To emphasize the importance of support from the local organizations with code of conduct regarding the declaration on the oral and intangible cultural heritage
3) To collect and distribute the information about oral and intangible cultural heritage based on the candidate list
4) To announce the latest information on ongoing activities
5) To establish a sound and firm financial support system

The activists and recipients of the said program must be a creator (either individual or organization) or cultural heritage protection group. It is desirable to set the local organization or NGO which has been established for preservation and recreation of cultural expressions as the recipient. The first declaration on the oral and intangible cultural heritage was successfully completed thanks to a financial support from the Japanese government. The 1st declaration made the importance of securing permanent financial support and strengthening human resources to satisfy each member country’s needs and demands stand out. There will be the following two approaches for continuance of the declaration-related project in terms of a financial support system:

- The trust fund and bonus provided by member countries are first used in preparing a candidate list. Then, they would also be available in carrying out a cultural heritage protection plan. This kind of off budget is useful in fulfilling a plan that requires an immediate action.
- A special fund which includes voluntary donation for preservation of intangible cultural heritage can also be raised.

Intangible cultural heritage has long been praised in an international society as a core factor for the promotion of cultural identity and creativity and preservation of cultural diversity. In this global age, it is urgent to come up with a countermeasure for the preservation and restoration of the endangered cultural heritage. Under these unfavorable circumstances, the project that selects ‘the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ aims to excavate and preserve oral and intangible cultural heritage and inform it to the government, civil organizations and local community. This system for intangible cultural heritage would help the UNESCO’s cultural heritage protection project stay in balance in both tangible and intangible sectors. The goals of this project are as follows:

- To increase international awareness on the importance of oral and intangible cultural heritage and acquire international opinions, focusing on the establishment of an immediate plan on the preservation and restoration of these cultural heritages
- To investigate the current status of oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity in consideration of the needs and demand from local society
- To urge each member country to prepare a legal and systematic plan for the preparation of an intangible cultural heritage-related list and protection of the heritage
- To encourage local creators and artisans (both individuals and organizations) to participate in the excavation, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage


 

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