During the Third SIDS International Conference hosted by the United Nations, the Conference of “Safeguarding ICH for Sustainable Development in SIDS” (Parallel Convention) was held in Apia, the capital of Samoa, on Sept 2. It was co-hosted by the Samoan Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, the Samoan Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, and UNESCO.

The Parallel Convention was aimed to discuss the opportunities and challenges of safeguarding ICH for SIDS (Small Islands Developing States), increasing the amount of their ICH items included in UNESCO’s ICH list and making plans to pinpoint the key actions of safeguarding ICH for sustainable development in SIDS.