Year of creation: 2014

As approved by the 37th session of the General Conference, the Centre will have as its functions:

(a) to encourage States in the Region to adopt policy measures and legislative and administrative measures as provided for in Article 13 of the Convention;

(b) to organize activities (i) to strengthen the national capacities of countries in the Region in the areas of identification, documentation, developing inventories and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage present on their territories in accordance with the Convention and its Operational Guidelines, and (ii) to assist these countries to preserve and digitize multimedia data concerning this heritage;

(c) to stimulate and organize cooperation in the exchange of experiences, expertise and information among countries of the Region, particularly in regard to the intangible cultural heritage found in two or more of these countries;

(d) to facilitate networking among practitioners, communities, experts, officials, centres of expertise, research institutes, museums, archives, and other organizations and institutions active in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage at the regional, sub-regional and national levels;

(e) to contribute to a better understanding of the intangible cultural heritage at the local, national, subregional and regional levels, and to raise awareness among the general public, especially the younger generations, of the importance of intangible cultural heritage, including by means of publications.

The activities necessary to achieve its objectives and functions will be planned and implemented in consultation with UNESCO.