Doyun Lee, Programme Specialist of Living Heritage Entity in the UNESCO, briefed the trainees on the latest development in the life of the Convention.

During the workshop, Doyun Lee, Programme Specialist of Living Heritage Entity in the UNESCO, briefed the trainees on the latest development in the life of the Convention. Trainees shared their experiences on ICH safeguarding in case of emergencies, in light of the impact the pandemic has had on ICH existence and safeguarding. They were fully aware of the duality of ICH in the context of the pandemic: on the one hand, ICH existence and safeguarding practices were disrupted and most safeguarding work had to go online, leaving remote areas without internet access unattended, but on the other hand ICH played an important role amid the pandemic as ICH promotion, demonstration and practice reinforced resilience and solidarity in communities worldwide.

Peter Frankopan, a professor with Worcester College at University of Oxford, shared his experience.

Ms. Nadia Zdravkova, an ICH expert from Tajikistan, shared her experience.

Ms. Meri Kumbe, the vice Minister of Culture of Albania and a UNESCO-accredited ICH facilitator, shared her experience.

Thanks to modern technology, the training became so flexible that international experts could join from anywhere in the world. Peter Frankopan, a professor with Worcester College at University of Oxford, was invited to share information about the pandemic along the Silk Road. He said mankind is not isolated and the pandemic forced people to reflect on the consequence of human intervention in ecosystem, a point worth thinking about in ICH safeguarding.

Nadja Zdravkova, an ICH expert from Tajikistan, was invited to talk about the results of the needs assessment on ICH safeguarding conducted in Tajikistan, challenges facing the country's ICH safeguarding work and proposed countermeasures. Meri Kumbe, the vice Minister of Culture of Albania and a UNESCO-accredited ICH facilitator, was invited to talk about the country's international assistance request for Community based Inventorying of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Albania, efforts that have been made in the phase of preparing the request and the implementation of the approved project.