Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.pdf

Adopted by the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention at its first session (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 27 to 29 June 2006), amended at its second session (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 16 to 19 June 2008), at its fifth session (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris 2 to 4 June 2014) and at its ninth session (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 5 to 7 July 2022)

I FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY  

Rule 1 Functions of the Assembly

In accordance with Article 4 of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter 'the Convention'), adopted during the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, meeting in Paris, from 29 September to 17 October 2003 at its 32nd session, the General Assembly of the States Parties (hereinafter 'the Assembly') was established as the sovereign body of the Convention. The Convention outlines the functions of the Assembly. The Assembly adopts its own Rules of Procedure.

II PARTICIPATION  

Rule 2 States Parties to the Convention

The representatives of all States Parties to the Convention may participate, with the
right to vote, in the work of the Assembly.

Rule 3 Observers

3.1 The representatives of Member States of UNESCO not parties to the Convention, and of Associate Members, as well as of permanent observer missions to UNESCO may participate in the work of the Assembly as observers, without the right to vote, and subject to Rule 16.3.

3.2 Representatives of the United Nations and organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations which have concluded mutual representation agreements with UNESCO, as well as observers of intergovernmental and international nongovernmental organizations invited by the Director-General, may participate in the work of the Assembly, without the right to vote and subject to Rule 16.3.

III ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSEMBLY  

Rule 4 Ordinary and Extraordinary Sessions

4.1 The Assembly shall meet every two years in ordinary session in accordance with Article 4.2 of the Convention.

4.2 The Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session if it so decides or at the request either of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter 'the Committee') or of at least one-third of the States Parties.

Rule 5 Date and Place

5.1 The Director-General shall determine the date of the ordinary session. The Director-General shall communicate such date to all States Parties and observers.

5.2 Unless the date has been decided by the Assembly, the Director-General shall determine the date of the extraordinary session, which shall then be set within sixty days, unless logistically not possible, following the date of the request referred to in Rule 4.2. The Director-General shall communicate such date to all States Parties and observers.

5.3 Ordinary and extraordinary sessions shall be held at the Headquarters of UNESCO, unless the Assembly decides to meet elsewhere.

Rule 6 Online sessions

6.1 The Assembly may hold online sessions only during periods of emergency or in exceptional circumstances rendering in praesentia meetings impracticable.

6.2 At an ordinary or extraordinary session, the Assembly may decide to hold an online session by a simple majority of States Parties present and voting.

6.3 Should at least one-third of the States Parties propose the holding of an online session while the Assembly is not in session, the Director-General shall consult all the States Parties by correspondence. The Assembly shall hold an online session, unless one third of the States Parties disagrees to the proposal.

6.4 Elections by secret ballot held pursuant to the present Rules in the course of an online session shall be conducted in praesentia. The Secretariat shall make the necessary arrangements therefor, including the place and time of the election, which shall be notified to States Parties in advance of the ballot. Other voting held pursuant to the present Rules shall preferably be conducted in praesentia.

Rule 7 Provisional Agenda

7.1 The provisional agenda of the session shall be prepared by the Director-General.

7.2 The provisional agenda of an ordinary session shall include:

(a) Any question required by the Convention and the present Rules of Procedure;

(b) Any question the inclusion of which has been decided by the Assembly at a previous session;

(c) Any question referred by the Committee;

(d) Any question proposed by the States Parties to the Convention;

(e) Any question proposed by the Director-General.

7.3 The provisional agenda for an extraordinary session shall only include those questions for which the session has been convened.

7.4 The Secretariat shall circulate to the States Parties and observers the provisional agenda at least sixty days before the opening of an ordinary session of the Assembly and as soon as possible, and preferably fifteen days before the opening of an extraordinary session.

Rule 8 Adoption of the Agenda

The Assembly shall adopt its agenda at the beginning of each session.