CHAPTER I SAFEGUARDING OF THE INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, COOPERATION AND INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE 

 I.1 Criteria for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

        1. In nomination files, the submitting State(s) Party(ies) is (are) requested to demonstrate that an element proposed for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding satisfies all of the following criteria:

        U.1 The element constitutes intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention.

       U.2 (a) The element is in urgent need of safeguarding because its viability is at risk despite the efforts of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals and State(s) Party(ies) concerned; or (b) The element is in extremely urgent need of safeguarding because it is facing grave threats as a result of which it cannot be expected to survive without immediate safeguarding.

       U.3 A safeguarding plan is elaborated that may enable the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned to continue the practice and transmission of the element.

       U.4 The element has been nominated following the widest possible participation of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.

       U.5 The element is included in an inventory of the intangible cultural heritage present in the territory(ies) of the submitting State(s) Party(ies), as defined in Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention.

       U.6 In cases of extreme urgency, the State(s) Party(ies) concerned has (have) been duly consulted regarding inscription of the element in conformity with Article 17.3 of the Convention.

I.2 Criteria for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

       2. In nomination files, the submitting State(s) Party(ies) is (are) requested to demonstrate that an element proposed for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity satisfies all of the following criteria:

       R.1 The element constitutes intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention.

       R.2 Inscription of the element will contribute to ensuring visibility and awareness of the significance of the intangible cultural heritage and to encouraging dialogue, thus reflecting cultural diversity worldwide and testifying to human creativity.

       R.3 Safeguarding measures are elaborated that may protect and promote the element.

       R.4 The element has been nominated following the widest possible participation of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.

       R.5 The element is included in an inventory of the intangible cultural heritage present in the territory(ies) of the submitting State(s) Party(ies), as defined in Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention.

I.3 Criteria for selection of programmes, projects and activities that best reflect the principles and objectives of the Convention

       3. States Parties are encouraged to propose national, subregional or regional programmes, projects and activities for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage to the Committee for selection and promotion as best reflecting the principles and objectives of the Convention.

       4. At each session the Committee may explicitly call for proposals characterized by international cooperation, as mentioned in Article 19 of the Convention, and/or focusing on specific priority aspects of safeguarding.

       5. Such programmes, projects and activities may be completed or in progress at the time they are proposed to the Committee for selection and promotion.

       6. In its selection and promotion of safeguarding programmes, projects and activities, the Committee shall pay special attention to the needs of developing countries and to the principle of equitable geographic distribution, while strengthening South-South and North-South-South cooperation.

       7. From among the programmes, projects or activities proposed to it, the Committee shall select those that best satisfy all of the following criteria:

       P.1 The programme, project or activity involves safeguarding, as defined in Article 2.3 of the Convention.

       P.2 The programme, project or activity promotes the coordination of efforts for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage on regional, subregional and/or international levels.

       P.3 The programme, project or activity reflects the principles and objectives of the Convention.

       P.4 The programme, project or activity has demonstrated effectiveness in contributing to the viability of the intangible cultural heritage concerned.

       P.5 The programme, project or activity is or has been implemented with the participation of the community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.

       P.6 The programme, project or activity may serve as a subregional, regional or international model, as the case may be, for safeguarding activities.

       P.7 The submitting State(s) Party(ies), implementing body(ies), and community, group or, if applicable, individuals concerned are willing to cooperate in the dissemination of best practices, if their programme, project or activity is selected.

       P.8 The programme, project or activity features experiences that are susceptible to an assessment of their results.

I.4 Eligibility and selection criteria of International Assistance requests

       8. All States Parties are eligible to request International Assistance. International Assistance provided to States Parties for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage is supplementary to national efforts for safeguarding.

       9. The Committee may receive, examine and approve requests for any purpose and for any form of International Assistance mentioned in Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention respectively, depending on the available resources. Priority is given to requests for International Assistance concerning:

       (a) the safeguarding of the heritage inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;

       (b) the preparation of inventories in the sense of Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention;

       (c) support for programmes, projects and activities carried out at the national, subregional and regional levels aimed at the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage;

       (d) preparatory assistance.

       10. When examining requests for International Assistance, the Committee shall take into account the principle of equitable geographical distribution and the special needs of developing countries. The Committee may also take into account whether:

       (a) the request implies cooperation at the bilateral, regional or international levels; and/or

       (b) the assistance may have a multiplier effect and may stimulate financial and technical contributions from other sources.

       11. International Assistance as described in Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention may be granted on an emergency basis, as mentioned in Article 22 of the Convention (emergency assistance).

       12. The Committee will base its decisions on granting assistance on the following criteria:

       A.1 The community, group and/or individuals concerned participated in the preparation of the request and will be involved in the implementation of the proposed activities, and in their evaluation and follow-up as broadly as possible.

       A.2 The amount of assistance requested is appropriate.

       A.3 The proposed activities are well conceived and feasible.

       A.4 The project may have lasting results.

       A.5 The beneficiary State Party shares the cost of the activities for which International Assistance is provided, within the limits of its resources.

       A.6 The assistance aims at building up or reinforcing capacities in the field of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

       A.7 The beneficiary State Party has implemented previously financed activities, if any, in line with all regulations and any conditions applied thereto.

I.5 Multi-national files

       13. States Parties are encouraged to jointly submit multi-national nominations to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity when an element is found on the territory of more than one State Party.

       14. The Committee encourages the submission of subregional or regional programmes, projects and activities as well as those undertaken jointly by States Parties in geographically discontinuous areas. States Parties may submit these proposals individually or jointly.

       15. States Parties may submit to the Committee requests for International Assistance jointly submitted by two or more States Parties.