UNESCO treaty on protecting oral traditions could come into force next year

UN Media Center Report

"A treaty to protect the world’s oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, craftsmanship and knowledge of nature is on track to enter into force next year following a slew of new ratifications, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said today. Eleven countries – Algeria, Mauritius, Japan, Gabon, Panama, China, Central African Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and the Republic of Korea – have now ratified the Convention on the Safeguarding on the Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in 2003. 'If this rhythm is maintained, we could expect the Convention to enter into force next year. This is very good news for those who’re justly concerned about the threats weighing against this particularly vulnerable heritage,' UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said, noting that the 11 ratifications only 16 months after its adoption placed it among those most rapidly ratified."