RATIFICATION OF THE 2003 UNESCO CONVENTION FOR SAFEGUARDING OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE (ICH)

1. RATIFICATION OF THE 2003 UNESCO CONVENTION FOR SAFEGUARDING OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE (ICH) Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Arts & Culture AA115

2. TABLE OF CONTENT • Introduction • Background • Consultations • Benefits • National Policy on ICH • Progress to date • Way forward 2

3. INTRODUCTION • Purpose of this presentation is to formally brief the Portfolio Committee on the process and objectives of ratifying the Convention. • The UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) was adopted on 17 October 2003 in Paris. • The Convention provides for the safeguarding, preservation and promotion of ICH. 3

4. BACKGROUND • ICH refers to practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills as well as instruments, objects, artifact and cultural spaces associated with communities, groups and individuals and recognized as part of their cultural heritage. • In South Africa, Intangible Cultural Heritage is commonly referred to as living heritage. The country’s living heritage is rich and diverse. Intangible Cultural Heritage talks to and is relevant to the majority of the country’s citizens. • Among other measures, the convention obliges state parties to identify, define and device appropriate measures for its preservation. 4

5. CONSULTATION • The decision to ratify the convention was arrived at through a process of consultation, as well as based on a need to safeguard, and promote South Africa’s ICH. • Consultations were held with a range of stakeholders, including civil society, statutory institutions, other government departments and practitioners in the field of ICH. 5

6. CONSULTATION (CONTINUED) • At a national consultative workshop held in Pretoria on 26-27 July 2007, over 250 representatives of the sector were unanimous that the department should proceed to ratify the convention. • The workshop encouraged government to move faster in the safeguarding, preservation and promotion of ICH as most of it is under threat of extinction. 6

7. BENEFITS • The ratification and implementation of the ICH convention presents opportunity for government to redress the current approach to heritage. • It has potential to decolonize S.A. Heritage which is dominated by Monuments and Museums. • Intangible Cultural Heritage can contribute to social cohesion and nation building. 7

8. BENEFITS (CONTINUED) • Some aspects of ICH, whether one talks of performances, rituals and rites of passage to name but a few, take place in a communal context, thereby foster communal cooperation. • The National Policy will provide a systematic framework for preserving and promoting S.A. Intangible Cultural Heritage. • Some elements of ICH are under threat of extinction, both the Convention and National Policy will assist in rejuvenating endangered heritage. 8

9. REGIONAL COOPERATION • The 2003 UNESCO Convention is explicit that its implementation should take place in the context of participation by communities, groups and non governmental organizations. • The convention further promotes regional, continental and international cooperation in the safeguarding of ICH. • South Africa shares borders with 6 countries namely; Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. • Apart from sharing borders, South Africa also shares a lot of culture and heritage with these countries. • Some of the advantages that will accrue to South Africa on ratification of the convention is that the country will be party to the sharing of international expertise and best practice. 9

10. REGIONAL COOPERATION(CONTINUED) • It will also intensify regional cooperation and integration on cultural matters. • The Convention provides for two lists, a representative list and a list of ICH in need of urgent safeguarding. • It provides for space to develop joint listing of ICH within the region. • Implementation of the convention will require close collaboration with other national departments that do work pertaining to ICH, for example the Department of Science and Technology developed a national policy on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). 10

11. NATIONAL POLICY ON ICH • The Department of Arts and Culture is in the process of developing a national policy on Intangible Cultural Heritage. • The policy will be a national framework that will set norms and standards for preservation, promotion and transmission. • The national policy has potential to rectify the inequality between tangible and intangible heritage, and thereby contribute to the decolonization of South African Heritage. 11

12. PROGRESS TO DATE • Legal opinions of consistency with domestic and international law obligations were obtained from the State Law Advisors of the Department of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Environmental Affairs and Tourism. • The Department has finalized a Cabinet Memorandum. • The Cabinet Memorandum was signed off by the Minister on the 5th October 2007. 12

13. WAY FORWARD • Awaiting parliamentary processes. • Completion and implementation of national policy. • National Audit to establish size and extent of South Africa’s ICH. • Will begin listing ICH soon after the ICH audit and inventory. 13

14. ThankYou