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Addressee: Member States
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The Forum recommends that Member States ratify the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage and ensure that it is fully implemented.
Responses
The Government of Finland reports the following:
First of all, Finland is of the opinion that it is very important to take measures, both nationally and internationally, to safeguard intangible cultural heritage in its various forms. The main question in this respect is only what the best possible measures to reach this objective are. As to the UNESCO Convention, even though it contains many positive elements, the main feeling amongst the cultural experts and bodies in our country still is that the listing procedures - which are included even in the final version of the convention - will not necessarily bring any special added value to the safeguarding activities. Instead, they form an important, or major, part of the implementation of the convention, requiring both financial and human resources.
Having examined the final Convention, adopted by the 32nd General Conference of UNESCO, the Finnish Ministry of Education decided not to begin the process of ratification for the time being. Instead, the Ministry will follow the experiences of those countries which ratify it. The Ministry will also follow the debate on the Convention and on the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in general. In this way, Finland can review the question of ratification at any later point on the basis of information and feedback thus obtained from the relevant cultural bodies in our country.
The Government of Norway reports that the ratification on the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage is under deliberation in the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. No decision has yet been taken on starting the ratification process.
Final Report of UNPFII Session 3 (2004)
Area of Work
