Italy enters for the first time the evaluation body of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. Prof. Pier Luigi Petrillo was elected by the 24 members for the intergovernmental committee of the Convention during its 13th session in Port Louis (Mauritius).
The evaluation body is called to examine the candidatures for inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, which are presented by the 178 State Parties to the Convention. In the light of the growing eagerness by countries and communities to protect and enhance their traditions, this body possesses a strategic role in order to foster cultural pluralism and dialogue.
Today, there are, 500 inscriptions to the intangible heritage representative list from more than 120 countries – ranging from the “Mediterranean Diet” to the “Art of the Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo”, to the latest elements inscribed during this session of the Committee: reggae music and traditional Korean wrestling, an historical submission by the two Koreas. During this session of the Committee, the Italian presence in the intangible cultural heritage list was also reinforced with the inscription of “The art of dry-stone walling, knowledge and techniques”, a transnational candidacy presented with Croatia, Cyprus, France, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland.
Italy’s leading role at UNESCO is further strengthened by this result. First global contributor to the Organization in 2018 and record owner of 54 World Heritage Sites, Italy firmly believes in cultural promotion policies as key foreign policy tools.
For more details:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/13com
