ICHCAP

The second meeting of the Bureau of the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held on June 4, 2024 and addressed several key projects and approvals including five project grants of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund provides dedicated resources to States Parties for implementing various programs, projects, and activities aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. These initiatives include community-based inventorying, awareness-raising efforts, and specific activities like safeguarding living heritage in emergencies.

For the Asia-Pacific parties, Bangladesh was approved of projects for its heritage festivals and documents representing significant rituals across eight administrative divisions, highlighting minority cultural diversity. Additionally, preparatory assistance was granted for the nomination files of the `Toare Gulf Mask Festival` in Papua New Guinea, aiming for their inclusion on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. It was the first time for Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea to receive International Assistance, expanding UNESCO’s support to new regions.