ICH Events

　　A lengthy quest for the function and values of cultural expressions and practices, and of monuments and sites, led by UNESCO, has paved the way for new approaches to understanding, protecting and respecting our cultural heritage. These approaches, which involve the recognition of communities and groups as those who identify, enact, recreate and transmit the intangible or living heritage, found their culminating point in the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which entered into force on 20 April 2006.
Chronology:

　　1966 - UNESCO's General Conference adopts the Declaration on the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation, which provides the basis for the development of cultural policies within UNESCO

　　1970 - An Intergovernmental Conference on the Institutional, Administrative and Financial Aspects of Culture is convened (Venice, Italy), marking the emergence of the notions of "cultural development" and of the "cultural dimension of development"

　　1972 - When the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is adopted, several Member States express interest in the importance of safeguarding what was later to be called intangible heritage

　　1973 - Bolivia proposes that a Protocol be added to the Universal Copyright Convention in order to protect folklore

　　1982 - The Mondiacult World Conference on Cultural Policies (Mexico City) acknowledges the increasing importance attached to 'intangible cultural heritage' and includes it in its new definition of culture and cultural heritage

　　1982 - UNESCO sets up the Committee of Experts on the Safeguarding of Folklore; "Section for the Non-Physical Heritage" established

　　1989 - The Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore is adopted by the General Conference

　　1994 - UNESCO launches the Living Human Treasures programme, following a proposal by the Republic of Korea

　　1996 - The report "Our Creative Diversity" notes that the 1972 Convention is not appropriate for celebrating and protecting artifacts and such expressions as dance or oral traditions, and calls for the development of other forms of recognition to match the true range and wealth of heritage found across the world

　　1997/1998 - UNESCO launches the Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity