Safeguarding measures at national level worldwide

　　Armenia

　　2002 Law on the principles of cultural legislation
This law defines the main principles, aims and directions of the national cultural policy. The law covers the intangible cultural heritage as part of "cultural properties", but it does not have specific provisions for its safeguarding. It stipulates however that the provisions of the ratified international Conventions should be applied wherever there is a discrepancy between the 2002 law and the International Conventions.

　　Belgium

　　Flemish Communities in Belgium

　　Creation of the Flemish Centre for teh Study of Popular Culture (Vlaams Centrum voor Volkscultuur vzw: VCV) (1998)
The centre for the documentation and the safeguarding of the oral and intangible heritage of Flanders (VCV) was created following the decree on popular culture. This centre functions as a umbrella organisation with several institutions divided in research domains and types of heritage to be safeguarded.
Adoption of a decree on cultural heritage (May 2004)
It regulates the recognition and the division of museums as well as the relation between the cities and the Flemish government.

　　French Communities in Belgium

　　Adoption of the Wallon decree of 2002 (July 2002)
The French community in Belgium has adopted a new decree concerning movable cultural heritage and intangible heritage
Chapter VII of this decree concerns intangible heritage. It aims at protecting the cultural heritage of the French community, be it movable, living, oral or intangible heritage. The living cultural heritage, that means the intangible heritage embodied by practitioners and linked to cultural spaces, is protected by measures that guarantee its identification, conservation and disemination. The overall objective is to preserve cultural heritage, internationally reknown as a vital factor for the cultural identity, the promotion of creativity and the maintainence of cultural diversity.
The text ditinguishes three components of traditional and popular culture corresponding to the following titles: "Treasures of the living culture of the French community", "Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of the French community" and "Cultural spaces of the oral and intangible heritage of the French community".
The decree provides a definition of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (PCI) and the knowledge and skills related to it: oral expressions, traditional performences, traditional craftsmanship and the knowledge and traditional practices concerning nature.
Besides conversation measures (budget allocations for supporting safeguarding activities, equipment, recordings, support for the maintainance of cultural spaces), the decree foresees the promotion and dissemination of ICH.
The decree regulates the submission of dossiers of distinguished examples of the oral and intangible heritage presented to UNESCO, which have been recognized by the French Community.