UK becomes the 183rd State to join UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage

This article was first published by UNESCO.

Created in 2003, UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage recognizes traditional craftsmanship, oral traditions and expressions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe.

The United Kingdom is thus committed to an increased inventory of the country’s traditions, including practices inspired by diaspora communities, and to better safeguarding of the most at-risk. To this end, the Government of the United Kingdom launched a public consultation in January 2024 on the creation of a new register onto which communities across the country could “nominate their most cherished local traditions”.

On 7 March 2024, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland deposited with the Director-General its instrument of ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003).

In accordance with the terms of its Article 34, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument, that is to say on 7 June 2024.