UNESCO has designated oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, or social practices worth protecting and preserving as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Two decades on since the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, with 181 States having ratified the Convention, the value of living heritage as not just the cultural manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills transmitted through generations is clearly recognized in national policies around the world. The forum this year was held to reflect the past 20 years and discuss the vision for the future.

Opening with remarks by the Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin,  Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, 8th UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Deputy Director-General of UNESCO Qu Xing, the forum featured active discussions among panelists and the public on the relations between the living heritage and sustainable livelihood, natural world, quality education and the digital environment.

The finale of the forum was the “Seoul Vision,” announced by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to UNESCO Bak Sang-mee and Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO Ernesto Ottone Ramirez on the second day. The vision concludes all the discussion for the two days. It recognizes the significant role of the intangible cultural heritage in contributing to sustainable development and emphasizes cooperation and participation from all stakeholders, including the local communities that practice transmit the ICH as well as national authorities, civil society organizations, international organizations and private sector.

The Czech Republic has 8 Intangible Cultural Heritages designated by UNESCO as of 2023:

1) Slovácko Verbuňk (recruit dances, designated in 2008)

2) Shrovetide door-to-door processions and masks in the villages of the Hlinecko area (2010)

3) Ride of the Kings in the south-east of the Czech Republic (2011)

4) Puppetry in Slovakia and the Czech Republic (2016)

5) Resist block printing and indigo dyeing in Europe (2018)

6) Handmade production of Christmas tree decorations from blown glass beads (2020)

7) falconry (2021)

8) timber rafting (2022)

For more information on the Czech ICH, visit the link below:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/state/czechia-CZ?info=elements-on-the-lists