Panama enters an intergovernmental committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO

Panama, September 10, 2020.-For the first time in history, Panama has been elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The announcement was made at the eighth meeting of the General Assembly of the States parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

To Panama's Minister of Culture, Carlos Aguilar Navarro, this is a designation that filled with rejoicing to the country and to the region, as this important nomination involves a number of commitments and responsibilities for Panama, and currently it's building a strong public policies and cultural governance architecture, at a historic moment for the country, with the discussion at the National Assembly of the first General Law on Culture.

"On behalf of the National Government, it's an honor to be represented by Panama at this important commission with 24 members from the 178 countries participating in the UNESCO. To our countries of insurance will be a great opportunity that will allow us to even be propose to host some global meeting in this four-year period.

That designation became an area with a great deal of learning and we will be enriched with the experiences of every member of this prestigious committee, and will certainly have results that will greatly benefit our Intangible Cultural Heritage, "said the Minister.

At the regular meeting, representatives of nations discuss issues of great relevance to the safeguard of living heritage throughout the world.

Intangible cultural heritage is an important factor in maintaining the cultural diversity of countries, integrating the living traditions or expressions inherited from our ancestors and transmitted to our descendants as oral traditions, arts of the show, social uses, rituals, festive acts, knowledge and practices related to nature and universe, knowledge and technologies related to traditional crafts.

The production of the Pinta 'or Hat and the congo culture are representative elements of the Panamanian inmaterial cultural heritage that have entered the list of Inmaterial Cultural Heritage of the Womens of the UNESCO.

As a member country, Panama will be able to participate in meetings at which decisions or recommendations are made with a voice and a vote in proposals and will also be able to integrate with the teams evaluating at the final stage countries' applications for Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The members of the Intergovernmental Committee are elected by the General Assembly in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution and rotation.