Intangible Cultural Heritage

[Gulliver]

Category: Education and Creativity
Area of Effect: Cultural Heritage
Proposed by: [nation]Ile Royale[/nation]

The General Assembly,

NOTING the protection afforded to culturally significant artefacts by General Assembly Resolution 72;

RECOGNISING that there are many non-material aspects of culture not protected or preserved by that resolution;

DEFINING an intangible cultural heritage as a custom, practice, tradition or skill, and all locations and objects associated therewith, which is considered to be a part of the cultural heritage of a community, group or society by members of that community, group or society;

MANDATES that the Intangible Cultural Heritage Commission (ICHC) be established to categorise and record intangible cultural heritage;

ORDERS member states to assist the ICHC in its task by providing detailed and useful information regarding intangible cultural heritage within their territories;

REQUIRES member states to:

• a. adopt a general policy for the protection of intangible cultural heritage.
• b. criminalise any deliberate action which has the consequence of destroying an intangible cultural heritage by any means.

AFFIRMS the right of member states to restrict cultural practices that may cause harm to national populations, provided that academic information regarding these practices is recorded and submitted to the ICHC.

ENCOURAGES member states to institute policy aimed at training specialists with the necessary knowledge to protect and record intangible cultural heritage;

CALLS UPON member states to provide for education regarding intangible cultural heritage.

[McMasterdonia]

I don't know what I think about this one.

Makes me feel a little uneasy for some reason. For now, abstain.

[Funkadelia]

Im still at work, and on my phone, so i can't vote in the poll(assuming there is one) but i think this is carefully and consisely. Also, it supports a good and feasible cause. I am all for it.

[Gulliver]

I'm concerned by "criminalise any deliberate action which has the consequence of destroying an intangible cultural heritage by any means". If, for example, it's a part of a cultural heritage to observe a certain holiday, could they criminalize not celebrating the holiday because if enough people do it the heritage will be in danger of dying out?

[Funkadelia]

Damn. Got me again, Gulliver. I see the possibility of major issues with that clause. However, doesnt the organization formed by this resolution judge what action should be taken for each violation of the resolution?

[Delfos]

This is trying to be this: http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO

UNESCO is part of the UN and protects cultural heritage sights, it was created after WWII I think to protect monuments against military destruction, to prevent countries bombarding very significant monuments of humanity. One of the latests most important violation proclaimed by UNESCO was against the Taliban in 2001:

"The Kabul Museum, founded in 1930, was badly damaged and pillaged during years of fighting in the Afghan capital. Around 70% of the Museum's 100,000 artefacts have disappeared. The Museum received its deathblow in March 2001 when Taliban from the Ministry for the Repression of Vice and the Promotion of Virtue used hammers and axes to destroy priceless statues and other works of art."

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=4827&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

In principal, I have to agree with this, but the bill could be better written, I'll accept repeals that point out the flaws of this bill.

[Gulliver]

This is now at a vote.

[Gulliver]

I am calling my final position as abstaining.

[Gulliver]

This passed 7,029 votes to 3,120.