ICH: Context of

Moldova

TOWARDS RECOGNIZING ICH

• 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention

• 1989 UNESCO Recommendation on Safeguarding Traditional Culture & Folclore

• 1998 Stockholm Recommenation

• 2002 Istanbul Declaration

• 2003 UNESCO ICH Convention

2003 ICH CONVENTION

• Adopted in Oct-2003 in Paris

• Entered into force in Apr-2006

• 144 countries ratified as at Aug-2012

UNESCO ICH LIST

• 27 elements – Need Urgent Safeguarding +• 215 elements – Representative List

as at August 2012

Moldova Context: RURALITY• MD = most rural country in Europe

• Official Ruralization Trend (% rural population ↑ from 52.3% (1989) to 61% (2004)

• De-factor urbanisation = approx 30%

• >80% of population are living in settlements <10,000 inhabit.

• >50% of urban population are born in rural area

Moldova Context: MULTICULTURALISM• 75% of Moldovans/Romanians• Bilingualism • 20% ‘Russian speakers’ vs 5% of ethinic

Russians• Important minority groups (compactly living) –

Gagauzians & Bulgarians

Moldova Context: ROMANIAN Origin• Common history/culture with Romania

• Share the same ICH

• Controversial (political identity) RO vs MD

Moldova Context: Legal Context

• Ratified UNESCO ICH Convention (2006)• Special Law on ICH (March 2012)• Law on Craftsmanship (2003)• Law on Museums (2002)• Law on Culture (1999)• Law on Archive (1992)

ICH Law: Goal To ensure a national legal framework for

definition, identification, protection, transmission, promotion, revitalization and exploration of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

ICH Law: Definition The totality of elements of traditional authentic

heritage, valuable from cultural and historical perspective, transmitted oral from generation to generation, expressed in literal, musical or choreographic form, practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities and groups recognize as part of the heritage.

ICH Law: Domains Covered• Oral expressions• Music• Social practices (ritual, festive events, customs)• Cosmology and spiritual beliefs• Traditional craftsmanship• Gastronomy• Traditional cultural institutions (’claca’, ‘sezatoarea’, etc.)

• Material meaning of ICH transmission

ICH Law: Tools• Scientific Research

• National ICH Registry

• Honorific Title ‘Treasure Carrier Alive’

• Safeguarding & Revitalization measures

• Financing mechanisms

National ICH Registry

• Document in preparation (expeced in 2012)

• 2 Volumes: - Vol 1: ICH related to Moldovans/Romanians (approximately 400 ellements) - Vol 2: ICH related to minorities

Work in Progress

• National Strategy on Safeguarding ICH

MD in UNESCO ICH List

• First element in preparation (‘colindatul in ceata barateasca’) jointly with Romania

• 2 proper elements already introduced at the innitiative of Romania (‘Doina’ & ‘Dansul calutului’)

Thank you for attention!