MedLiHerContribution to Implementing the Convention for Safeguarding of the

ICH in Mediterranean Countries

Phase II Evaluation MeetingCairo – Egypt28-30/11/2010

- The importance of - The importance of cultural issues at cultural issues at both the both the governmental and governmental and non-governmental non-governmental levels.levels.- The significance - The significance of its culture for of its culture for sustainable sustainable development and development and cultural dialogue.cultural dialogue.

MedLiHerMedLiHer assessment report ( assessment report (hereinafterhereinafter AR) AR) focused on the existing infrastructures, programs, focused on the existing infrastructures, programs, actual activities, and experiences related to ICH actual activities, and experiences related to ICH among individuals, governmental departments and among individuals, governmental departments and NGOs. NGOs.

- Launching MedLiHer was the sparkle for drawing - Launching MedLiHer was the sparkle for drawing the attention of the leadership in Jordan to the the attention of the leadership in Jordan to the importance and necessity of establishing an official importance and necessity of establishing an official body which would have the responsibility of body which would have the responsibility of gathering the scattered efforts in the field of ICH.gathering the scattered efforts in the field of ICH.

-- An action plan based on institutional efforts that An action plan based on institutional efforts that depended on local consultants was carried out to set depended on local consultants was carried out to set the guidelines to ensure Phase I implementation in the guidelines to ensure Phase I implementation in the light of the documents approved by UNESCO. the light of the documents approved by UNESCO.

- July 28, 2009: a steering committee headed by the - July 28, 2009: a steering committee headed by the Secretary General of JONATCOM and the Secretary General of JONATCOM and the membership of some experts from many cultural membership of some experts from many cultural institutions and universities was formed.institutions and universities was formed.

- March 22, 2010: A workshop was held in JOHUD - March 22, 2010: A workshop was held in JOHUD on to prepare for the formulation of the national on to prepare for the formulation of the national assessment. assessment.

- Five major groups were formed headed by experts - Five major groups were formed headed by experts to gather information from the national institutions to gather information from the national institutions concerned with ICH. concerned with ICH.

- Information were gathered based on UNESCO's Information were gathered based on UNESCO's datasheets and the basic document that gives datasheets and the basic document that gives detailed explanations of items of both datasheets. detailed explanations of items of both datasheets.

- April 4, 2010: A second workshop was held on April 4, 2010: A second workshop was held on at the Ministry of Education to examine and at the Ministry of Education to examine and assess the initial material gathered.assess the initial material gathered.

- April 8, 2010: A workshop has convened to April 8, 2010: A workshop has convened to discuss the reports delivered to the group discuss the reports delivered to the group coordinators.coordinators.

- June 2010: Under the patronage of HE the June 2010: Under the patronage of HE the Minister of Education / chairman of Minister of Education / chairman of (JONATCOM), and HE the Minister of Culture, (JONATCOM), and HE the Minister of Culture, a formal meeting was held to celebrate the a formal meeting was held to celebrate the accomplishment of the AR.accomplishment of the AR.

Some difficulties encountered, e.g.:Some difficulties encountered, e.g.:

1)1) Insufficient information Insufficient information available in the Jordanian available in the Jordanian institutions and institutions and organizations surveyed. organizations surveyed.

2)2) Some of the Some of the administrative members administrative members of certain institutions of certain institutions were not aware of the were not aware of the concept of ICH.concept of ICH.

The Impact of the AR at local and national The Impact of the AR at local and national levelslevels

-- It has contributed on a considerable scale in improving the It has contributed on a considerable scale in improving the understanding of ICH among some stakeholders, e.g. NGOs and understanding of ICH among some stakeholders, e.g. NGOs and also GOs and govt. institutions. Most of them valued the efforts of also GOs and govt. institutions. Most of them valued the efforts of the team for the material collected.the team for the material collected.

-- A Supreme Committee was recently established to determine A Supreme Committee was recently established to determine standards for the inventorying of Jordan’s ICH, and also standards for the inventorying of Jordan’s ICH, and also identifying the organizations and individuals working on ICH, as identifying the organizations and individuals working on ICH, as well as the actual practitioners and tradition bearers. well as the actual practitioners and tradition bearers.

- When Phase III comes to an end, I believe, there will be greater When Phase III comes to an end, I believe, there will be greater

evolution of funding and responsibility by the government for evolution of funding and responsibility by the government for improvement to NGOs and institutions concerned.improvement to NGOs and institutions concerned.

Highlights and ConclusionsHighlights and Conclusions

1)1) official governmental interest in ICH issues.official governmental interest in ICH issues.

2)2) the existence of certain potential the existence of certain potential institutions and organizations that contribute institutions and organizations that contribute to ICH issues in different and divergent to ICH issues in different and divergent ways.ways.

3)3) Jordanian laws and legislations can Jordanian laws and legislations can potentially be developed to deal with ICH potentially be developed to deal with ICH issues. issues.

Highlights and ConclusionsHighlights and Conclusions

4) the lack of a central official organizational 4) the lack of a central official organizational umbrella for ICH issues.umbrella for ICH issues.

5) weaknesses in integrating cultural heritage 5) weaknesses in integrating cultural heritage issues into the national strategic plan.issues into the national strategic plan.

6) awareness campaigns about the importance 6) awareness campaigns about the importance of ICH and its great value have not been of ICH and its great value have not been carried out. carried out.

7) None existence of ICH academic programs 7) None existence of ICH academic programs at Jordanian universities; at Jordanian universities;

Highlights and ConclusionsHighlights and Conclusions8) absence of Jordanian legislation for the protection and 8) absence of Jordanian legislation for the protection and

management of ICH.management of ICH.

9) a central entity responsible for documenting or inventorying 9) a central entity responsible for documenting or inventorying ICH does not exist. ICH does not exist.

10) 10) the lack of a database for listing and identifying the the lack of a database for listing and identifying the practitioners and researchers of ICH in Jordan.practitioners and researchers of ICH in Jordan.

11) overall organizational weakness resulting from 11) overall organizational weakness resulting from minimal financial support and lack of coordination minimal financial support and lack of coordination among the various entities, organizations and among the various entities, organizations and individuals with a vested interest in Jordan’s ICH. individuals with a vested interest in Jordan’s ICH.

Highlights and ConclusionsHighlights and Conclusions12) the weakness of ICH-related subjects infused 12) the weakness of ICH-related subjects infused

into the school curricula, where Cultural Heritage into the school curricula, where Cultural Heritage studies remain focused solely on tangible studies remain focused solely on tangible heritage.heritage.

13) decreasing research interest 13) decreasing research interest makes it difficult to determine makes it difficult to determine the appropriate solutions for thethe appropriate solutions for thedifferent problems facing the different problems facing the decline of a large sector of decline of a large sector of ICH in Jordan. ICH in Jordan.

Issues/points to be considered by future Issues/points to be considered by future Safeguarding and inventorying of ICH Safeguarding and inventorying of ICH

in Jordan, e.g.in Jordan, e.g.1)1) commoditizationcommoditization2)2) freezing,freezing,3)3) distortion or manipulation of the country’s distortion or manipulation of the country’s

ICH.ICH.4)4) different levels of participation among different levels of participation among

Jordan’s numerous social and ethnic Jordan’s numerous social and ethnic communities, communities,

5)5) and a concern for inclusivity while handling and a concern for inclusivity while handling the ICH in Jordan. the ICH in Jordan.

Needs and national priorities:Needs and national priorities:

1)1) Awareness CampaignsAwareness Campaigns2)2) National ICH Strategic PlanNational ICH Strategic Plan3)3) ICH legislationICH legislation4)4) Inventory of ICH in Jordan Inventory of ICH in Jordan

by taking into by taking into consideration, i.e.:consideration, i.e.:

a) different levels of a) different levels of participation.participation.b) Inclusivity of ICH elements vs. b) Inclusivity of ICH elements vs. cultural diversity.cultural diversity.c) levels of participation.c) levels of participation.

d) Inclusion or exclusion of certain aspects or d) Inclusion or exclusion of certain aspects or elements of the intangible heritageelements of the intangible heritage

e) Inappropriate use of ICH or access to it.e) Inappropriate use of ICH or access to it.

f) The ethical problems.f) The ethical problems.

Proposed pilot project !?Proposed pilot project !?

Inventory of ICH in Inventory of ICH in Jordan Jordan

Thank You Thank You