2009 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

2008 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

2007 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec

20 October

• Accession by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Paris, 20 October 2005)
  On 25 September 2009, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines deposited with the Director-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In accordance with the terms of its Article 29, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument, that is to say on 25 December 2009.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46622&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Accession by Dominican Republic to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Paris, 20 October 2005)
  On 24 September 2009, the Dominican Republic deposited with the Director-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In accordance with the terms of its Article 29, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to the Dominican Republic three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument, that is to say on 24 December 2009.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46621&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Accession by Australia to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Paris, 20 October 2005)
  On 18 September 2009, Australia deposited with the Director-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

  The instrument contained the following declaration in respect of Article 16:

  “Australia declares that it considers that the obligation in Article 16 on developed countries to ‘facilitate cultural exchanges with developing countries by granting, through the appropriate institutional and legal frameworks, preferential treatment to artists and other cultural professionals and practitioners as well as cultural goods and services from developing countries’ is not intended to affect the content or interpretation of domestic legislation, regulations, rules or criteria relating to eligibility for immigration visas or permits, or the exercise of discretion under legislation or regulations or in respect of rules or criteria.”

  The instrument contained the following reservation with regard to Article 20(1)(a) and (b):

  “The Convention shall be interpreted and applied in a manner that is consistent with the rights and obligations of Australia under any other treaties to which it is a party, including the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. This Convention shall not prejudice the ability of Australia to freely negotiate rights and obligations in other current or future treaty negotiations.”

  In accordance with the terms of its Article 29, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to Australia three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument, that is to say on 18 December 2009.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46625&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Accession by the Netherlands to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Paris, 20 October 2005)
  On 9 October 2009, the Netherlands deposited with the Director-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In accordance with the terms of its Article 29, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to the Netherlands three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument, that is to say on 9 January 2010.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46698&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

2 October

• Workshop on the convention for the protection of cultural property in armed conflict Culture
  UNESCO Beirut in close cooperation with the section of museums and cultural objects at UNESCO HQs organized a workshop on the implementation of the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954). The three-day workshop aimed at raising awareness to participants on the convention and to teach its correct implementation in order to preserve and protect the cultural property of Lebanon...
  More information: http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/FIELD/Beirut/
  pdf/UNESCO%20Beirut%20newsletter%20(April%202009).pdf

• UNESCO’s intangible Cultural Heritage Convention “fully operational”
  The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today in Abu Dhabi closed the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage. He welcomed the fact that the Intangible Heritage Convention adopted in 2003 became a fully operational legal instrument so quickly.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46537&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Ratification by Montenegro of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)
  On 14 September 2009, Montenegro deposited with the Director-General its instrument of ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In accordance with the terms of its Article 34, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to Montenegro three months after the date of the deposit of this instrument, that is to say on 14 December 2009.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46485&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• Ratification by Haiti of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003)
  On 17 September 2009, Haiti deposited with the Director-General its instrument of ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In accordance with the terms of its Article 34, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to Haiti three months after the date of the deposit of this instrument, that is to say on 17 December 2009.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46490&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

1 October

• Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage inscribes 12 elements in eight countries on UNESCO's List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
  The Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage, chaired by Awadh Ali Saleh Al Musabi (United Arab Emirates), has identified 12 elements of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding in eight countries during its current session in Abu Dhabi. The inscription of cultural practices in Belarus, China, France, Kenya, Latvia, Mali, Mongolia and Viet Nam, which were examined by independent experts, marks the launch by the Committee of the List of Intangible Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The Committee considered that the viability of these cultural elements is endangered, despite the efforts of the communities or groups concerned. Following the inscription, States concerned will implement specific safeguarding plans, as indicated in their nomination files. Intangible cultural elements in need of urgent safeguarding will be eligible for financial assistance from the Fund established to this end.
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46527&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

• The Tango, Ainu dance of Japan and France’s Aubusson tapestry inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
  The Tango of Argentina and Uruguay, the traditional Ainu dance of Japan and France’s Aubusson tapestries are among the 76 elements inscribed on 30 September on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These 76 inscriptions were decided by the 24 Member States of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage, currently holding its 4th session in Abu Dhabi under the chairmanship of Awadh Ali Saleh Al Musabi (United Arab Emirates).
  More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46523&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Report of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on its activities (2006-2008)
http://www.unesco.org/en/general-conference-35session/documents/

Report on the 2008-2009 activities and the fifteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation
http://www.unesco.org/en/general-conference-35session/documents/