Jakarta – In the 19th Session of the Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO held in Paraguay, Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, through a virtual speech, expressed deep appreciation to UNESCO and Paraguay for organizing this important session, while reaffirming Indonesia’s commitment to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage as part of efforts to strengthen dialogue, peace, and global cooperation.
The Minister of Culture also expressed a strong commitment to the protection and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.
“On behalf of the Republic of Indonesia, we express our gratitude to UNESCO and Paraguay for organizing this important meeting.” “Although distance separates us, our shared appreciation for culture and heritage unites us as a means of cooperation, dialogue, and the promotion of universal values of peace,” stated the Minister of Culture.
He added that Indonesia, with more than 17,000 islands, 2,400 ethnic groups, and 720 regional languages, is a real example of vibrant cultural diversity. Through the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, Indonesia continues to promote cultural preservation that strengthens unity amidst diversity. Until now, Indonesia has registered more than 2,000 elements in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and 13 elements in the UNESCO List, with an additional three new elements to be ratified in this session.
“Intangible cultural heritage is not just a relic of the past, but a testament to the resilience and unity of humanity that is relevant to the challenges of the modern world, including climate change, conflict, urbanization, and technological advancement,” added Minister Fadli. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the Astacita vision serves as the foundation for efforts to strengthen the harmony between humans, culture, and nature.
Ready to Participate
On this occasion, Indonesia also expressed its readiness to participate in the nomination of members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at UNESCO for the 2026–2030 period.
This session is expected to be a momentum to prioritize the protection of intangible cultural heritage in national and international agendas.
The 19th Session of the Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is an annual international forum that brings together member countries to discuss measures for the protection, promotion, and preservation of the world’s intangible cultural heritage, based on the 2003 UNESCO Convention.
“In this session, Indonesia proposed three Indonesian cultural heritages: Reog Ponorogo (Urgent Safeguarding List category) which will be discussed on December 3, 2024; Kebaya (Multinational Nomination for the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity), which will be discussed on December 4, 2024; and Kolintang (Extension Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity category) which will be discussed on December 5, 2024,” concluded Minister of Culture Fadli Zon.
Next, he hopes that through Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy efforts, global cooperation can be realized in preserving cultural sustainability for future generations, thereby creating a more inclusive and sustainable world.
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