ICH NGO Forum

In recognition of World Refugee Day, the Working Group on Conflict and Displacement (ICH NGO Forum) held an on-line panel discussion on June 20, 2025 "Strength Through Culture: Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Lives of Refugees". World Refugee Day is a global moment to recognize the strength and courage of people…

“Look at heritage as the witness of our humanity” (Nahla Emam, Egypt) From 4 to 6 June 2025, Castel Capuano in Naples hosted UNESCO’s Second Conference on Cultural Heritage in the 21st Century, co-organized by the Government of Italy and UNESCO. This pivotal gathering built upon the “Spirit of Naples”…

Dear 2025 JIAPICH Applicants, Thank you once again for your interest and participation in the 7th edition of the JIAPICH. We were honored to receive an unprecedented number of applications from across the globe — the highest in the history of the awards. It is a strong testament to the…

It is with deep sorrow that we learned of the passing of Kristin Kuutma. Kristin was a pivotal figure in the field of Intangible Cultural Heritage and left an indelible mark on the 2003 Convention from its very beginnings. A renowned anthropologist, professor at the University of Tartu, holder of…

The Executive board of the ICH NGO Forum in collaboration with ICOMOS ICICH International Scientific Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Working group on legal and policy development is organising a webinar on the ICOMOS Charter and guidance on sites with ICH. Join us on May 7th at 2pm…

(Click here for the french version) Wednesday, 16 April 2:00–3:30 PM CET (Zoom link) The ICH NGO Forum has been involved in the Culture 2030 Goal Campaign since 2023. As the campaign advances its aim of securing a stand-alone goal for culture in the post-Agenda 2030 framework, it is essential that…

Summary Drawing on extensive ethnographic engagement with the social world of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, this Element explores the mainstreaming of sustainable development principles in the heritage field. It illustrates how, while deeply entwined in the UN standardizing framework, sustainability narratives are expanding…

Based on the Jeonju Declaration on the Protection of ICH adopted by the first international intangible heritage decree in 2017, the Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage (JIAPICH) aims to encourage the model safeguarding practices of ICH in the global community regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, race, age,…

Dear NGO members, The Electoral Board is pleased to announce the call for candidates for the election of one member from the Africa region to join the ICH NGO Forum Executive Board, which was elected in December 2024. In compliance with the electoral rules, this election aims to select one…

The Working Group on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), Climate Change, and the Environment of the ICH NGO Forum, that brings together 264 NGOs accredited by UNESCO under the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, invites researchers, practitioners, and community members to submit abstracts for articles to…

The Centre for Agrarian History (CAG) and the Dutch Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage (KIEN) invite European researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and heritage professionals to participate in an interdisciplinary workshop in Leuven (Belgium) on 19-20 June 2025. We hope to foster connections that could lead to new initiatives and partnerships focused on environmental resilience across Europe.…

The new ICH NGO Forum Executive Board members were elected in Asuncion on 3rd December 2024. In compliance with the Electoral Rules, the elections this year were aimed at electing members for three electoral regions (Africa, Asia Pacific, and Western Europe & North America). According to the Electoral Board’s decision a…

UNESCO’s Overall Results Framework (ORF) to the 2003 Convention offers a global framework to set the course and goals for everyone working around the Convention. The ORF can inspire, influence and guide national ICH policies as well as other stakeholders in the Convention, such as NGOs. NGOs do not only contribute to the goals of the…