0 com ith/15/10. Com/Decisions Windhoek, December 2015 Original: English/French

DECISION 10.COM 10.b.1

The Committee

1. 
   Takes note that Afghanistan has nominated Attan (No. 00986) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
   

Attan is a communal dance performed among Pashtun communities often during festivities. The group of dancers, whose numbers can range to several dozen, forms a circle with a double-headed drum at the centre. The drummer takes up the beat while a facilitator controls the rhythms of the dancers. As a lighter percussion instrument and flute join the music, the head, arm, hand and feet movements of the dancers become more pronounced and precise, moving in synchronization. The performance culminates in an atmosphere of communion and jubilation. Increasing popularity of Attan has led to performances at weddings and official celebrations, where the variety of movements and array of instruments has enabled it to reach new artistic heights. For women, Attan is an artistic and expressive forum in which their enthusiasm for the tradition fuels a process of continuous recreation. Young girls are inspired to take part when celebrating marriages and family events, often invited by the family members of future spouses. Attan helps communities, divided into tribes, to present a part of their cultural and social identity and acts as an external expression of shared feelings of happiness. It also revives and gives fresh impetus to gatherings that form part of collective community memories.

2. 
   Decides that the information included in the file is not sufficient to allow the Committee to determine whether the following criteria are satisfied:
   

R.1: The nomination does not adequately delineate the contour and scope of the communities and/or groups concerned, nor the persons with special responsibilities for the practice and transmission of Attan; additional information is needed to identify clearly the element’s social and cultural functions and meanings, beyond generalities or vague observations;

R.2: Instead of demonstrating how possible inscription could ensure the visibility of intangible cultural heritage in general and raise awareness of its significance, the nomination describes anticipated consequences that concern only Attan; moreover, references to inscription as ‘world heritage’ serving as an evidence of authenticity and to the perpetuation of a model are not compatible with the spirit of the Convention;

R.3: Apart from outlining the longstanding viability of Attan, the description of past, ongoing and proposed safeguarding measures lacks clarity, consistency and specificity; the participation of communities and stakeholders in their planning and implementation needs to be elaborated in more concrete terms, as well as the cooperation among all parties concerned, with special attention given to measures intended to mitigate potential threats to the element that might arise as a consequence of possible inscription;

R.4: The nomination refers to requests for inscription submitted by community representatives and members, but incorporates only four letters of consent written by individuals representing four selected communities, without explaining the selection, the identity of these individuals and the nature of their involvement in the nomination process; concurrently, active participation of practising communities, groups and individuals cannot be assessed given the imprecise definition of the element;

R.5: Although the nomination provides evidence concerning the inclusion of Attan in the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Information and Culture, it fails to demonstrate that such inclusion complies with Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention.

3. 
   Decides to refer the nomination of Attan to the State Party for additional information and invites it to resubmit the nomination to the Committee for examination during a following cycle;
   
4. 
   Commends the State Party for making considerable progress in the implementation of the Convention, despite severe social and political crises, and welcomes its submission of this first nomination to the Representative List;
   
5. 
   Further invites the State Party, should it wish to resubmit the nomination, to avoid inappropriate language such as ‘authenticity’, ‘unique’, ‘marvellous’ and ‘world heritage’;
   
6. 
   Encourages the State Party, should it wish to resubmit the nomination, to consider creating a more descriptive title of the element, to take particular care with the clarity and specificity of information provided, and to provide a well-prepared video depicting the element in its diverse cultural and social contexts.
   

DECISION 10.COM 10.b.2

The Committee

1. 
   Takes note that Algeria has nominated Sbuâ, annual pilgrimage to the zawiya of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem in Gourara (No. 00667) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
   

Each year, pilgrims from Zenata communities in the south-west Algerian Sahara visit mausoleums of saints to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed. Sbuâ is a pilgrimage, which runs for a week and entails cultural practices that focus on group activities, which include celebrations with singing and dancing. On the seventh day, pilgrims conclude the journey in a square outside a zawiya (community institution) in the centre of Gourara, which houses the mausoleum of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem. Different groups of pilgrims symbolically merge around a bearer carrying the standard of a saint before returning to their respective groups to continue the ritual, which is governed by the oldest pilgrims. Women participate by ululating and presiding over the ‘millstone’ ritual a week before the ceremony, during which they grind the first handful of cereal used to make couscous for the pilgrims. Tradition bearers can trace their lineage back to the saints and describe themselves as descendants. Children and youth are involved formally in various aspects (acts, prayers and chants), gradually becoming knowledge bearers themselves. Sbuâ is considered by the communities, given the body of beliefs and rites enacted as part of the pilgrimage, to be an expression of their history and the links that bind them.

2. 
   Decides that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria:
   

R.1: The knowledge and practices of Sbuâ are transmitted from generation to generation primarily through the act of participation itself; the element reasserts religious, social and cultural ties among communities that may otherwise be adversaries, providing them with a shared sense of identity and continuity;

R.2: Inscription of the element could increase awareness concerning the capacity of intangible cultural heritage to contribute to a culture of peace and reconciliation through symbolic acts and festive spirit; it could also contribute to the visibility of other elements in the region and encourage their safeguarding, in particular given that the enactment of Sbuâ incorporates various domains of intangible cultural heritage;

R.3: Although the proposed safeguarding measures rely strongly on past and current efforts, they nevertheless address possible unintended consequences of inscription, and demonstrate active participation of communities concerned in their planning and implementation, as well as the coordination and support provided by governmental bodies;

R.4: In addition to taking part in research on the element, members of village communities of Gourara and custodians of the mausoleums were involved in the entire process of nomination, from the selection of the element to the final verification of the file, and provided their free, prior and informed consent to it;

R.5: Since 2005, Gourara Sbuâ has been included in the National Database of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is maintained and periodically updated by the National Centre for Prehistoric, Anthropological and Historical Research.

3. 
   Inscribes Sbuâ, annual pilgrimage to the zawiya of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem in Gourara on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
   
4. 
   Encourages the State Party to pay particular attention to ensuring that safeguarding measures respond adequately to the social dynamics on the ground and the increased visibility and public attention that will follow the inscription on the Representative List.
   

DECISION 10.COM 10.b.3

The Committee

1. 
   Takes note that Andorra, Spain and France have nominated Summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees (No. 01073) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
   

The summer solstice fire festivals take place in the Pyrenees each year on the same night when the sun is at its zenith. Once night falls, people from different towns and villages carry flaming torches down the mountains to light a variety of traditionally constructed beacons. The descent is a special moment for young people, signifying the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The festival is considered a time for regenerating social ties and strengthening feelings of belonging, identity and continuity with celebrations including popular folklore and communal dining. Roles are assigned to specific people. In some municipalities, the mayor is involved with lighting the first beacon. In others, a priest blesses or lights the fire. Elsewhere, the most recently married man lights the fire and leads the descent to the village. Often, young unmarried girls await the arrival of the torchbearers in the village with wine and sweet pastries. In the morning, people collect embers or ashes to protect their homes or gardens. The element has deep roots among local communities and is perpetuated thanks to a network of associations and local institutions. The most important locus of transmission is the family, where people keep the memory of this heritage alive.

2. 
   Decides that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria:
   

R.1: The summer solstice fire festivals reflect cyclical regeneration of family and social ties, promote a culture of volunteering, solidarity and hospitality, and strengthen the feeling of belonging, identity and continuity of the Pyrenean communities in the three submitting States; family serves as the hub of the element’s transmission to younger generations, complemented by the web of torchbearers and other associations;

R.2: In addition to greater visibility of intangible cultural heritage at large and awareness of its significance by virtue of the element’s multinational character, its inscription on the Representative List could shed light on the cultural varieties and creative solutions responsive to a specific environmental context, thus confirming the importance of the intangible cultural heritage as a mainspring of cultural diversity and a guarantee of sustainable development;

R.3: Resulting from a lengthy nomination process including an in-depth analysis of the current state of safeguarding, the proposed safeguarding measures are characterized by their holistic and cross-cutting approach, pertaining to all intangible components, as well as tangible ones such as cultural spaces and routes; they have been elaborated in a thoroughly collaborative manner, with communities playing a decisive role in their conception and elaboration while States Parties secured budgets, technical support and human resources;

R.4: The nomination file clearly demonstrates a very wide participation of communities, groups and individuals concerned throughout a long, distinctly collaborative, gradually expanding, coordinated and demanding process of nomination; numerous representatives of the general population, relevant associations and local institutions provided a broad spectrum of attestations to their free, prior and informed consent to the nomination;

R.5: The inclusion of the element in inventories of the three submitting States was conducted in line with distinct procedures in each, but always in conformity with Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention.

3. 
   Inscribes Summer solstice fire festivals in the Pyrenees on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
   
4. 
   Commends the States Parties for elaborating a multinational file exemplary in both its substance and form;
   
5. 
   Further commends the States Parties in particular for securing and demonstrating the widest possible participation of the communities, groups and individuals concerned in preparing and elaborating the nomination at all stages, and for providing a broad range of demonstrations and attestations of their free, prior and informed consent.
   

DECISION 10.COM 10.b.4

The Committee

1. 
   Takes note that Argentina has nominated Filete porteño in Buenos Aires, a traditional painting technique (No. 01069) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
   

Filete porteño from Buenos Aires is a traditional painting technique used for ornamental design that combines brilliant colours with specific lettering styles. It can be seen as a form of decoration on urban buses and trucks and is also used for store signage and increasingly, home decoration. Images used relate back to the city’s heritage incorporating social and religious elements, acting as a form of collective memory. Popular designs include icons representing saints, admired politicians, music and sports idols. Sayings and proverbs are sometimes also incorporated in the designs. The technique begins with a drawing, which is then transferred to a support. Synthetic paint, coloured varnish and special longhaired brushes are then used to complete the work. Filete craftsmen transmit this technique to anyone who wants to learn it. Formal education is not required to develop the skills needed, which represents an opportunity for some young people in the community who are at risk of social exclusion. In the last few decades, a new generation of craftswomen have participated in Filete workshops and the practice in general, producing a new aesthetic for the artform.

2. 
   Decides that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria:
   

R.1: The painting technique Filete porteño conveys the shared values, collective memory and visual tastes of the inhabitants of Buenos Aires; the community of its bearers and practitioners today comprises both men and women who acquire their knowledge and skills non-formally through apprenticeship; a recent revival of the element has brought new opportunities and creative responses to the changing fabric of contemporary urban life;

R.2: The nomination testifies in its entirety to an interplay of continuity and creativity in the enactment of intangible cultural heritage in general, along with explaining how the inscription could contribute to dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation among various generations, communities of different origins and those that share similar artistic expressions, although it could have better described how the inscription of the element could contribute to the visibility of the intangible cultural heritage in general and raise awareness of its significance;

R.3: Complementing existing safeguarding efforts, the proposed measures are directed towards further research and documentation, strengthening of a practitioners’ association and its cooperation with governmental bodies, the growth and diversification of promotional activities, and various other actions that may foster a new momentum of revitalization; partnership between Filete craftspeople and public agencies reduces the risk of possible unintended results of the inscription;

R.4: The nomination is the result of collaboration between members belonging to different segments of the community and a team of experts; free, prior and informed consent is given in the form of video and audio clips depicting bearers of the element, as well as un-named citizens of Buenos Aires who express their support to the nomination;

R.5: The element was included in 2006 in an inventory called Cultural Heritage of the City of Buenos Aires through a process conducted in accordance with Articles 11 and 12 of the Convention.

3. 
   Inscribes Filete porteño in Buenos Aires, a traditional painting technique on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
   
4. 
   Commends the State Party for proposing an element that reveals the capacity of intangible cultural heritage to integrate tradition and innovation in the context of a modern metropolis;
   
5. 
   Further commends the State Party for a well-designed video delineating Filete painters, their actual work, concepts and identification with the element;
   
6. 
   Encourages the State Party to continue deliberating how the element could further contribute to ensuring visibility of the intangible cultural heritage in general and raise awareness of its significance at local, national and international levels.
   

DECISION 10.COM 10.b.5

The Committee

1. 
   Takes note that Armenia has nominated Kochari, traditional group dance (No. 01079) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
   

Kochari is a type of traditional group dance widely performed throughout Armenia during holidays, pilgrimages, national festive celebrations, weddings and family ceremonies. The dance is open to all participants without restrictions on sex, age or social status, with the number of dancers dependent on the available space. The musical accompaniment is played on traditional wind and percussion instruments while the dancers hold hands and move in unison in a straight or curved line, their feet making light steps and knees bending in time with their shoulders. Each region has its own variation of Kochari, which is distinguished by its melody and the manner of the dancing. Kochari is one of the few traditional folk dances, which is especially popular among youth, who perceive it as an expression of unity and national solidarity. In many villages, adults’ and children's groups are considered the main practitioners of the dance. Kochari is transmitted mainly among families. Young people learn the techniques at weddings and celebrations, as well as through formal and informal education in traditional folk ensembles and professional educational institutions.

2. 
   Decides that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criterion:
   

R.1: Kochari group dance provides a sense of identity; it is transmitted to younger generations in families and through a range of non-formal and formal settings; there are no restrictions of age or sex or social status, all the people in a given community or event participate in the dance; it is performed during holidays, pilgrimage, festive celebrations, weddings and other social festivities; it is performed in urban and rural communities.

3. 
   Further decides that the information included in the file is not sufficient to allow the Committee to determine whether the following criteria are satisfied:
   

R.2: The nomination fails to demonstrate how inscription on the Representative List would contribute to ensuring visibility of the intangible cultural heritage in general and awareness of its significance; all efforts are directed to Kochari itself, its community and national identity in the homeland and diaspora;

R.3: Ongoing and planned activities are oriented primarily to promotion, without paying enough attention to possible unintended consequences of the inscription such as over-commercialization of the dance or its prioritization over other elements, and without measures that would help the viability of specific variants in family and local context; the role of the communities concerned needs to be more clearly delineated and better differentiated from the role of the submitting State;

R.4: The evidence of community participation and consent is insufficient, in particular taking into account that the whole nation is said to identify itself strongly with the dance; the nomination reveals a distinctly top-down organization in the nomination process and reflects a limitation of practitioners to organizations and ensembles that reside in the capital city; all free, prior and informed consent documents bear these characteristics;

R.5: The information on the element’s inclusion in an inventory is incomplete, in particular regarding community participation in the identification and definition of the element, and the regular updating of the inventory.

4. 
   Decides to refer the nomination of Kochari, traditional group dance to the State Party for additional information and invites it to resubmit the nomination to the Committee for examination during a following cycle;
   
5. 
   Recommends the State Party, if it wishes to resubmit the nomination, to keep the information coherent and clear and to avoid repetition and generalities.
   

DECISION 10.COM 10.b.6

The Committee

1. 
   Takes note that Austria has nominated Classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School Vienna (No. 01106) for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:
   

Classical horsemanship at the Spanish Riding School Vienna is the traditional art and practice of breeding, keeping, training and riding Lipizzaner horses. The School’s various social practices and culturally-shaped rituals and ceremonies are based on the long-lasting relationship between breeders, grooms, craftspeople, riders and horses. Grooms, the foals’ first point of contact, transmit basic knowledge of horse husbandry to cadets. Breeders tend to the horses and pair up stallions and mares to meet the demands of the School. Experienced riders and young cadets are responsible for the colts resulting in a special relationship between rider and horse. A cadet’s early years are spent learning proper horse care, maintenance and the correct handling and use of equipment. Experienced riders pass on knowledge to cadets through mentoring. Women now have an important role in this traditionally male domain, being equally admitted to all positions. Veterinary surgeons ensure the health of each horse while saddlers, blacksmiths, hatters, tailors and shoemakers are responsible for producing and maintaining the facilities. The tradition also gives communities within the School a strong sense of identity and ensures the safeguarding of techniques and craftsmanship in many fields related to horse husbandry.

2. 
   Decides that, from the information included in the file, the nomination satisfies the following criteria:
   

R.1: The groups of riders, students, grooms, breeders, craftspeople and other specialists involved in the classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School Vienna continue a long history of interrelationship between rural and urban centres of breeding and horsemanship, which provides them with a sense of identity and continuity; today’s ways of transmission and the social functions and cultural meanings of the element are demonstrated, although less so in reference to husbandry;

R.2: Inscription of the element could raise awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage that incorporates the close relations between humans and animals, promotes respect for cultural and biological diversity, contributes to intercultural dialogue particularly between equestrians from various countries and regions, and creates more balanced gender relations in elements traditionally dominated by men;

R.3: Past and current efforts to safeguard the element are described and future measures aimed at research, raising awareness and transmission will be supported by the Spanish Riding School Vienna and the commitment of the State Party;

R.4: The equestrian team of the Spanish Riding School Vienna and other institutions involved participated in the nomination process and gave their free, prior and informed consent;

R.5: Classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School Vienna were included in March 2010 in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage maintained by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO and updated annually.

3. 
   Inscribes Classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School Vienna on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
   
4. 
   Commends the State Party for resubmitting this nomination, and for a video showing individuals involved in various capacities in the enactment and safeguarding of the element, along with demonstrating their attitudes and commitments;
   
5. 
   Reminds the State Party that expressions such as ‘purest form’, ‘false trends’, ‘unique’, ‘intact’ and ‘authenticity’ are not in conformity with the spirit of the Convention, even if they relate only to the understandings of the community concerned;
   
6. 
   Encourages the State Party to keep positioning the groups of riders, students, grooms, breeders, craftspeople and other concerned groups as central actors in the definition, enactment and safeguarding of the element, thus avoiding approaches that could freeze the element.