She was elected by acclamation at the tenth session of the UNESCO General Assembly.
SANTO DOMINGO. The Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs reported that the country was elected, for the first time, as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), for a period of four years.
Both government entities explained that this membership reaffirms the Dominican Republic's commitment to the preservation, promotion and appreciation of cultural traditions, arts, craft techniques and rituals of different cultures, primary objectives of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Minister of Culture, Milagros Germán, described the decision as a historic achievement for the country, “and an opportunity to show the world the richness and diversity of our culture.”.
For his part, the Dominican ambassador to UNESCO, Andrés L. Mateo, highlighted that “this election represents a testament to the hard work and dedication carried out jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture, as well as by our Permanent Mission and the Dominican National Commission for UNESCO, through an effective diplomatic strategy, managing to build alliances and obtain the necessary support from the multilateral community.”.
In that regard, Germán emphasized that the Dominican Republic's participation in this committee "is a clear demonstration of the commitment to the protection and promotion of our intangible cultural heritage, and a platform to strengthen our capacities in this area.".
About the committee
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is a working body of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is made up of representatives of 24 States for a period of four years.
The Committee's functions include promoting the objectives of the Convention, offering advice on best practices, recommending measures to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, managing funds for the safeguarding of cultural heritage, proposing to the General Assembly the accreditation of non-governmental organizations, and providing international assistance.
