Indonesia Asks for UNESCO Committee Seat, Brings Community Cultural Heritage Issues

JAKARTA - Indonesia has begun to garner support for admission to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage UNESCO period 2026-2030. This seat is important because the committee helps determine the direction of the protection of the world's intangible cultural heritage.

The nomination was presented by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, at the 224th Executive Board Meeting of UNESCO at the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, Wednesday (22/4).

In a written statement received in Jakarta, Friday, April 24, Fadli said Indonesia brought the Living Heritage, Shared Future platform. The content emphasizes the protection of community-based intangible cultural heritage, more equal cooperation, and access to international support for developing countries.

The forum was attended by around 300 delegates from member countries and the UNESCO secretariat. Indonesia used it to introduce the vision of the nomination as well as build diplomatic support.

In front of the delegation, Indonesia also displayed Pendet Dance and Gamelan. Pendet Dance is part of the Three Traditional Balinese Dance Genres that were inscribed by UNESCO in 2015. Gamelan was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2021.

Fadli also presented the plan to establish the Asia-Pacific Center for Community-Based Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Indonesia as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre.

This center is directed to be a space for capacity building, knowledge exchange, and preservation of intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. The proposal is also an offer from Indonesia that developing countries not only play the role of tradition owners, but also participate in determining how traditions are protected.

Indonesia considers intangible cultural heritage to be part of sustainable development. Therefore, the UNESCO forum is used to strengthen Indonesia's position in global cultural policies.

Fadli was accompanied by the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation Endah T.D. Retnoastuti, the Director of Diplomacy Raden Usman Effendi, and the Head of the Museum and Cultural Heritage Esti Nurjadin.

The government hopes that this participation will increase the support of UNESCO member states for Indonesia's nomination and strengthen Indonesia's role in multilateral cultural diplomacy.