Article 18: Programmes, Projects, and Activities for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage ‘Cinderella’ of UNESCO Heritage Lists

This chapter addresses the process of the drafting, establishing, functioning, and possible future development of the programmes, projects, and activities for the safeguarding of ICH. These are covered under Article 18 of the 2003 Convention. Article 18, together with Articles 16 and 17, create the ‘listing system’ of the Convention aimed at implementing the principle of safeguarding at the international level. As is the case of the former two lists, the name under which this system is currently known — the Register of Good (formerly: Best) Practices — does not appear in the exact wording of Article 18. However, it brings attention to the national, sub-regional, and regional programmes, projects, and activities which the Committee considers as optimally reflecting the principles and objectives of this Convention.