INTO welcomes new ICOMOS Charter

We are delighted to acknowledge the adoption of the ICOMOS International Charter and Guidance on Sites with Intangible Cultural Heritage. This was approved at the recent ICOMOS Annual General Assembly in November 2024 in Ouro Preto, Brazil. It marks the culmination of several years of dedicated efforts by the ICOMOS International Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH).

The Charter aligns seamlessly with INTO’s mission, as we recognise that tangible and intangible heritage – both natural and cultural – are inextricably linked. Traditional, social and cultural practices, along with knowledge passed down through generations, provide understanding and add meaning, value and context to objects, sites and other physical spaces.

We firmly believe that communities are vital to heritage conservation. The Charter’s focus on the deep relationships between heritage and the communities that sustain it resonates with INTO’s approach.

Our Withstanding Change project showcases the benefits of strong community engagement. Project partners have involved local communities in restoration efforts, delivering outreach programmes and organising educational activities about climate change and heritage. The project also facilitates knowledge exchange between international partners and locals, transforming restored sites into community hubs. These initiatives foster a sense of ownership, pride and sustainability in heritage conservation efforts.

The Charter also provides principles and guidance for professional heritage practices, including site management, documentation and interpretation. This comprehensive framework supports our efforts to share and develop best practices in heritage conservation and management.

INTO is committed to facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange among its members. We do this through a number of different programmes and projects such as TAP INTO, the Incubator, INTO Heritage Leaders, which also prioritise intergenerational learning. The Charter is a true global effort, with contributions from some of our members, reflecting this spirit of international cooperation.

The Charter’s alignment with international heritage conventions, such as the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, will strengthen our advocacy efforts – and those of others – for robust legal and regulatory frameworks that support heritage conservation.

Our new INTO chair is Vice President of ICOMOS International, chair of ICOMOS-Jordan and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Hence, we envisage ever closer ties as we move into the next phase of our development.

We therefore welcome the Charter and Guidance as valuable tools to reinforce the importance of intangible heritage. We believe they will support INTO’s ongoing efforts to protect and promote heritage worldwide. And we will continue to collaborate with and contribute to the important work of these UN agencies.