Safeguarding Intangible Heritage, Protecting Nations' Identity, and Investing in Peace and Sustainable Development / Living Heritage: A Capital for Social Resilience in Times of Crisis

The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, stressing the strategic role of intangible cultural heritage in sustaining historical identity, strengthening social resilience, and expanding understanding among nations, said: living heritage is a capital for sustaining cultural identity and building a shared future for humanity.

According to Aria's Heritage Reporter, Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, in a message on the occasion of the opening of the seventh regular meeting of the Board of Governors of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, which was read at the ceremony, pointed out the fundamental place of living heritage in the cultural life of societies, and considered the protection of this heritage as a shared responsibility for past, present and future generations and the need to strengthen regional and international cooperation within the framework of the 2003 Convention. UNESCO emphasized.

In this message, Salehi Amiri stated that civilizations are known by their works, but they continue with the living culture of their people, and stated: What remains of a nation in the passage of history is knowledge, experience, rituals, skills and ways of life that have taken root in the collective memory and have been transmitted from one generation to another.

He described the intangible cultural heritage as a living manifestation of the historical continuity of nations, which makes the past current in today's life and enables future generations to recognize their identity in a continuously changing world.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, referring to the simultaneous holding of the 7th meeting of the Board of Governors of the Tehran Intangible Cultural Heritage Center with the World Intangible Heritage Day, considered this occasion as an opportunity to expand public awareness, honor the communities that carry heritage and strengthen the joint responsibility of countries in protecting living traditions and knowledge, and appreciated the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote the status of intangible heritage.

living legacy; A capital for social resilience in times of crisis

In another part of this message, Salehi Amiri considered the intangible heritage to be more than a collection of historical narratives and cultural manifestations and stated: Living heritage in times of peace is a manifestation of the cultural richness of nations, but in times of crisis, it becomes one of the sources of resilience and continuity of social life.

Referring to the consequences of war, insecurity and natural hazards on societies, he added: In such conditions, not only material infrastructures are damaged, but also social bonds, sense of belonging and people's confidence in the continuity of life are also tested. In this situation, cultural memory, indigenous knowledge, collective rituals and living traditions can play a role in restoring trust, strengthening solidarity and continuity of social life.

Referring to the experience of the past months and the damage caused to the country's infrastructure, the Minister of Cultural Heritage emphasized: Protecting the cultural heritage, even in difficult and crisis situations, is not out of the priorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He pointed out: Culture is not a marginal issue in times of crisis, but one of the foundations of stability and regeneration of social life. Therefore, the activities of identification, documentation, specialized training and national and international cooperation in the field of intangible heritage have been continued and Tehran's intangible cultural heritage center has tried to follow its regional responsibilities by reorganizing programs, using mixed methods and continuing specialized communication.

cultural diversity; The foundation of national cohesion and the common capacity of nations for dialogue

Referring to Iran's long history of civilization, Salehi Amiri considered this land as an example of the coexistence of cultural diversity and common national belonging and stated: Languages, dialects, rituals, traditions, arts, skills and knowledge that the people of this land have cultivated over the centuries are the various manifestations of a continuous cultural life.

Emphasizing that national cohesion does not come from the negation of differences, he clarified: sustainable cohesion is formed by recognizing cultural diversity and strengthening the feeling of belonging to a common destiny.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage further listed Nowruz, Yalda, Tazzie, Naqali and the traditional knowledge and skills related to construction and sailing with a barge as examples of Iran's living heritage and added: Nowruz spreads the message of renewal and hope beyond political borders, Yalda perpetuates the bond of generations and coexistence and wise living together with nature, and Tazzie and Naqali keep narrative and meaning in the collective memory. they have Traditional knowledge of coastal communities is also the result of historical experience and human interaction with the sea and nature.

He emphasized: Intangible heritage, along with protecting national identities, provides a valuable capacity for mutual recognition, dialogue and cooperation between nations, a capacity that can help strengthen trust, expand cultural understanding, and consolidate the foundations of peace and sustainable development.

Tehran Intangible Heritage Center; A platform for scientific synergy and regional cooperation

In another part of his message, Salehi Amiri considered Tehran's Intangible Cultural Heritage Center as one of the regional centers under the supervision of UNESCO to have a valuable position in strengthening specialized cooperation and supporting the implementation of the 2003 Convention.

He listed the development of specialized capacities, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience, and strengthening cooperation between West and Central Asian countries as important missions of this center and emphasized: The importance of this mission goes beyond holding meetings and implementing educational programs, the Tehran Center should become a center for regional thinking, linking scientific and specialized capacities, and forming stable cooperation among member countries.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage pointed out that Western and Central Asia have ancient civilizations, diverse cultures, and historical ties, and noted that each nation has its own independent identity and responsibility, but living heritage provides common capacities for mutual recognition, dialogue, and cooperation.

Indigenous knowledge, resource management and climate resilience in the focus of future programs

Referring to the center's 2026-2027 action plan, Salehi Amiri mentioned areas such as indigenous knowledge related to water, traditional resource management systems, traditional knowledge and methods of health and treatment, heritage of food and indigenous food systems, and the role of living heritage in climate adaptation and strengthening resilience as important issues going forward.

Emphasizing that these areas are not just a collection of historical traditions, he said: This heritage includes the knowledge and experience of communities that have created ways to interact with nature, manage resources, and sustain their livelihoods over generations.

The Minister of Cultural Heritage also announced the prediction of three specialized capacity building programs in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, and considered this approach to be an expression of the center's attention to developing educational opportunities and strengthening regional cooperation.

He emphasized: In the review of these programs, the real needs of the communities, the effective participation of the member states and the possibility of evaluating the results should be at the center of decision-making, because the success of a center cannot be measured by the number of activities carried out, but the main criterion is the extent of its impact on the capacity of the countries in protecting the living heritage.

Salehi Amiri further called the training of expert staff and the strengthening of scientific and research capacities as an undeniable necessity and listed periodic reporting under the 2003 convention as one of the official responsibilities of countries.

He stated: Tehran Center can play an effective role in supporting countries to fulfill their reporting obligations and fulfill UNESCO's priorities by developing specialized training and connecting regional capacities.

realistic performance evaluation; A prerequisite for valid planning for the future

The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, emphasizing the necessity of a detailed evaluation of the center's performance, called for a clear review of the extent of the implementation of the previous meeting's approvals, achievements, implementation restrictions and postponed plans, and noted that: future planning will be credible when it is based on a realistic understanding of past performance.

Referring to the programs implemented in the recent period, including participation in specialized meetings related to the 2003 convention, training activities and regional capacity building, and following up on programs related to women carrying heritage, he emphasized: the continuation of these activities should be accompanied by evaluating the results, identifying obstacles, and benefiting from the experiences gained.

In the end, Salehi Amiri considered the presence of the representatives of the countries of the region and UNESCO companions in this meeting as a sign of the common will to protect the living heritage and strengthen the cultural ties of the nations, and emphasized the support of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts to the regional missions of the center of Tehran.

He expressed hope that the decisions of the seventh meeting of the Council of Governors, relying on collective wisdom, expert support and a forward-looking view, will help to strengthen international cooperation, expand solidarity and consolidate peace between the nations of West and Central Asia.