Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage: 13th annual meeting 2025. Discover 5 powerful truths about global cooperation, cultural preservation, and UNESCO’s mission.
On 16 July 2025, a vital gathering took place in the digital sphere: the thirteenth annual coordination meeting of the UNESCO Category 2 Centres dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
Bringing together experts, researchers, and cultural leaders from across the globe, the virtual summit served as a platform for sharing recent achievements, aligning future strategies, and deepening collaboration.
The focus was on protecting living traditions from oral expressions and performing arts to rituals, craftsmanship, and traditional knowledge systems.
At the heart of the discussions was a shared commitment: to strengthen the role of these centres in supporting countries as they fulfill their obligations under the 2003 UNESCO Convention.
The Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage network is not a formal arm of UNESCO, but a dynamic coalition of specialized institutions hosted by member states.
Category 2 Centres Intangible Cultural Heritage: When Global Vision Meets Local Expertise
Intangible cultural heritage is inherently local it lives in communities, not in museums.
Yet, its protection requires international cooperation, standardization, and capacity-building.
This is where the Category 2 Centres play a pivotal role.
Each centre operates within a specific region or thematic focus whether African music traditions, Asian craft techniques, or Pacific Islander oral histories.
They act as hubs for training, documentation, research, and policy advice.
The 2025 meeting highlighted numerous initiatives: workshops on community-based documentation, digital archiving projects, and partnerships with indigenous knowledge holders.
By pooling resources and best practices, these centres amplify their impact far beyond their individual reach.
When Knowledge Travels, Heritage Survives
As highlighted in Mauritius Times – The issue with parliamentary pensions is not whether they’re contributory, but the age of eligibility, “Government must act to show that the same criteria apply equally to all.”
Similarly, in cultural preservation, every tradition no matter how small deserves the same level of respect and support.
Truth 1: Coordination Is the Foundation of Impact
One of the most powerful truths about the Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage network is that isolated efforts cannot match the power of coordinated action.
The annual meeting is more than a status update it is a strategic alignment of goals, methods, and priorities.
By synchronizing their activities, these centres avoid duplication, identify gaps, and create synergies.
This benefits member states, especially those with limited resources.
Unity Multiplies Strength
As seen in other global issues from Queen kaMayisela’s attempt to interdict a royal wedding to Archbishop Makgoba rejecting fake news when institutions act without coordination, confusion spreads.
Truth 2: Periodic Reporting Is a Tool for Empowerment
A key focus of the 2025 meeting was on enhancing support for the periodic reporting process under the 2003 Convention.
These reports allow countries to document their safeguarding efforts, challenges, and needs.
For many nations, especially in the Global South, preparing these reports requires technical expertise and logistical support.
The Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage initiative is stepping up to fill this gap.
It offers training, templates, and peer-to-peer mentoring to ensure no country is left behind.
Transparency Builds Trust and Accountability
As noted in SABC News – The man suspected to have abducted and raped two nurses has been arrested, “Public trust is fragile and it must be earned.”
The same applies to cultural governance: if countries are supported in reporting honestly, the entire system gains credibility.
Truth 3: Digital Tools Are Revolutionizing Preservation
Several centres presented innovative digital platforms for mapping intangible heritage.
They include interactive archives and remote training systems.
From AI-assisted transcription of oral histories to blockchain-based certification of traditional knowledge, technology is becoming a key ally.
The Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage network is at the forefront of this shift.
It ensures that innovation serves communities not replaces them.
Tradition and Technology Can Coexist
When a grandmother’s story is recorded, translated, and shared globally, it doesn’t lose its meaning.
It gains a new audience.
Truth 4: Local Ownership Is Non-Negotiable
While these centres provide technical support, the ultimate authority lies with the communities that create and sustain the heritage.
The Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage model emphasizes free, prior, and informed consent.
This ensures that safeguarding efforts are community-led, not imposed from above.
This ethical framework is crucial to avoiding cultural appropriation.
It ensures that benefits such as recognition or funding flow back to the rightful custodians.
No Heritage Without Consent
As highlighted in Mauritius Times – The issue with parliamentary pensions is not whether they’re contributory, but the age of eligibility, “The issue with accountability is not whether systems exist, but whether they are enforced.”
The same applies to cultural rights: if communities are not at the center, preservation is not justice.
Truth 5: This Network Is a Model for Global Solidarity
The Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage collaboration is a rare example of effective multilateralism.
It brings together nations from every continent.
They are united not by politics, but by a shared belief in human creativity and memory.
In a world often divided by conflict and competition, this network stands as a quiet testament to cooperation.
It proves that countries can unite in the name of culture and peace.
Heritage Is a Bridge, Not a Border
When a centre in Africa trains experts from the Caribbean, they are not just sharing skills.
They are building solidarity.
Conclusion: A Living Legacy, A United Future
The Category 2 Centres intangible cultural heritage thirteenth annual meeting is more than a bureaucratic gathering.
It is a reaffirmation of a global mission.
It reminds us that culture is not a luxury, but a necessity.
That diversity is not a challenge, but a strength.
And that the past, when properly honored, can guide the future.
As these centres continue their vital work, they do not just preserve traditions.
They empower people, strengthen identities, and build a more inclusive world.
Because in the end, safeguarding intangible heritage is not about saving the past.
It is about enriching the present and inspiring the future.
For deeper insights on governance and cultural equity, read our analysis Good Governance in the World – Challenges and Solutions.
