- developing such cooperation. Latvia would later propose a minor amendment to the draft resolution.
- 130. The delegation of Japan thanked the Secretariat for its efforts. Concerning the two main funding priorities of the Secretariat, it particularly welcomed the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in formal and non-formal education. This was considered to be very timely with the issues of the sustainable development goals clearly in sight, while building sustainable societies had become a common goal for the world. Within this context, Japan had contributed to promoting education for sustainable development (ESD), which had a role not only as an integral part of SDG 4, but also as a key enabler of all the other SDGs. At the previous session of the Executive Board, together with forty-six co-sponsor countries, Japan had proposed an agenda to develop a new framework for ESD beyond 2019. In addition, concerning the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in emergencies, Japan had experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and had knowledge and studies in this regard. The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties had examined the role played by intangible cultural heritage as a tool for resilience and the recovery of communities post disaster. The delegation believed that this study in Japan could contribute to establishing disaster risk management strategies for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in other countries. Japan would also continue working with UNESCO and the States Parties to further contribute to the implementation of the Convention.
- 131. The delegation of Viet Nam thanked the Secretariat for its comprehensive and clear report, and for its dedication and the quality of its work. Despite the difficult working conditions as a result of UNESCO's financial crisis, the Secretariat had shown that it was able to adapt as the Convention evolved over the years and had also responded to the growing expectations and demands of States Parties. The delegation greatly appreciated the availability of the Secretariat to the States Parties and it supported the use of the necessary financial measures to strengthen the Secretariat in favour of further developments of the Convention.
- 132. The delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic , a founding member of UNESCO since 1946 and a State Party to the 2003 Convention since 11 March 2005, noted with satisfaction the momentum within the Secretariat and the very high quality of its report. It congratulated the Secretary and the Secretariat, as well as the Culture Sector for all these efforts. Syria had been engaged in a war against terrorism since 2011 and currently found itself in a situation in which the Syrian territory was being liberated. The population had started to return home, whether as displaced persons or refugees, to very damaged homes and buildings, some under the aegis of the 1972 Convention, but at the same time their traditions, history and intangible cultural heritage had also been damaged. The delegation therefore understood the context of the new objectives and direction of the Convention, where innovative links between intangible cultural heritage and emergency situations, as well as sectors of higher education, had become bearers of this stability and a revival of intangible cultural heritage. Moreover, Syria had not ceased its membership as a State Party and Member State and continued to pay into the Convention Fund and its contributions to UNESCO despite the war. It therefore appealed to all Member States to deliver voluntary financial assistance to support the activities of the Secretariat.
- 133. The delegation of Finland thanked the Secretariat for its organization of this session, the good work carried out in the last two years, and for its extensive report, which highlighted the important role played by the Secretariat in supporting the implementation of the Convention. Despite the budgetary challenges, the Secretariat had undertaken a number of activities to support Member States in capacity building, in addition to its statutory work. The delegation hoped that the human resources needed by the Secretariat would be met. It especially acknowledged its work on the capacity-building programme. In 2018, Finland had had the chance to offer its first capacity-building workshop on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, with forty participants. In only four days, it was felt that the implementation of the Convention had leapt forward in the national context. For example, four Sámi people from all three countries that took part in this capacity-building workshop then contributed to the Sámi Conference, as previously mentioned by Norway. The delegation thus highly recommended