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- It echoed Latvia 's remark in that it looked forward to hearing more about the way forward. In implementing this important mechanism, it was hoped that an ambitious and realistic capacity-building programme could be set up that involved all actors, including NGOs.
- 323. The delegation of Germany endorsed the draft overall results framework, adding that the process of its elaboration was a very positive and rewarding experience. The framework provided a good foundation for a modern implementation of the Convention. It welcomed the proposed reporting format, which would enable regional cooperation as well as a comparison on the implementation of the Convention on a global level, and it would contribute towards measuring the progress achieved in safeguarding elements of intangible cultural heritage.
- 324. The delegation of Colombia thanked all the delegations for the work carried out, which bore witness to all the efforts made during the meeting in Chengdu with many countries participating and sharing their experiences. The delegation wished to know whether there would be quantitative indicators in addition to the qualitative indicators. With regard to research on inventories, the delegation believed that it was important not only that tools be developed by professionals or experts, but that certain tools could also be made easy to use by local communities. It understood that UNESCO required a level of proficiency with regard to drafting documents, but in terms of national safeguarding measures, tools should be promoted that could be used, for example, by farmers, artisans and members of the community rather than solely by experts or academics. In this way, the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage would consider other forms of interpretation and experience. In Colombia, for example, there were different stakeholders with more or less different ways of expressing safeguarding plans. For example, when communities wished to express an element for inscription on the List in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and given that academic language would be difficult to understand, a short video might be considered as a better communication tool. The delegation also believed that communities required different types of administrative and legal tools.
- 325. The delegation of Algeria welcomed this overall results framework and supported the draft resolution, especially because of the dynamic that its implementation would likely create, although the implementation of the twenty-six indicators would invariably require a lot of capacity-building. However, the dynamic was there, and it was integrated and inclusive. The delegation thanked the Committee, the Secretariat and the experts for having produced this extremely important instrument for the Convention, as well as China for its generosity and commitment to all matters of the Convention.
- 326. The delegation of China spoke of its honour in having worked with the Secretariat in Chengdu and in Beijing on the occasion of the working group and in its work with the experts. The in- depth discussions led to very satisfactory results and the Secretariat had been invited to summarize this work and to submit its report to the General Assembly. China believed that the overall results framework would be a very useful tool for the implementation of the Convention in terms of its monitoring and evaluation at both national and international levels. In a spirit of openness and consultation, it believed that the viewpoints of all parties should be taken into consideration in revising the form and when setting the baseline references, which needed to be carried out on the basis of a carefully chosen timetable with well-identified targets in a process acceptable to all without creating additional work for States Parties.
- 327. The delegation of Switzerland congratulated and thanked the Committee, the Secretariat and the experts for this high-quality proposal, which it supported. The establishment of an overall results framework based on the submission of periodic reports seemed timely and appropriate, without creating an overload of work. This results framework made it possible to optimize periodic reporting for States Parties, but it also optimized the implementation of the Convention at the global level by establishing criteria that also provided a perspective and follow-up of implementation measures. Switzerland supported this framework and the revision of the method of submission of national reports. It encouraged the Secretariat to provide guidance notes that were as explicit as possible, but also that States Parties strengthen their collaboration, with greater attention accorded, notably, to the processes and reflections concerning regional dynamics, particularly those reflecting the safeguarding of