- knowledge, and even the protection of nature. It was therefore important to insist on non- formal education and to transfer that knowledge to formal education.
- 143. The delegation of Jamaica extended its congratulations to the Chairperson on her election, as well as to the Vice-Chairs, and it commended the Secretariat for the work achieved under difficult circumstances. The delegation noted the ongoing work within the areas of capacity building and knowledge management; areas of support that had benefitted Jamaica, for which it was very grateful. The emerging area of intangible cultural heritage in emergency situations was of particular interest, not only in Jamaica but in the Caribbean, especially within the context of unpredictable weather as the region approached the beginning of the annual hurricane season that causes damage and disruption to lives and livelihoods in the region. Last year was particularly bad and this year was looking equally challenging. Jamaica aimed to look at the synergies between the Conventions as they relate to tangible and intangible cultural heritage and building resilience among traditional communities. It expressed thanks once again to the Secretariat and reiterated its commitment to the work of the Convention.
- 144. The delegation of Portugal commended the Secretariat for its useful report, which not only provided States Parties with an important picture of the achievements so far but also underlined the key challenges. It agreed that capacity building was vitally important and that it was indeed a critical element of these Conventions. On the achievements side, the delegation gave the example of the work and results of the multi-country projects in Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa that had taken place. On the challenges side, it specifically referred to outreach and communications, which were crucial for the efficient implementation of the Convention. In this regard, it wished to congratulate the three new Portuguese-speaking countries that had joined the Convention: Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Timor-Leste. The delegation took the opportunity to mention that the Portuguese National Commission had recently translated the Operational Directives of the Convention into Portuguese, and it was pleased to hear that the Secretariat would make it available to States.
- 145. The delegation of Tunisia thanked the Secretariat for its efforts and for the very complete report. It welcomed the role played by the Secretariat and the partnerships that were created with educational establishments, as this was very important in creating awareness among young people about the importance of intangible cultural heritage, a source of pride for all. The delegation found the issue of transferring an element from one List to another important. Owing to the lack of human and financial resources, and especially because inscription on the List was not particularly easy, the delegation suggested that resources should instead be spent on concentrating more on the safeguarding of cultural heritage so as to raise awareness of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in the spirit of the Convention. Tunisia had benefitted greatly from the capacity-building programme and it was hoped that the programme would be developed, adapted and strengthened to take into account the most recent developments.
- 146. The delegation of Zimbabwe joined the delegations in congratulating the Chairperson on her election and thanked the Secretariat for the elaborate report on its activities that outlined, among other things, the focus and way forward in relation to the challenges faced by the Secretariat. Zimbabwe also commended the nature of the activities implemented by the Secretariat. At the national level, it was particularly interested in the support given to capacity- building activities and it appreciated the link forged between education and intangible cultural heritage. The delegation spoke of the new education curriculum in Zimbabwe that now incorporated the teaching of intangible cultural heritage at both the primary and secondary levels, which also had an impact on teacher training as teachers were now taught about intangible cultural heritage. The curriculum was still new and a lot of support was still needed to ensure implementation throughout the country. Nevertheless, it had already begun to notice the enhanced transmission of intangible cultural heritage through education, as well as greater appreciation and comprehension of the Convention itself.
- 147. The delegation of Saint Lucia congratulated the Chairperson on her election and thanked the Secretariat for its constructive report. It appreciated the efforts made, as the Convention was of particular importance to the country. The delegation believed that it was fundamental