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Treaty

Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage

PartiesParties with a link have a reservation.

Party Signature RatificationS=Signature without reservation or requirement of ratification R=Ratification, Acceptance, Approval or Notification A=Accession Su=Succession NK=Not Known Entry into force Renunciation Termination
Afghanistan 30-03-2009 (R) 30-06-2009
Albania 04-04-2006 (R) 04-07-2006
Algeria 15-03-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Andorra 08-11-2013 (R) 08-02-2014
Angola 28-07-2020 (R) 28-10-2020
Antigua and Barbuda 25-04-2013 (R) 24-07-2013
Argentina 09-08-2006 (R) 09-11-2006
Armenia 18-05-2006 (R) 18-08-2006
Austria 09-04-2009 (R) 09-07-2009
Azerbaijan 18-01-2007 (R) 18-04-2007
Bahamas 15-05-2014 (R) 15-08-2014
Bahrain 07-03-2014 (R) 07-06-2014
Bangladesh 11-06-2009 (R) 11-09-2009
Barbados 02-10-2008 (R) 02-01-2009
Belarus 03-02-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Belgium 24-03-2006 (R) 24-06-2006
Belize 04-12-2007 (R) 04-03-2008
Benin 17-04-2012 (R) 17-07-2012
Bhutan 12-10-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Bolivia 28-02-2006 (R) 28-05-2006
Bosnia and Herzegovina 23-02-2009 (R) 23-05-2009
Botswana 01-04-2010 (R) 01-07-2010
Brazil 01-03-2006 (R) 01-06-2006
Brunei 12-08-2011 (R) 12-11-2011
Bulgaria 10-03-2006 (R) 10-06-2006
Burkina Faso 21-07-2006 (R) 21-10-2006
Burundi 25-08-2006 (R) 25-11-2006
Cabo Verde 06-01-2016 (R) 06-04-2016
Cambodia 13-06-2006 (R) 13-09-2006
Cameroon 09-10-2012 (R) 09-01-2013
Central African Republic 07-12-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Chad 17-06-2008 (R) 17-09-2008
Chile 10-12-2008 (R) 10-03-2009
China 02-12-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Colombia 19-03-2008 (R) 19-06-2008
Comoros 20-11-2013 (R) 20-02-2014
Cook Islands 03-05-2016 (R) 03-08-2016
Costa Rica 23-02-2007 (R) 23-05-2007
Côte d'Ivoire 13-07-2006 (R) 13-10-2006
Croatia 28-07-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Cuba 29-05-2007 (R) 29-08-2007
Cyprus 24-02-2006 (R) 24-05-2006
Czech Republic 18-02-2009 (R) 18-05-2009
Democratic People's Republic of Korea 21-11-2008 (R) 21-02-2009
Democratic Republic of the Congo 28-09-2010 (R) 28-12-2010
Denmark 30-10-2009 (R) 30-01-2010
Djibouti 30-08-2007 (R) 30-11-2007
Dominica 05-09-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Dominican Republic 02-10-2006 (R) 02-01-2007
Ecuador 13-02-2008 (R) 13-05-2008
Egypt 03-08-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
El Salvador 13-09-2012 (R) 13-12-2012
Equatorial Guinea 17-06-2010 (R) 17-09-2010
Eritrea 07-10-2010 (R) 07-01-2011
Estonia 27-01-2006 (R) 27-04-2006
Eswatini 30-10-2012 (R) 30-01-2013
Ethiopia 24-02-2006 (R) 24-05-2006
Federated States of Micronesia 13-02-2013 (R) 13-05-2013
Fiji 19-01-2010 (R) 19-04-2010
Finland 21-02-2013 (R) 21-05-2013
France 11-07-2006 (R) 11-10-2006
Gabon 18-06-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Gambia, The 26-05-2011 (R) 26-08-2011
Georgia 18-03-2008 (R) 18-06-2008
Germany 10-04-2013 (R) 10-07-2013
Ghana 20-01-2016 (R) 20-04-2016
Greece 03-01-2007 (R) 03-04-2007
Grenada 15-01-2009 (R) 15-04-2009
Guatemala 25-10-2006 (R) 25-01-2007
Guinea 20-02-2008 (R) 20-05-2008
Guinea-Bissau 07-03-2016 (R) 07-06-2016
Haïti 17-09-2009 (R) 17-12-2009
Honduras 24-07-2006 (R) 24-10-2006
Hungary 17-03-2006 (R) 17-06-2006
Iceland 23-11-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
India 09-09-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Indonesia 15-10-2007 (R) 15-01-2008
Iran 23-03-2006 (R) 23-06-2006
Iraq 06-01-2010 (R) 06-04-2010
Ireland 22-12-2015 (R) 22-03-2016
Italy 30-10-2007 (R) 30-01-2008
Jamaica 27-09-2010 (R) 27-12-2010
Japan 15-06-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Jordan 24-03-2006 (R) 24-06-2006
Kazakhstan 28-12-2011 (R) 28-03-2012
Kenya 24-10-2007 (R) 24-01-2008
Kiribati 02-01-2018 (R) 02-04-2018
Kuwait 09-04-2015 (R) 09-07-2015
Kyrgyzstan 06-11-2006 (R) 06-02-2007
Laos 26-11-2009 (R) 26-02-2010
Latvia 14-01-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Lebanon 08-01-2007 (R) 08-04-2007
Lesotho 29-07-2008 (R) 29-10-2008
Libya 10-11-2023 (R) 10-02-2024
Lithuania 21-01-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Luxembourg 31-01-2006 (R) 30-04-2006
Madagascar 31-03-2006 (R) 30-06-2006
Malawi 16-03-2010 (R) 16-06-2010
Malaysia 23-07-2013 (R) 23-10-2013
Mali 03-06-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Malta 13-04-2017 (R) 13-07-2017
Marshall Islands 14-04-2015 (R) 14-07-2015
Mauritania 15-11-2006 (R) 15-02-2007
Mauritius 04-06-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Mexico 14-12-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Moldova 24-03-2006 (R) 24-06-2006
Monaco 04-06-2007 (R) 04-09-2007
Mongolia 29-06-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Montenegro 14-09-2009 (R) 14-12-2009
Morocco 06-07-2006 (R) 06-10-2006
Mozambique 18-10-2007 (R) 18-01-2008
Myanmar 07-05-2014 (R) 07-08-2014
Namibia 19-09-2007 (R) 19-12-2007
Nauru 01-03-2013 (R) 01-06-2013
Nepal 15-06-2010 (R) 15-09-2010
Netherlands, the Kingdom of the 15-05-2012 (R) 15-08-2012
Nicaragua 14-02-2006 (R) 14-05-2006
Niger 27-04-2007 (R) 27-07-2007
Nigeria 21-10-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
North Macedonia 13-06-2006 (R) 13-09-2006
Norway 17-01-2007 (R) 17-04-2007
Oman 04-08-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Pakistan 07-10-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Palau 02-11-2011 (R) 02-02-2012
Palestine 08-12-2011 (R) 08-03-2012
Panama 20-08-2004 (R) 20-04-2006
Papua New Guinea 12-09-2008 (R) 12-12-2008
Paraguay 14-09-2006 (R) 14-12-2006
Peru 23-09-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Philippines 18-08-2006 (R) 18-11-2006
Poland 16-05-2011 (R) 16-08-2011
Portugal 21-05-2008 (R) 21-08-2008
Qatar 01-09-2008 (R) 01-12-2008
Republic of Korea, the 09-02-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Republic of the Congo 16-07-2012 (R) 16-10-2012
Romania 20-01-2006 (R) 20-04-2006
Rwanda 21-01-2013 (R) 21-04-2013
Saint Kitts and Nevis 15-04-2016 (R) 15-07-2016
Saint Lucia 01-02-2007 (R) 01-05-2007
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25-09-2009 (R) 25-12-2009
Samoa 13-11-2013 (R) 13-02-2014
San Marino 17-11-2022 (R) 17-02-2023
São Tomé e Principe 25-07-2006 (R) 25-10-2006
Saudi Arabia 10-01-2008 (R) 10-04-2008
Senegal 05-01-2006 (R) 20-04-2006
Serbia 30-06-2010 (R) 30-09-2010
Seychelles 15-02-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Sierra Leone 19-06-2025 (R) 19-09-2025
Singapore 22-02-2018 (R) 22-05-2018
Slovakia 24-03-2006 (R) 24-06-2006
Slovenia 18-09-2008 (R) 18-12-2008
Solomon Islands 11-05-2018 (R) 11-08-2018
Somalia 23-07-2020 (R) 23-10-2020
South Africa 24-01-2025 (R) 24-04-2025
South Sudan 09-03-2016 (R) 09-06-2016
Spain 25-10-2006 (R) 25-01-2007
Sri Lanka 21-04-2008 (R) 21-07-2008
Sudan 19-06-2008 (R) 19-09-2008
Suriname 05-09-2017 (R) 05-12-2017
Sweden 26-01-2011 (R) 26-04-2011
Switzerland 16-07-2008 (R) 16-10-2008
Syria 11-03-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Tajikistan 17-08-2010 (R) 17-11-2010
Tanzania 18-10-2011 (R) 18-01-2012
Thailand 10-06-2016 (R) 10-09-2016
Timor-Leste 31-10-2016 (R) 31-01-2017
Togo 05-02-2009 (R) 05-05-2009
Tonga 26-01-2010 (R) 26-04-2010
Trinidad and Tobago 22-07-2010 (R) 22-10-2010
Tunisia 24-07-2006 (R) 24-10-2006
Türkiye 27-03-2006 (R) 27-06-2006
Turkmenistan 25-11-2011 (R) 25-02-2012
Tuvalu 12-05-2017 (R) 12-08-2017
Uganda 13-05-2009 (R) 13-08-2009
Ukraine 27-05-2008 (R) 27-08-2008
United Arab Emirates 02-05-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
United Kingdom 07-03-2024 (R) 07-06-2024
Uruguay 18-01-2007 (R) 18-04-2007
Uzbekistan 29-01-2008 (R) 29-04-2008
Vanuatu 22-09-2010 (R) 22-12-2010
Venezuela 12-04-2007 (R) 12-07-2007
Vietnam 20-09-2005 (R) 20-04-2006
Yemen 08-10-2007 (R) 08-01-2008
Zambia 10-05-2006 (R) 10-08-2006
Zimbabwe 30-05-2006 (R) 30-08-2006

Extensions

China

Extended to Entry into force Termination
Hong Kong SAR 20-04-2006

Denmark

Extended to Entry into force Termination
Faroes 01-10-2018
Greenland 17-12-2013

Parties with reservations, declarations and objections

Party Reservations / Declarations Objections
Argentina Yes No
Colombia Yes No
Germany Yes No
Indonesia Yes No
Malaysia Yes Yes
Netherlands, the Kingdom of the Yes No
Samoa Yes No
Saudi Arabia Yes No
Seychelles Yes No
Syria Yes No

Argentina

09-08-2006

Declaration:
The Argentine Republic, in accordance with Article 26, paragraph 2 of the Convention, shall not be bound by the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.
Reservation:
The Argentine Republic considers that Article 33, paragraph 2 and the correlative Article 2, paragraph 5 of the Convention are not applicable in respect of the territories that are the subject of a sovereignty dispute between two States Parties to the Convention that is recognized by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Colombia

19-03-2008

Amendments to Article 5 and other amendments that have entered into force at such time as Colombia becomes a Party to the Convention, as referred to in article 38, paragraphs 5 and 6, will only enter into force for Colombia once the internal procedure has been completed for the approval and revision of these amendments prior to ratification as provided for under Article 150, paragraph 16, and Article 241, paragraph 10, of the Political Constitution of Colombia.

Germany

23-08-1976

The Federal Republic of Germany declares, in accordance with Article 26, paragraph 2, of the Convention, that it shall not be bound by the provisions of paragraph 1 of that Article.

Indonesia

15-10-2007

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia, by virtue of Article 26 paragraph (2) of this present Convention, declares that it shall not be bound by the provision of Article 26 paragraph (1).

Malaysia

23-07-2013

The Government of Malaysia declares that the application and implementation of the provision of this Convention shall be subject to, and in accordance with, the applicable domestic laws of Malaysia and the applicable administrative and policy measures of the government of Malaysia.

Objection Sweden, 01-07-2014

[..] The Government of Sweden has examined the declaration made by the Government of Malaysia upon ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Government of Sweden recalls that the designation assigned to a statement whereby the legal effect of certain provisions of a treaty is excluded or modified does not determine its status as a reservation to the treaty. The Government of Sweden considers that the declaration made by Malaysia in substance constitutes a reservation limiting the scope of the Convention.
The Government of Sweden notes that the reservation, according to which 'the application and implementation of this Conventions [sic] shall be subject to, and in accordance with, the applicable domestic laws of Malaysia and the applicable administrative and policy measures of the government of Malaysia', implies that the application of the Convention is made subject to a general reservation referring to existing legislation in Malaysia. The Government of Sweden is of the view that such a reservation, which does not clearly specify the extent of its scope, raises serious doubt as to the commitment of Malaysia to the object and purpose of the Convention.
According to customary international law, as codified in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, a reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of a treaty shall not be permitted. It is in the common interest of States that treaties to which they have chosen to become parties are respected as to their object and purpose, by all parties, and that States are prepared to undertake any legislative changes necessary to comply with their obligations under the treaties.
The Government of Sweden therefore objects to the aforesaid reservation made by Malaysia to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between Malaysia and Sweden. The Convention enters into force between Malaysia and Sweden, without Malaysia benefiting from its reservation. [...]

Objection Netherlands, the Kingdom of the, 22-07-2014

The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has carefully examined the declaration made by the Government of Malaysia upon ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands considers that the declaration made by Malaysia in substance constitutes a reservation limiting the scope of the Convention.
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands notes that the reservation, according to which 'the application and implementation of this Conventions shall be subject to, and in accordance with, the applicable domestic laws of Malaysia and the applicable administrative and policy measures of the government of Malaysia', implies that the application of the Convention is made subject to a general reservation referring to national legislation in force in Malaysia.
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands considers that such a reservation must be regarded as incompatible with the object and purpose of the Convention and would recall that, according to Article 19 (c) of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, a reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the Covenant shall not be permitted.
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands therefore objects to the reservation made by Malaysia to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
This objection shall not preclude the entry into force of the Convention between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Malaysia.

Objection Romania, 17-11-2014

Malaysia has formulated a declaration stating that it will apply and implement the provisions of the Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage (2003) in accordance with its domestic laws, as well as the administrative and policy measures of its government, and the Government of Romania has carefully examined the content of this declaration.
The Government of Romania appreciates this statement as problematic. The declaration made by the Government of Malaysia constitutes a reservation as it seems to modify its obligations under the Convention. A reservation which consists of a general reference to national law without specifying its content does not clearly define for the other parties to the Convention the extend to which the reserving state commits itself to the Convention and therefore may raise doubts as to the commitment of the reserving state to fulfill its obligations under the Convention. Therefore, such a declaration is incompatible with the object and purpose of the convention, which consist in the obligation to safeguard the cultural heritage of state parties.
Such a reservation is also, in the view of the Government of Romania, subject to general principles of treaty interpretation and to Article 27 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties, according to which a party may not invoke the provisions of its domestic law as justification for failure to perform its treaty obligations.
The objection shall not otherwise affect the entry into force of the Convention between Romania and Malaysia. The Convention is applicable between these two parties without the benefit of the reservation.

Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

21-05-2014

Declares, in conformity with the provisions of Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, done at Paris on 17 October 2003, that the Kingdom of the Netherlands accepts the said Convention for Sint Maarten, and that the provisions so accepted shall be observed in their entirety.

Samoa

13-11-2013

To ensure the orderly access to or use of Samoa's intangible cultural heritage material, the approval of the Government of Samoa must first be obtained. Requests for approval are to be addressed to:
The Chief Executive Officer
Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture
Government of Samoa.

Saudi Arabia

10-01-2008

I announce under this document on the accession of Saudi Arabia and the acceptance of the International Convention of the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and its commitment to implement its items without any association of the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article (26) of this convention.

Seychelles

15-02-2005

The Republic of Seychelles, by virtue of this present Instrument, ratifies the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage reserving the right not to be bound by Article 26 paragraph 1.

Syria

11-03-2005

The fact that the Syrian Arab Republic is joining the Convention does not, in any way, mean recognizing Israel, and does not lead to entering with it any kind of dealings under the provisions of this Convention.

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