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- Ελληνικά
We were delighted to receive the news of another inscription of our country on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, that of midwifery.
The application for inscription of the item "Midwifery: Knowledge, Skills and Practices" to the List was jointly submitted by eight countries from a total of four continents, and approved by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee which met in Botswana on 6 December 2023.
The nomination was prepared by Midwives' Associations from Colombia, Cyprus, Germany, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Slovakia and Togo, in collaboration with Ministries, UNESCO National Commissions and experts in intangible cultural heritage and public health.
Midwifery is an ancient practice that has been preserved and has evolved over time according to the social and cultural conditions in each region of the world. Although there are no written sources for its practice in Cyprus in antiquity, knowing that there was widespread worship of the goddess of fertility, we can assume that midwives played an important role in the process of childbirth and pregnancy monitoring in order to safeguard the offspring.
Three obstetric representations of statues (votive offerings) of the 6th century BC found at Lapithos, now on display at the Cyprus Museum, depict the preparation or the birth itself. Similar depictions of childbirth scenes have been found at other sites in Cyprus (e.g. Kissonerga, Golgoi), earlier and later than those at Lapithos and are now exhibited in museums abroad (Metropolitan Museum of New York, British Museum of London).
Today it has been adapted to the modern context, while keeping its basic principles unchanged: it combines health care with the maintenance of family ties, the empowerment of women, awareness of their rights and support during the period of adjustment to the parental role.
As a practice, midwifery transcends national borders and touches on universal human needs and values.
As a practice, midwifery transcends national borders and touches on universal human needs and values. This is what brought us together, eight countries to begin with, from different geographical regions of the world. Working groups from each country worked closely together to prepare a joint proposal to UNESCO for inclusion on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Two years later we are pleased to see the benefits of international cooperation in the field of culture and cultural diplomacy as a kind of soft power for our country.
In its decision, the Intergovernmental Committee "commends Member States for preparing a very good nomination dossier and a film that highlights gender equality, traditional knowledge, health care for women and the contribution of intangible cultural heritage to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals". He also noted that "it will set a good example for multinational applications in the future" since it is the first time that an application involves countries from so many different geographical groups in the Organization.
This report makes us particularly happy because it is in line with our Ministry of State's efforts to upgrade cultural diplomacy in our country.
To date, Cyprus has inscribed five more items on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which demonstrates our will to preserve for future generations and the global community the "intangible cultural heritage" that is our living tradition.
The other items we have inscribed are: the Lefkari embroidery (2009), the ciattista (2011), the Mediterranean Diet (2013), the art of dry stone (2018) and the Byzantine chant (2019). In addition, in 2022, the Tocatì Festival, in which Cyprus participates with the Traditional Games, was included in the UNESCO List of Good Practices.
As the Deputy Ministry of Culture, we aim for the intangible cultural heritage of our country to survive as a recognizable feature of our cultural identity, to be updated and passed on from generation to generation.
As the Deputy Ministry of Culture, we aim for the intangible cultural heritage of our country to survive as a recognizable feature of our cultural identity, to be updated and passed on from generation to generation.
It is for this reason that our Ministry of State, with a view to implementing a national strategy for the protection, promotion and proper utilization of our cultural heritage, actively supports the stakeholders of intangible cultural heritage.
Specifically. These inscriptions are usually prepared by communities and municipalities, often from our occupied territories, in cooperation with the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO and experts in a variety of intangible fields. The National Inventory currently includes 60 living heritage elements of our country and is expanded every year with new applications from interested communities.
- Also, through the "CULTURE" programme, our Deputy Ministry funds activities for recording, research, skills development, knowledge transfer and promotion of elements of our Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- On the other hand, we attempt to strengthen local communities through the promotion and preservation of Cypriot crafts and traditional handicrafts. An important aim of the Cyprus Handicrafts Service is to pass on this knowledge, encouraging young people to get involved in the field of handicrafts. At the same time, creative partnerships with artists are promoted, for the creative adaptation of traditional techniques into modern objects with utilitarian value today.
- Now, on an international level, I would like to mention that we try to promote to the public the elements that make up the rich cultural tradition of Cyprus, through audiovisual productions, participation in international exhibitions and an active presence in the World Craft Council Europe network.
- We also seek to develop synergies in the field of the conservation of intangible cultural heritage and promote cultural diplomacy. Most of our country's inscriptions on the Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists are multinational, which highlights the universality of culture as reflected in our local traditions. At the same time, through these processes, as well as the active involvement of our experts, the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of Cyprus to UNESCO and in international meetings, intergovernmental committees and regional actions, we strengthen our diplomatic relations with other states.
- Finally, let me say that we recognize the horizontal dimension of culture and its interconnection with sustainable development. This is reflected in our country's inscriptions on both the National and the World Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which include items linking culture to agro-food traditions, the natural environment and health, as in the case of midwifery. Therefore, the effective safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage elements requires cross-sectoral synergies with governmental bodies, academic institutions and organisations responsible for Education, Environment, Health, Labour, Research and Innovation.
Concluding the section on our intangible cultural heritage, allow me to refer to the priorities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture in UNESCO:
(1) Strengthening cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and UNESCO
As Deputy Ministry of Culture, we have made it a priority to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and UNESCO, but also to involve Cyprus more actively in matters of protection and preservation of the world's heritage. In particular, among our main objectives for the coming years is the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in elected positions in Intergovernmental Committees and Working Groups of UNESCO. We are particularly interested in continuing the work carried out in the field of intangible cultural heritage, while strengthening efforts to register monuments and sites on the World Heritage List, to combat illicit trade in cultural property and to repatriate illegally acquired cultural property.
(2) Education for Arts and Culture
In addition, drawing on existing good practices, we intend to create more programmes that link education and culture, bring young people closer to cultural creation and, more generally, provide opportunities for audiences of all ages to have lifelong involvement in cultural life.
(3) Protecting cultural heritage in times of crisis
As a country that has experienced the devastating effects of invasion on cultural heritage, we want to play a supporting role in addressing the problems arising from armed conflicts, forced population movements and the destruction of monuments.
(4) Cultural Diplomacy
At the same time, building on our country's cultural wealth, both cultural heritage and contemporary creativity, we will seek to be more actively involved in international festivals, networks and Commissions. We are already in the process of strengthening our cooperation with other states at the level of cultural diplomacy, which will be achieved through the conclusion of new cultural agreements.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The success of the inscription of midwifery on UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage takes place this year, a year in which the corresponding UNESCO Convention celebrates its 20th anniversary.
A Convention that has been instrumental in promoting a new concept of cultural heritage, more holistic and more inclusive. It shifts the focus away from monuments and material cultural goods, highlighting aspects of our culture that derive directly from people and communities as carriers of knowledge, traditions and customs.
The 20th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved over the years and to explore ways to further promote and safeguard this sensitive form of cultural heritage in the future.
Nowadays, intangible cultural heritage can be a reference point and a source of knowledge and inspiration for modern societies to deal effectively with the problem of climate change and to adapt more smoothly to it. It is precisely because it incorporates, in a simple and simple way, knowledge about nature and the universe, experiences and practices, inherited from previous generations, which have proven to be useful and successful over time in addressing such challenges and needs.
With this, and before I conclude my intervention at today's event, allow me to congratulate and thank the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO and the Special Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage for their excellent cooperation and valuable contribution to the enrichment of the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, from which we draw data for promotion on the World Lists. I would like to thank Dr Loukia Hadjigavriel who has been the Chairperson of the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO for the last 20 years, i.e. since the ratification of the Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage.
I would also like to express my special thanks to the outgoing experts of the Special Committee, Dr Angel Nikolaou Connari and Dr Efrosini Rizopoulou Igoumenidou who contributed during their term of office to the preparation of the application for midwifery, as well as the Officer of the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, Ms Thekla Papantoniou, who participated in the transnational writing team of the application and coordinated the collection of material from Cyprus. Thanks are also due to Ms. Danae Stylianou and the CUT for the provision of audiovisual material.
Finally, thanks to the Midwives Committee and its President Ms. Stella Leontiou, the midwives and midwives for their contribution to the preservation of this ancient practice, for their contribution to Man, Society and Culture.
Finally, thanks to the Midwives Committee and its President Ms. Stella Leontiou, the midwives and midwives for their contribution to Man, Society and Culture.
(Ephys/EAθ/ΘΘ)
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