مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري

Abstract :

Recently the role and contribution of women, as the principal actors of community in the trans- mission and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage have been studied on an international scale. In par-ticular, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) focuses upon the significant role of women in relation to intangible cultural heritage and produces new developments through the meetings and discussions. The results of the meetings and discussions are valuable and unique sources for understanding the historical development process of issues and concepts in the field of intangible cultural heritage and women. Within this scope, this paper aims to analyze the process and improvements in the field of intangible cultural heritage and women through documents and the discussions at UNESCO meetings. It focuses on four main UNESCO works; (1) ‘International Symposium on the Role of Women in the Transmission of Intangible Cultural Heritage’ (1999, Teheran), (2) ‘Women, Intangible Heritage and Development’ (2001, Teheran) and (3) Gender and Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003, Paris) and (4) the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) that can be viewed as milestones in improvements in this field. Today, considering UNESCO’s focus upon the empowerment of women in relation to intangible cultural heritage through the global strategy in culture, the studies have great contributions for the prosperity and happiness of communities for a better future for humankind.