April 24, 2026 | 01:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is vying to become a member of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2026-2030 term.
The announcement was made during UNESCO's 224th Executive Board Session in Paris on Thursday, April 23, 2026, local time, as part of efforts to strengthen the country's global cultural diplomacy.
Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon outlined Indonesia's vision and priorities under the theme 'Living Heritage, Shared Future' to an audience of approximately 300 delegates from member states and the UNESCO secretariat.
In his presentation, Fadli emphasized Indonesia's commitment to strengthening community-based preservation of intangible cultural heritage, encouraging equal cooperation, and expanding access to international support for developing countries.
As part of its cultural diplomacy efforts, Indonesia also presented pendet dance and gamelan music at the forum.
The Balinese traditional dance of pendet was inscribed by UNESCO in 2015, while gamelan was inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage in 2021.
Indonesia also proposed the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Center for Community-Based Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Proposed as a Category 2 UNESCO Center, the facility aimed at boosting the Asia-Pacific region's capacity for cultural preservation, knowledge exchange, and cooperation between countries will be located in Indonesia.
The Indonesian delegation was also attended by the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation, Endah T.D. Retnoastuti; the Director of Diplomacy, Raden Usman Effendi; and the Head of Museums and Cultural Heritage, Esti Nurjadin.
Indonesia's active participation in UNESCO is expected to rally support for the country's candidacy and emphasize Indonesia's role in multilateral cooperation in the cultural sector.
Read: UNESCO World Heritage Sites Facing the Heat
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Haiti: More Than 30 Killed in Stampede at Historical Fort
11 hari lalu
At least 30 people were killed and dozens more were hospitalized after a stampede at a historical fortress in Haiti on Saturday.
Indonesia Seeks Stronger Cultural Partnership with Saudi Arabia
21 hari lalu
Indonesia's Minister of Culture Fadli Zon reiterated his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Facing the Heat
21 hari lalu
From Easter Island to the Great Wall of China, iconic heritage sites face growing threats from rising temperatures linked to climate change.
Global Water Inequalities Hit Women Hardest, UN Report Finds
35 hari lalu
The report reveals that women collect water in over 70% of unserved rural households but remain largely excluded from water leadership.
US-Israeli Strikes Damage Iran's Cultural Heritage Sites
40 hari lalu
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iran are at risk, with several monuments already damaged by US and Israeli strikes.
UNESCO Alarmed by Damage to Iran's Golestan Palace
51 hari lalu
UNESCO expresses concern over the damage to Golestan Palace following a US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran, Iran, on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Discover the 7 Most Beautiful Cities in the World, from Asia to Europe
51 hari lalu
Explore the 7 most beautiful cities in the world, from Edinburgh's gothic alleys to Shanghai's skyline, discover iconic destinations you can't miss.
Palestine Denies Claims of Curriculum Changes to Align with Israeli Narrative
8 Februari 2026
The Ministry of Education of Palestine denies the news on social media regarding changes to the curriculum to follow the Israeli narrative
8 Culinary Traditions Recognized as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
10 Januari 2026
UNESCO recognizes culinary traditions as an important part of the identity and culture of global communities.
UNESCO Honors India's Diwali as Intangible Cultural Heritage
10 Desember 2025
Diwali, one of Hinduism's most important festivals, became the 16th Indian tradition added to UNESCO's cultural heritage list.
