Kathmandu: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation is preparing to submit its first periodic report on the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage to the United Nations. The UN General Assembly endorsed the Convention on October 17, 2003, which came into effect in 2006. Nepal ratified the convention in 2010.

Originally, member nations were required to submit a report six years after approval, but the UN later revised the reporting guidelines. Dr. Suresh Shrestha, Chief of the Culture Division at the Ministry, announced that the ministry will submit the report this year, following the new guideline of submitting a report six years after the amendments.

To prepare for the report, the Ministry has organized a three-day national consultation workshop in Kathmandu, starting Sunday. The workshop includes participation from around three dozen representatives and experts from government and non-government sectors involved in the field of intangible cultural heritage.

Archaeological officer Bhishma Baskota stated that the report would be submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) starting June 15. By December 15, Nepal will provide detailed accounts of the efforts and activities carried out in the area of intangible cultural heritage to UNESCO.