40 percent of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world are in danger of disappearing. Most of these languages are indigenous languages, which embody complex systems of knowledge developed and accumulated over thousands of years. The disappearance of these languages often means this knowledge is lost forever. As the world marks the International Year of Indigenous Languages, we sat down with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to talk about why she views culture as crucial to the fight for indigenous rights.

Culture & traditions (Videos)

Is Culture the Key to Safeguarding Indigenous Rights?

In this episode, UNESCO sits down with Thomas Vonier, President of the International Union of Architects, to discuss the designation of Rio de Janeiro as the first World Capital of Architecture, and why architects and urban planners are increasingly looking to the ways of the past for solutions to today's urban challenges. Could bicycles, sidewalks and "building for the ages" be the keys to making cities --now home to more than half of the world's population-- sustainable?

Why Architects are Looking to the Past to Build the Sustainable Cities of Tomorrow

From the coaxing ritual for camels of Mongolia to the Bigwala music and dance of Uganda, the latest episode of Culture Speaks focuses on Living Heritage and UNESCO's efforts to safeguard it for the future. Tim Curtis, Secretary of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding on the Intangible Cultural Heritage

This is the Stuff of Life

This episode provides an in-depth look at UNESCO's new initiative to "Revive the Spirit of Mosul", the largest reconstruction effort undertaken by UNESCO in recent years.

Reviving the Spirit of Mosul

In this episode, Sameh Wahba, Director of the Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice of the World Bank, reveals why the world's largest development bank now sees culture as integral part of its efforts to support the reconstruction of cities following conflict or crisis

Integrating Culture into Reconstruction and Recovery

This special youth edition of Culture Speaks features a young change-maker and UNESCO Youth Forum participant, Tamara Richardson, who describes the key role ICTs can play in safeguarding humanity's intangible cultural heritage.

ICTs: The key to safeguarding intangible heritage?

Last year, more than 1.2 billion people travelled across international borders, a trend that is only set to continue. As the number of people travelling for tourism continues to grow, UNESCO World Heritage sites are seeing their visitor numbers increase dramatically, creating enormous opportunities but also challenges for these sites and local communities. Balancing the ideals of conservation, economic development and local participation at world heritage sites is the goal of UNESCO's World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme, which is led by Peter Debrine. In this episode, we sat down with Peter to talk about UNESCO's efforts to make sustainable tourism a reality, and also to hear his tips for travellers who wish to visit World Heritage sites sustainable.

Tourists behaving badly? Making sustainable tourism a reality at World Heritage sites

In this episode of Talking about Culture, we feature an interview with Danielle Cliche, secretary of the 2005 Convention, and Octavio Kulesz, a UNESCO expert and one of the authors behind Re|Shaping Cultural Policies, who reveal how the digital revolution has fundamentally transformed how artists make, distribute and are compensated for their work. They also explore how UNESCO and its Member States have sought to ensure that all artists can benefit from the potential of digital technologies, as well as the potential effects of artificial intelligence on the cultural and creative industries.

The Digital Revolution

Did you know that the ability to access, participate in and contribute to cultural life is considered a human right? In the latest episode of the Culture Sector podcast, "Talking about Culture", Karima Bennoune, the UN special rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about cultural rights, including: What are cultural rights? What is their basis in international law? Can cultural rights ever be used to justify limits on the rights of women and girls? You can listen to this fascinating podcast here.

What Are Cultural Rights?

In this first instalment of "Talking About Culture", Francesco Bandarin, assistant director-general for culture of UNESCO, offers an eye-opening account of his two most recent missions to two very different World Heritage sites: Wrangel Island in the far north of Siberia and the mysterious Cueva de las Manos in Patagonia. Although one is home to polar bears and the other to 10,000 year-old cave paintings, both are irreplaceable reminders of the importance of safeguarding humanity's heritage, for our planet and ourselves.

Exploring World Heritage

Lynne Patchett (UNESCO, Culture Sector) presents UNESCO initiative related to culture and development during the annual meeting of UNESCO Goodwill ambassadors at UNESCO headquarters, 26 -27 June 2013.

UNESCO initiative related to culture and development

This video is about the Serra da Capivara National Park, one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites in Brazil acknowledged for its exuberantly beautiful landscape and for hosting one of the richest archaeological sites of the world with great historic, scientific and cultural values for humanity. The Park was created in 5 June 1979. It is located in the southeast of Piauí State, bordering the municipalities of São Raimundo Nonato, Coronel José Dias, João Costa, and Brejo do Piauí. The Park has 129,140 acres and its perimeter is 214 km.

Serra da Capivara

Culture is more frequently emerging as a essential resource in post-disaster and post-conflict situations. In addition to its contribution to economic development, culture gives meaning and value to the identity and continuity of human societies. Its impact is essential in situations such as the one Haiti has faced since January 2010. For this reason, UNESCO immediately advocated the integration of culture in the reconstruction strategies as a fundamental source of renewal and social cohesion and is mobilizing its energies alongside the Haitian people and its Government.

UNESCO Actions for Haiti

Sutartin?s (from the word sutarti - to be in concordance) is a form of polyphonic music performed by female singers in north-east Lithuania. The songs have simple melodies, with two to five pitches, and comprise two distinct parts: a meaningful main text and a refrain that may include nonce words. There are almost forty different styles and ways of performing Sutartin?s. Mainly, they can be performed by two singers in parallel seconds; by three singers in strict canon, all performing both phrases of the melody at staggered intervals; or by two groups of singers, the lead singer of each pair singing the main text, while the partner sings the refrain, before the second pair repeats. The poetic texts encompass many themes, including work, calendar rituals, weddings, family, wars, history and moments of daily life. Choreography is uncomplicated and movements are moderate, often austere, such as walking in the form of a circle or star while linking arms and stamping feet. Sutartin?s are performed on solemn occasions, as well as festivals, concerts and social gatherings. Their performance promotes the sharing of cultural values and provides a feeling of cultural identity, continuity and self-esteem. Sutartin?s are usually sung by women, but men perform instrumental versions on pan-pipes, horns, long wood trumpets, fipple flutes and plucked zithers.

Sutartin?s, Lithuanian multipart songs

The traditional Li textile techniques of spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering are employed by women of the Li ethnic group of Hainan Province, China, to make cotton, hemp and other fibres into clothing and other daily necessities. The techniques involved, including warp ikat, double-face embroidery, and single-face jacquard weaving, are passed down from mothers to daughters from early childhood through verbal instruction and personal demonstration.

Traditional Li textile techniques: spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroidering

Culture and traditions are part of the intangible cultural heritage. They are transmitted from generation to generation, and are constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature, and their history. They provide people with a sense of identity and continuity, and promotes respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

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Culture & traditions (Videos)

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