The 6th session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held at UNESCO headquarters from May 30 to June 1.

Elections to the Intergovernmental Committee for the term of 2016-2020 were held within the framework of the session.

Armenia was unanimously elected member of the Committee from the second regional group (Eastern Europe) for a four-year term.

Countries elected from other regional groups include Cyprus, Austria, Guatemala, Columbia, Cuba, Philippines, Zambia, Senegal, Mauritius, Palestine and Lebanon.

The core functions of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage are to promote the objectives of the Convention, provide guidance on best practices and make recommendations on measures for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage.

The Committee will further examine requests submitted by States Parties for the inscription of intangible heritage on the Lists as well as proposals for programmes and projects. The Committee is also in charge of granting international assistance.

The Members of the Intergovernmental Committee are elected by the States Parties meeting in General Assembly according to the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation.

States Members to the Committee are elected for a term of four years, and every two years, the General Assembly shall renew half of them. A State Member of the Committee may not be elected for two consecutive terms.