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<p>The Government fully recognises the contribution that the UK’s crafts, oral traditions
and wider intangible cultural heritage make to the country’s cultural life. We encourage
communities and cultural practitioners to celebrate these practices and to continue
them for future generations. However, we have not seen any compelling business case
for ratifying the UNESCO Convention, nor is it clear that the benefits of doing so
would outweigh the costs. It is essential that we carefully prioritise resources towards
those UNESCO conventions which will have the most impact on the safeguarding of heritage,
such as the 1972 World Heritage Convention and 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection
of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. We therefore have no intention
at present of ratifying the Intangible Heritage Convention, but will continue to keep
the matter under review.</p>
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