The Bill (Reg.No.0009) proposes accession to The International Convention on the Protection of Non-material Cultural Heritage, adopted in 17 October 2003 in Paris, in favour of which Ukraine has voted.
The Provisions of the Convention define ' Non-material Cultural Heritage' as Customs, forms of Presentation and Expression , Knowledge and Skills, as well as the Tool, Subjects, Artefacts and Cultural Environments recognized by Communities, Groups and, in some cases, Individuals as part of their Cultural Heritage. This non-material Cultural Heritage, passed down from generation to generation, is continuously reproduced by communities and groups under the influence of their surroundings, their interaction with nature, and their history, and creates a feeling of identity and succession, thus contributing to a respect of man's cultural variance and creative work.'
The Accession of Ukraine to The International Convention, states the Explanatory Note, will require 'Payment of a Member's fee every two years, the amount of which will be defined by The UNESCO General Assembly, using the unified percentage rate for all countries but, however, not exceeding 1% of the Annual Fee paid by the International Convention Country Member to UNESCO'.
According to The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the total amount in fees paid to UNESCO´s Budget once every two years is in the region of USD 61,480. Hence, expenditure from The State Budget of Ukraine towards paying this fee will not exceed USD 610 once every two years.
In the opinion of the Legislative initiator, accession to this International Convention will contribute to the strengthening of the image of Ukraine worldwide, with an approximation of its standards in this area to World Standards, wider involvement in Programmes of International Cultural cooperation, together with the preservation and popularization of the finest examples of traditional culture of the Ukrainian people.