The sixteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is being held online from 13 to 18 December 2021, based at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, France.

Mr Punchi Nilame Meegaswatte, Secretary-General of the Sri Lankan National Commission for UNESCO, is chairing this year's meeting, which brings together hundreds of participants - representatives of countries, NGOs, cultural institutions and other organizations - from around the world.

The Committee evaluates the nominations submitted by States for inclusion in the lists of the Convention - 48 elements for inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 6 elements for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Preservation, 5 proposals for the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. good defense practices and 3 requests for international assistance of over $ 100,000 from Djibouti, Mongolia and East Timor.

Online debates are broadcast online through a webcast in the language in which they are conducted, as well as translated into English and French.