Colombia bets on intangible cultural heritage for peacebuilding

Building peace, our heritage
© ETCR Amaury Rodriguez Communication Office, 2018



To this end, an innovative methodology was designed and articulated into three components: the strengthening of local capacities for the management of the intangible cultural heritage; a community-based inventory of intangible cultural heritage with the implementation of safeguarding measures; and a collective reconstruction of the historical memory of the territory.

This community-based methodology is intended to provide a space for reflection for ex-combatants and inhabitants from El Conejo on their living heritage, their collective memory and the cultural aspects of their territory. Through mutual recognition as members of the same community, sharing common cultural values, it is expected to achieve symbolic reparation and forgiveness amongst the communities.

The results of the project will contribute to understand how intangible cultural heritage can be mobilized as a means to achieve lasting peace, dialogue and social reconstruction in a post-conflict situation. UNESCO and Colombia will present this project at the first Paris Peace Forum taking place from 11 to 13 November in Paris.