The Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, drawn up by Unesco in 2003, has finally been ratified by Malta. It was devised with the overriding objective of preserving intangible heritage, encouraging respect for it, increasing awareness in its regard and enabling international cooperation in pursuit of it.

It has been a most effective international mechanism that has facilitated global collaboration on cultural matters and encouraged respect for all cultures.

Intangible heritage – as opposed to tangible heritage, such as monuments, built cultural heritage and works of art – embraces all those elements of a country or society, locally, nationally or globally, that go to make up the world’s cultures.

The opportunity to understand, celebrate and cherish one’s culture is an inherent component of the social stability of all nations and of all peoples. The protection of cultural integrity is, therefore, a fundamental human right, as specifically confirmed by the convention.

The destruction of culture is a fundamental breach of intergenerational equity. A culture destroyed or diminished within the time of the current generation will deprive members of future generations of their right to their cultural inheritance.

History has shown that the obliteration of a culture leads to social annihilation, where the connectivity between a people and their place and their history has been destroyed. Perhaps the most glaring examples of this have been the treatment of the Aborigines in Australia, the Inuit Indians in Canada and the misnamed “Red Indians” in the United States.

The intangible importance of cultural relationships, such as a ‘sense of place’ of a people, is critical to their social identity and sustainability. How will belatedly ratifying the Unesco convention affect Maltese intangible heritage? There are elements of Maltese custom, heritage, culture and identity that are at risk.

Progress and the impact on Malta of influences over the last few decades since World War II – from tourism to greater internationalisation to more connectivity with the outside world – have inevitably affected Maltese attitudes and culture.

While these have been, on balance, good for the well-being of the country, they have inevitably taken a toll on the Maltese way of life and culture in many important respects that go right to the heart of our identity and what binds us together as a nation.

Ratifying the convention serves to remind us what the major elements of our intangible heritage are and why we should safeguard them. It is planned to apply for Unesco recognition of the Maltese language, our religious festas and the accompanying fireworks traditions. There are other obvious candidates to be considered, such as unique foods, għana, certain trades and crafts, including lace and silver filigree.

Ratification would provide a structure for all these endangered areas of intangible heritage to be monitored and for the government to be held to account since it would be obliged to submit a detailed inventory on a yearly basis and to take immediate action to preserve heritage that was at risk of being lost.

The cultural connectivity between a living people and their cultural roots engenders pride of place and the spirit to defend it. For the sake of future generations, protecting and sustaining Malta’s intangible heritage ensures the nation’s cultural identity, history and sustainability. If it is not protected, the cultural legacy that follows the current generation will be irreparably diminished.