ASEAN PLEDGE ON CULTURAL HERITAGE

We, the foreign ministers of the ASEAN member nations, Aware of the great cultural
resources and rich history of ASEAN's cultures, ideologies, and value systems and of the
need to safeguard, uphold, and advance their vitality and integrity
Being aware of the aspirations of all ASEAN citizens for a regional order built on
equal access to cultural opportunities, equal participation in cultural creation and decision-
making, and a deep respect for the variety of cultures and identities in ASEAN, regardless
of nationality, race, ethnicity, sex, language, or religion.
Fully conscious of the importance of cultural diversity and creativity for the long-term
survival of ASEAN societies.
Affirming that the human person's inherent dignity and worth are what give rise to all
cultural heritage, identities, expressions, rights, and freedoms, and that ASEAN's
creative communities of human beings are the primary agents and, as a result, should
be the primary beneficiaries of, and actively participate in, the realization of, these
heritage, expressions, and rights.
Aware that cultural traditions are a crucial component of ASEAN's intangible heritage
and a successful way to unite ASEAN peoples in recognizing their shared regional
identity.
Committed to making significant advancements in the protection and promotion of
ASEAN cultural heritage and cultural rights undertakings through an increased and
ongoing program of regional cooperation and solidarity that is continuously inspired by the
region's deep historical, linguistic, and cultural unity and ties.

Assuming that any tangible or intangible aspect of ASEAN's cultural heritage is at

risk of deterioration or extinction, harming human heritage.
Fully conscious of the danger of cultural loss, the quick decline of living traditions of
artistic and technical excellence, knowledge systems and practices, and the
disappearance of deserving heritage structures brought on by tropical climate,
inappropriate development efforts, illicit trade and trafficking, or the homogenizing forces
of globalization, as well as other significant changes occurring in ASEAN societies.
Concerned that the market's growing sway, mass production, and consumerist
mindset in today's industrial society risk undermining equality, social justice, freedom, and
human dignity.
Observing that, due to the significant financial and technical resources needed,
protecting this heritage is frequently not possible on a national level and must instead rely

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on ASEAN's cooperation and the support of the international community, which, while not
a replacement, can effectively complement national efforts.
Reiterating the value of cultural discourse, knowledge, and literacy in fostering
intercultural and intracultural understanding as well as a greater appreciation of ASEAN
cultural legacy, as being crucial for harmony and peaceful coexistence in ASEAN at both
the national and regional levels.
Recognizing the efforts made by the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information
(COCI) to advance mutual understanding of the cultures and value systems among
ASEAN peoples as well as to promote awareness and appreciation of the ASEAN cultural
legacy;

DO HEREBY DECLARE the following programs and policies to serve as the

foundation for ASEAN cooperation on cultural heritage:
1. PROTECTION OF ASEAN CULTURAL HERITAGE ON A NATIONAL AND
REGIONAL LEVEL
The important cultural legacy that is present on each ASEAN Member State's
territory must be recognized, defined, safeguarded, promoted, developed, and passed
on to subsequent generations. They should also look for assistance and collaboration
from regional and international organizations where appropriate and necessary. The
ASEAN recognizes that the national cultural legacies of its members are a component of
Southeast Asia's collective heritage and that ASEAN as a whole must cooperate to
preserve it while utlizingly upholding the sovereignty and national property rights of each
Member Country.
Each Member Country shall formulate and adopt policies, programs, and services, as
well as develop suitable technical, scientific, legal, administrative, and financial measures,
in order to ensure the protection, preservation, and promotion of each Member Country's
cultural heritages.

DEFINITION OF CULTURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

ASEAN Member Countries recognize the following meanings:

"Culture" refers to the entire set of distinguishing spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and
material characteristics that define a society or social group. It includes human modes of
life, value systems, creativity, knowledge systems, traditions, and beliefs, as well as the
arts and letters

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"Cultural heritage" means:

(a) Important cultural concepts and ideals;

(b) Buildings and artifacts, such as houses, places of worship, utilitarian structures, pieces
of visual art, tools, and instruments that have historical, artistic, or scientific value;

(c) sites and human habitats: human creations or human creations combined with nature,
archaeological sites, and sites of living human communities that are of exceptional value
from a historical, aesthetic, anthropological, or ecological viewpoint, or that are of
significant importance as a habitat for the cultural survival and identity of particular living
traditions due to their natural features;

(d) Oral or folk heritage, which includes myths, customs and beliefs, rituals, and other
living traditions; includes folkways, folklore, languages, literature, traditional arts and
crafts, architecture, and performing arts; and includes indigenous knowledge systems and
practices.

(e) The literary legacy;

f) Popular cultural heritage: Popular inventiveness in mass cultures, such as industrial or

popular artistic expressions with strong commercial cultures, values from anthropology
and society, such as the music, dance, and graphic sports, games, fashion, industrial
design, film, television, and music In technologically advanced urbanized environments,
video, video arts, and cyber art communities.
2. NATIONAL TRUST FUND PROTECTION AND CULTURAL PROPERTY
ASEAN will work together to protect historic artifacts, movable and immovable cultural
properties that are manifestations of a country's history, have outstanding structural or
architectural value, are exceptionally valuable in terms of archaeology or anthropology or
science, or are connected to extraordinary events and are to be protected as National
Treasures.
Structures or protected objects. Identification, recognition, and protection of historical
sites, cultural landscapes, scenically beautiful locales, and natural monuments are
required.
The ASEAN Member States should take all necessary precautions to protect cultural
heritage from all natural and human threats to which it is subject, including those resulting
from armed conflicts, territorial occupations, or other types of public disturbances.

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3. SUSTAINMENT OF HOLY LIVING TRAILS
Because people have a right to their own culture and because the consumerist values of
industrial globalization, mass media, and other causes and influences frequently undermine
that culture's ability to survive, ASEAN Member Countries shall work together to sustain and
preserve deserving living traditions and folkways and protect their living bearers. Within the
context of national and regional social, cultural, and economic development initiatives,
ASEAN Member Countries shall work together to protect, promote, and support deserving,
highly creative living traditions.
In order to achieve this, ASEAN Member States shall develop formal and informal
learning programs for preserving living traditions in both rural and urban settings,
emphasizing the value and sagacity of these traditions while fostering creative diversity and
alternative worldviews and values. A system of awards and recognition for the living bearers
of deserving living traditions or human living treasures, who are individuals embodying the
highest degree of specific cultural skills and techniques, must be established. Member
countries must also make an effort to establish centers for indigenous knowledge and
wisdom in communities for the documentation and promotion of traditional artistic or
technical processes.
4. Preservation of living and historical academic, artistic, and intellectual heritage

The profound traditions and masterpieces of past and present prominent sages,
philosophers, artists, and writers serve as ever-present sources of wisdom and illumination
as well as direction and guidance for the ASEAN peoples of the present and the future. The
utmost attention is given to their maintenance, promotion, documentation, and protection.
5. Preservation of living and historical popular cultural traditions
A significant aesthetic, intellectual, sociological, anthropological, scientific, and historical
resource and foundation for social and intercultural understanding are popular forms of
expression in mass cultures. The preservation of excellent "popular" traditions and heritage
shall be encouraged and supported by ASEAN.
6. Enhancing cultural literacy, awareness, and education
As a fundamental part of ASEAN cooperation, ASEAN Member Countries shall engage in
ongoing cultural exchanges and programs of cultural awareness and sensitivity. Through
these programs, it may be possible to effectively develop ASEAN perspectives and validate
ASEAN cultural resources, particularly historical connections, shared heritage, and a sense
of regional identity.
7. AFFIRMATIVE DECLARE OF ASEAN CULTURAL VALUE
By recognizing and affirming human spirituality, creative imagination and wisdom,
social responsibility, and ethical dimensions of growth, ASEAN Member Countries will work
to counterbalance the increasingly dominant materialist culture.
At the local, national, and regional levels, ASEAN Member Countries shall investigate
opportunities to reinforce ASEAN value systems in modern society, positively utilizing them
to provide direction and a vision for genuine human development, particularly in the areas of
education, mass media, governance, and business.

8. ADVANCEMENT OF LAW AND POLICY RELATING TO CULTURAL HERITAGE

The ASEAN Member States are responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of cultural
policies and regulations for the protection of collective intellectual property and the
preservation of cultural assets.
Global cultures must avoid depriving local, national, and regional cultures of their
inherent development dynamics and turning them into historical artifacts. Member nations
must make sure that cultural laws and policies enable all individuals and communities to use
their own creativity for the advancement of humanity.
To ensure that their residents have access to the economic, moral, and neighboring
rights resulting from the study, creation, performance, recording, and/or distribution of their
cultural heritage, ASEAN Member Countries shall work closely together.
9. COMMUNAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The ASEAN Member States acknowledge that their native communities jointly possess
traditional knowledge systems and practices, including designs, technology, and oral
literature. The ASEAN Member States must make sure that traditional groups have access
to, and ownership rights over, their own cultural assets. In order to recognize indigenous
peoples and traditional groups as the, ASEAN will work to enact international laws on
intellectual property. Legitimate custodians of their own historical legacy.
10. THE AVOIDANCE OF ILLICIT TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF CULTURAL
PROPERTY
The ASEAN Member States shall make every effort to prevent theft, unlawful trade and
transfer, and trafficking in cultural property. As signatories to this Declaration, ASEAN
Member States shall work together to return stolen cultural property from museums,
historical sites, or other repositories to its rightful owners, whether the stolen material is
currently in the control of another member state or a non-member state.
The ASEAN Member States are urged to take action to prevent individuals and/or institutions
within their jurisdictions from acquiring illicitly traded cultural objects. They are also urged to
work with other ASEAN Member States and non-member nations that are having serious
issues protecting their cultural heritage.

12. COMMERCIAL USE OF CULTURAL RESOURCES AND HERITAGE

Everyone has a right to benefit from contemporary scientific and economic advancements
and their applications. However, some developments, particularly those in the biomedical
and biological sciences as well as in information technology, could potentially have a
negative impact on ASEAN culture. As a result, ASEAN Member States must enhance
regional cooperation to make sure that commercial use does not compromise the rights,
dignity, or integrity of particular ASEAN societies.
13. INTEGRATION OF DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE
Human advancement and development are both fueled by cultural diversity and
inventiveness. Economic sustainability and cultural development are intertwined. The
development of society and the economy can benefit greatly from the management of
cultural resources. As a result, ASEAN Member States must incorporate cultural wisdom and
knowledge into their development strategies.
The ASEAN Member States must include cultural policy as one of the main pillars of their
development plans. It is also necessary to start initiatives to educate political and economic
leaders on the significance of cultural variables in the process of sustainable development.
These cultural aspects include people's attitudes and mindsets as well as the cultural sector
and tourism.
14. DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ASEAN CULTURAL
HERITAGE NETWORKS
ASEAN Member States shall work together to develop and establish national and
regional inventories, databases, and networks of academic institutions, government
offices, archives, museums, galleries, art centers, training centers, mass media
agencies, and other institutions concerned with cultural heritage and its documentation,
conservation, preservation, dissemination, and promotion.

15. RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTIVITIES

Increased efforts will be made to assist countries that request assistance in creating
conditions for individuals to participate in cultural heritage planning and development.
ASEAN, the United Nations, and other multilateral organizations are urged to
significantly increase the resources allocated to programs aimed at establishing and
strengthening national legislation, national institutions, and related infrastructures that
protect cultural heritage through training and education.
The full and effective implementation of ASEAN activities to promote and protect
cultural heritage must reflect the Declaration's high regard for cultural heritage. To that
end, ASEAN cultural heritage activities will be given more resourc
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