ANNEX 1(a)

CONVENTION on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions

VI. ORGANS OF THE CONVENTION

Article 22 Conference of Parties
1 A Conference of Parties shall be established. The Conference of Parties shall be the plenary and supreme body of this Convention.
2 The Conference of Parties shall meet in ordinary session every two years, as far as possible, in conjunction with the General Conference of Unesco. It may meet in extraordinary session if it so decides or if the Intergovernmental Committee receives a request to that effect from at least one-third of the Parties.
3 The Conference of Parties shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
4 The functions of the Conference of Parties shall be, inter alia:
(a) to elect the Members of the Intergovernmental Committee;
(b) to receive and examine reports of the Parties to this Convention transmitted by the Intergovernmental Committee;
(c) to approve the operational guidelines prepared upon its request by the Intergovernmental Committee;
(d) to take whatever other measures it may consider necessary to further the objectives of this Convention.

Article 23 Intergovernmental Committee
1 An Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Intergovernmental Committee’, shall be established within Unesco. It shall be composed of representatives of 18 States Parties to the Convention, elected for a term of four years by the Conference of Parties upon entry into force of this Convention pursuant to Article 29.
2 The Intergovernmental Committee shall meet annually.
3 The Intergovernmental Committee shall function under the authority and guidance of and be accountable to the Conference of Parties.
4 The Members of the Intergovernmental Committee shall be increased to 24 once the number of Parties to the Convention reaches 50.
5 The election of Members of the Intergovernmental Committee shall be based on the principles of equitable geographical representation as well as rotation.
6 Without prejudice to the other responsibilities conferred upon it by this Convention, the functions of the Intergovernmental Committee shall be:
(a) to promote the objectives of this Convention and to encourage and monitor the implementation thereof;
(b) to prepare and submit for approval by the Conference of Parties, upon its request, the operational guidelines for the implementation and application of the provisions of the Convention;
(c) to transmit to the Conference of Parties reports from Parties to the Convention, together with its comments and a summary of their contents;
(d) to make appropriate recommendations to be taken in situations brought to its attention by Parties to the Convention in accordance with relevant provisions of the Convention, in particular Article 8;
(e) to establish procedures and other mechanisms for consultation aimed at promoting the objectives and principles of this Convention in other international forums;
(f) to perform any other tasks as may be requested by the Conference of Parties.
7 The Intergovernmental Committee, in accordance with its Rules of Procedure, may invite at any time public or private organizations or individuals to participate in its meetings for consultation on specific issues.
8 The Intergovernmental Committee shall prepare and submit to the Conference of Parties, for approval, its own Rules of Procedure.

Article 24 Unesco Secretariat
1 The organs of the Convention shall be assisted by the Unesco Secretariat.
2 The Secretariat shall prepare the documentation of the Conference of Parties and the Intergovernmental Committee as well as the agenda of their meetings and shall assist in and report on the implementation of their decisions.