UNESCO re-approved the World Martial Arts Union to act an advisory NGO at the 10th session of Inter-governmental Committee meeting of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Assets held in Namibia on December 3. Thus, the World Martial Arts Union has come to continue its advisory activities for Inter-governmental Committee for safeguarding of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritages for another 4 years.

Once approved, advisory NGOs should be evaluated every four years for their capabilities, contributions and fulfillment of Convention to UNESCO, which then decides on the renewal of their cooperation agreement with UNESCO. To do so, the Secretariat of UNESCO examines the work report submitted by the NGOs and makes recommendations to the Intergovernmental Committee, which then makes the final decision on the renewal of cooperation agreement.

This year, 69 among 97 advisory NGOs submitted work reports to the UNESCO Secretariat and the Secretariat recommended 59 NGOs, including the World Martial Arts Union, to the Intergovernmental Committee for the renewal of their cooperation agreement. Accordingly, World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU, NGO-90024) was approved once again as advisory NGO.

According to UNESCO, 97 NGOs approved at the 3rd UNESCO general assembly held in 2010 were evaluated in five categories. Cooperation agreements with 38 NGOs were terminated, which included 10 NGOs which submitted work reports but did not carry out sufficient activities, and 28 NGOs which did not submit work reports.

1) NGO's contribution to the fulfillment of agreement at a national level

2) bilateral, regional and international cooperation

3) participation in the activities of the Committee

4) NGO's capabilities to deal with recommendation, application and requests

5) Cooperation with UNESCO

Among Korean NGOs, the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation is also reapproved as advisory NGO at the 10th Intergovernmental Committee.