On December 16, during the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, France), the Ukrainian element "Ornek - Crimean Tatar ornament and knowledge about it" was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The session was held online. It was attended by experts and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

According to the regulations, the head of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova, spoke at a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage immediately after the announcement of the approval decision.

She thanked the members and experts of the Committee for their attention and trust in the nomination of an element that belongs to the oldest cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatar people - the indigenous people of Ukraine.

"Ornek is an important element of the self-identification of the Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of the life of every Crimean Tatar family, as well as an integral part of modern Crimean Tatar culture and a unique part of Ukraine's cultural, artistic and spiritual heritage. I am proud that the Crimean Tatar ornament has enriched the cultural heritage of mankind, "said Emine Dzhaparova.

The head of the National Commission stressed that the ornek is a means of transmitting knowledge from generation to generation about the cultural and historical aspects of people's lives, thanks to which knowledge about it has survived the tragic pages of the history of the Crimean Tatars. She expressed the belief that this symbol will continue to unite and inspire the Crimean Tatar people, helping to protect the Crimean Tatar identity and culture in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

For reference: "Ornek - Crimean Tatar ornament and knowledge about it" - the fourth element of Ukrainian culture, included in the Representative list of intangible cultural heritage of mankind. Örnek is a Ukrainian system of symbols and their meanings, currently used in embroidery, weaving, pottery, engraving, jewellery, wood carving, and glass and wall painting.

"Ornek" is a system of around 35 symbols of floral and geometric nature and its unique meaning and connotations. The symbols are arranged to create a narrative composition. The Crimean Tatar communities understand the meaning of the symbols and often commission artisans to create certain compositions with specific meanings. Geometric ornaments are primarily used in weaving, whereas floral ornaments are used in all other folk crafts, such as glass painting, wall painting or canvas wall art etc. Common symbols include plants and trees, symbolizing people of different genders and ages.

In previous years, the following Ukrainian elements were included in the Representative List: Petrykivka decorative painting as a phenomenon of the Ukrainian ornamental folk art (2013) and " The tradition of Kosiv painted ceramics " (2019). Cossack’s songs of Dnipropetrovsk Region are included (2016) in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.