Objectives and Functions

• Peace and intercultural dialogue

  • International cooperation to foster communities’ empowerment and engagement, focusing on youth and women, through martial arts values and practice
  • Cooperation and synergies with stakeholders and other Category 2 Centres and institutes

• Youth and women capacity building

  • Martial arts training seminars and values education activities for young women and men, contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  • Engaging communities, with an emphasis on youth, as beneficiaries and active stakeholders of cultural, education and scientific events and activities on martial arts and associated cultural and sport values
  • Organizing international conferences, seminars, and rallies, cultural and scientific exchanges with martial arts communities

• Research and knowledge sharing

  • Promoting research and knowledge sharing on the role of martial arts, martial arts values for a culture of peace and reconciliation, violence prevention, contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, impact of martial arts on UNESCO’s Global Priority addressing Gender Equality (women’s empowerment and the fight against gender stereotypes and discriminations), and the impact of martial arts on UNESCO’s Global Priority addressing Africa
  • Encouraging martial arts research by young researchers

• Clearing House on Martial Arts

  • Documentation centre that collect, safeguard, and disseminate data and materials to support educational, cultural, and scientific activities by elaborating national traditional martial arts inventories; promoting free and equal access to evidence-based data and information; publishing research, communication, and education material; cooperating with universities, cultural centres, such as museums, and libraries, etc.; supporting the organization of traditional martial arts festivals and exhibitions