The issue of ethics is reflected in all UNESCO conventions.
For ethnology, Convention on Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Convention on the Protection and Promotion of
the Diversity Cultural Expressions, Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage are the most important ones. UNESCO is based on faith in universal values on which it also builds itsattitude to ethical aspects of the research. It tries to establish common values and criteria for all countries, taking into a
special account the development countries. It is the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that deals with the issue
of ethics in relation to traditional knowledge, traditional cultural
expressions, and folklore. The most important aspects for the
protection of cultural heritage include the respect for cultural
diversity among nations, and the protection from the misuse of
traditional knowledge and awareness including their
commercialization.
The field research focused on social life of children between the years 1920 and 1950 was realized in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and surrounding villages. It showed that the stratification of the adult society together with the geographical position of place of residence had direct influence on family relations. Mother was thought of as the heart of the family, she often played the role of a protector and negotiator, but at the same time she was regarded as an authority and in case of father’s inability to control the family, she took over this function. Grandmother’s task was to look after children in parents’ absence. The relationship between her and her grandchildren depended on whether she was local or lived elsewhere. The relationship with godmother was mostly formal, children received presents from her and if parents died, she was expected to take care of children. In other families, godmother was children’s close friend to whom they could come with all their troubles.
While in the past customs and rituals formed completely natural part of people’s lives, as the old social structure fell apart, the original groups of bearers of community customs (young people working on the farms, recruits, etc.) disappeared and had to be replaced by organized bodies such as voluntary fire brigades. When some of the old traditions vanished, the need arose for new cultural elements to be created. thus organizations inspired by the legacy of
their ancestors started their activities focused on saving residues of local traditional culture. Folk culture has a unique ability to represent people. This happens on three levels: communal, club and individual. Communities use traditional culture to express their uniqueness and belonging to an ethnographic region. The second level relates first of all to voluntary fire brigades for whom traditional events mean chances to take active part in the retention of annual customs, to show themselves in the most festive manner, and to raise money for their own activities as well as for public purposes.
Individual efforts to keep traditions and to participate in creation of local identity constitute the third level. What makes people retain and renew old customs is the need to socialize, to share community values that distinguish them from other groups.
Traditional culture is a source of self-identification and representation.