UNESCO has officially declared batik as a national heritage of Indonesia. This is the result of a 24-nation committee assembly in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates last September. Batik (a word derived from the Javanese, amba titik, making dots) is part of the 76 nonmaterial cultural heritage.

This recognition is a relief, especially after cultural object claims by Malaysia over the past few years—an issue that created many protests in Indonesia