In early 2012, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognized the noken, a traditional Papuan bag, as a world cultural heritage needing urgent attention, for the culture of noken-making among Papuan tribes is fast disappearing.

Neles Tebay, a peace activist and Papua community leader confirmed this trend. Neles, who recently received the Tji Haksoon Human Rights Award from South Korea, said that the noke