The states parties to this convention shall respect the cultural heritage within the territories for the international relations of which they are responsible, and shall take all appropriate measures to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property in. The world heritage convention and the national park service. Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage the general conference of the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization meeting in paris from 17 october to 21 november 1972, at its seventeenth session, noting that the cultural heritage and the natural heritage are increasingly threatened with. For the purpose of this convention, international protection of the world cultural and natural heritage shall be understood to mean the establishment of a system of international cooperation and assistance designed to support states parties to the convention in their efforts to conserve and identify that heritage. World heritage convention, and the commitment of iucn members to the convention. The convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage entered into force on 17 december 1975, three months after the date of the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, pursuant to its article 33. A world heritage perspective on culture and nature beyond a. This book provides an overview of the convention through an interdisciplinary approach to conservation. When revising the operational guidelines in 2015, the committee decided to include in paragraphs 40 and 123 further references to local communities and indigenous peoples. The world heritage convention, the environment, and.
It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the world heritage list. The world heritage conventionin addition to establishing procedures so that parts of this natural and cultural heritage can be identified and included on the world heritage listalso established a world heritage fund so that all nations, whether a party to the conven. Management plans and the world heritage convention. A world heritage site is a landmark or area, selected by the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization unesco for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, which is legally protected by international treaties. The convention establishes a system of identification, presentation, and registration in an international list of cultural properties and natural sites of outstanding universal value. Format periodic reporting on the application of the world heritage convention. Jun 30, 2017 these areas offer a starting point for assessing the potential for the designation of new whss that could help increase wilderness representation on the world heritage list. Therefore, there is a need to try and ensure that the world heritage of humankind, in all its diversity and complexity, is adequately reflected on the. World heritage and tourism preserving our heritage resources what is the world heritage convention. The convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage the world heritage convention is a successful global instrument for the protection of cultural and natural heritage background. The list is maintained by the world heritage programme administered by the unesco world heritage committee. The 1954 hague convention and its two 1954 and 1999 protocols duration. Located in madhya pradesh khajuraho is a famous unesco world heritage site in india. World heritage convention is consistent with the united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and that indigenous peoples can effectively participate in the world heritage conventions decisionmaking processes.
Format for the periodic reporting on the application of the world heritage convention. The world heritage convention, the environment, and compliance. The loss, through deterioration or disappearance, of any of these most prized assets. A future for world heritage international union for.
World heritage sites and indigenous peoples rights. The world heritage convention department of agriculture, water. In 2009 there were 890 world heritage sites ranging from the great barrier reef, the great wall of china, the sydney opera house to stonehenge. For the purpose of this convention, international protection of the world cultural and natural heritage shall be understood to mean the establishment of a system of international cooperation and assistance designed to support states parties to the convention in their. These are places of importance of cultural or natural heritage as described in the unesco world heritage convention established in 1972. Adopted by the general conference of the united nations educational. Congressional issues congressional research service 2 the world heritage convention the world heritage convention was adopted by the general conference of the united nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization unesco on november 16, 1972. The world heritage convention is one of the most important global conservation instruments. The world heritage convention, whose full title is the conve,tion. The knp became indias first mixed world heritage site after. The committee is made up of representatives of 21 of the current 189 countries that have signed and ratified the world heritage convention. This has become the flagship convention for the conservation and management of heritage sites, with almost. Gaps and opportunities for the world heritage convention to. Concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, was adopted by.
Only the states parties to the convention may submit nominations. Mpublic of south africa world heritage convention bill as atnended by the select committee onland and environtnentol afair,s national colmcil of province. The cultural and natural heritage is among the priceless and irreplaceable assets, not only of each nation, but of humanity as a whole. World heritage convention provides a welldefined and compelling. These properties are part of the cultural and natural heritage of states that are parties to the convention. The world heritage convention should be a beacon for conservation, for culture and for nature, as called for in the 2011 external evaluation of the conventions global strategy, which. Mixed world heritage site in india heritage forward.
The future of world heritage thenetherlands andtheunesco worldheritage convention researchinstitutefortheheritageandhistoryof c w the culturallandscapeandurbanenvironment. The unintended consequences of unesco world heritage listing. Pdf management plans have now been published for the five united kingdom industrial world heritage sitesironbridge gorge, the blaenavon industrial. Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural.
World heritage of the 1972 world heritage convention. A world heritage perspective on culture and nature beyond a shared platform susanna kari and mechtild rossler conceived with the fundamental notion that heritage is both cultural and natural, the world heritage convention provides a welldefined and compelling framework to examine the interlinkages between culture and nature. Convention for the protection of the world cultural and natural. The 1972 world heritage convention in the framework of other unesco conventions on cultural heritage.
The world heritage convention and the national park. The convention establishes a list of properties that have outstanding universal value, called the world heritage list. It is noted in this report that the world heritage convention is about the shared heritage of mankind. The world heritage committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the states parties to the convention elected by their general assembly for terms up to six years. Unesco world heritage convention 1972 springerlink.
Records of the general conference, 17th session paris, 1972, volume 1, resolutions, recommendations item 28, item 29. Economic and environmental pressures led to the adoption in 1972 of the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage better known as the world heritage convention by unesco the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organization. In the wake of the 2001 bombing of the bamiyan buddhas in afghanistan by the taliban. An intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, hereinafter referred to as the committee, is hereby established within unesco.
Organization responsible for the preparation of the report u. Operational guidelines for the implementation of the world heritage. Understanding these two underlying ideas requires a return to the intentions of those who brought the words into the world heritage framework. The committee can also defer its decision and request. Unesco text of the convention for the safeguarding of the. Gaps and opportunities for the world heritage convention. The iucn world heritage programme also initiates innovative ways to enhance the role of the world heritage convention in protecting the planets biodiversity and natural heritage and positioning the worlds most iconic places as exemplars of naturebased solutions to global challenges. On december 17, 1975, the world heritage convention whc entered into force. Adopted in 1972 184 signatory countries 95% participation 660 cultural, 166 natural and 25 mixed properties convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. The world heritage convention and the national park service, 19932009 peter stott introduction this essay is the last in a series of three on the role of the national park service nps in the world heritage convention.
Year of ratification or acceptance of the convention december 7, 1973 c. The world heritage convention department of agriculture. World heritage sites are places of outstanding universal value, recognized as such under the terms of the 1972 world heritage convention. Pdf the world heritage convention celebrates its fortieth anniversary in 2012. The committee is responsible for the implementation of the world heritage convention, defines the use of the world heritage fund and allocates financial. In 1972, the key words were environment and protection. Properties are included in the world heritage list on the basis of both their natural and cultural value. Jan 11, 2017 the principle of world heritage promoted by unesco is of crucial importance at a time when tourism has become a global phenomenon, involving more than a billion people and generating an annual. It ensures the daytoday management of the 1972 world heritage convention, organizes.
An overview the world heritage convention, whose full title is the conve,tion concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, was adopted by unesco in 1972. Unesco world heritage centre convention concerning the. These areas offer a starting point for assessing the potential for the designation of new whss that could help increase wilderness representation on the world heritage list. Notes on world heritage convention waleed al sayyed director of centre for the study of art and architecture, lonaard london uk. Pdf the unesco world heritage convention, 19722012. They have an obligation to ensure the widest possible participation of the communities in elaborating the safeguarding measures. Pdf the world heritage convention and the exemplary. Ii the 1972 convention, armed conflicts and occupation, the 1954 convention and its protocols.
The world heritage convention whc is the most comprehensive and widely ratified among unesco treaties on the protection of cultural and natural heritage. The world heritage convention was adopted by the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation unesco general conference at its 17th. The states parties to this convention shall respect the cultural heritage within the territories for the international relations of which they are responsible, and shall take all appropriate measures to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property in such territories. Article 5 intergovernmental committee for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. The world heritage centre was established in 1992 to act as the secretariat, or the focal point and coordinator within unesco for all matters related to the convention. The committee is responsible for the implementation of the world heritage convention, defines the use of the world heritage fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from states parties. Adopted by the general conference of the united nations educational, scientific and cul tural organization at its seventeenth session, paris, 16 november 1972 authentic texts.
There are 37 29 cultural 7 natural and 1 mixed world heritage sites in india that are recognised by the united nations educational scientific and cultural organization unesco as of june 2018. National park service 1849 c street, nw washington, dc 20240. World heritage convention definitions authenticity from world heritage operation guidelines, ii. Pdf unesco world heritage convention 1972 sophia labadi.
Scope, coexistence, and overlapping of legal instruments. Draft convention for the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, submitted by the directorgeneral to unescos general conference, 17th session paris, 1972 17 c106, 15 november 1972. The world heritage convention was adopted by the united nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation unesco general conference at its 17th session in paris on 16. The world heritage convention generally uses integrity to denote the condition of the property, while the national park service does allow the physical conditions of a property e. At june 2016 there were 1031 sites on the world heritage list. I application of the world heritage convention by the state party. Convention for the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. The natural and cultural heritage gains international value as declared by the convention of the unesco signed in paris in 1972. World heritage convention bill as atnended by the select committee onland and environtnentol afair,s national colmcil of province. The sites are judged to be important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity. The 1972 world heritage convention oxford university press.
To ensure, as far as possible, the proper identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the worlds heritage, the member states of unesco adopted the world heritage convention in 1972. It identifies and discusses with exemplification the major conventions and protocols affecting world heritage. The world heritage convention therefore can set international standards on heritage conservation, which focuses attention. Considering that the protection of cultural heritage can be effective only if organized.
Operational guidelines for the implementation of the world heritage convention 10 5. The convention today has 1 countries that are party to it. The resources of this fund consist of contributions made by states parties. We urge the world heritage convention to ensure that the ecological integrity and outstanding universal value of existing whs with wilderness values are preserved. After a general introduction to the world heritage convention. This free course provides an overview of world heritage, its political and cultural origins and the role of unesco and other agencies in identifying and listing sites. A world heritage perspective on culture and nature beyond. Created in 1972, the primary mission of the convention is to identify and protect the worlds natural and cultural heritage considered to be of outstanding universal value.