1. Safeguarding our Heritage for our
Grandchildren – can UNESCO help?

2. UNESCO Declarations and Conventions
Heather Peters, UNESCO Bangkok
Cultures around the
world are threatened
by globalization,
modernization and
irresponsible
development
Can UNESCO play a
role?

3. UNESCO Tools Designed to Safeguard our
Heritage
1972 Convention Concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage
(http://whc.unesco.org/en/convention)
2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural
Diversity (www.unesco.org/culture)
2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage
(www.unesco.org/culture/ich/

4. UNESCO World Heritage
Convention
Most famous UNESCO convention. Adopted on
16 November 1972.
Significance: the cultural and natural sites found
within national boundaries were significant not
just to their own national heritage, but to the
heritage of the world.
Important, but government driven – communities
do not nominate sites

5. Criteria
Represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
Exhibit an important interchange of human values, over
a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on
developments in architecture or technology,
monumental arts, town planning or landscape design;
Bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a
cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or has
disappeared;
Be an outstanding example of a type of building or
architectural or technological ensemble or landscape
which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human

6. Criteria
Be an outstanding example of a traditional settlement or
nd use which is representative of a culture (or cultures),
pecially when it has become vulnerable under the impact
irreversible change;
Be directly or tangibly associated with events of living
ditional; with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and
rary works of outstanding universal significance;
Contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of
ceptional natural beauty and esthetic importance;

7. Criteria
Be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s
ory, including the record of life, significant on-going geological
cesses in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic
physiographic features;
Be outstanding examples representing significant on-going
ological and biological processes in the evolution and development
errestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and
mmunities of plants and animals;
Contain the most important and significant natural habitats for the in-
conservation of biological diversity, including those containing
eatened species of outstanding university value from the point of
w of science or conservation

8. World Heritage – a Benefit or a Threat to
Heritage?
Issues at Stake
– Popular destination vs. fragility of destination
– Glory and fame of World Heritage inscription
vs. no money from UNESCO
– Tourism as one of few means to generate
income

9. Concerns in Living Historic
Towns
The living, traditional ways of life are
threatened by tourism development
Local inhabitants can easily become side-
lined from benefits of tourism
The increased costs of site maintenance
are not compensated by increased
revenues from tourist industry

10. Tourism Development and Preservation:
contradiction at World Heritage Sites

11. World Heritage

12. Shift to Living Cultural Heritage
Growing awareness that most dimensions of
human culture are intangible; for example,
cultural practices, knowledge systems, religion,
different forms of creativity (music, dance,
painting, etc)
Led to the Declaration on Cultural Diversity
(2001) and the Convention for the Safeguarding
of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)
Combined with the recognition of complex
linkages between bio-diversity and cultural

13. Declaration on Cultural Diversity
Unanimously adopted by the 31st session of the General
Conference of UNESCO, Paris, 2 November 2001
– Was adopted shortly after the events of 9/11 when the world
reacted in horror at the conflict between cultures.
– It raised cultural diversity to the level of the “common heritage of
humanity” – as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for
nature.
Reaffirms that culture should be regarded as the set of
distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional
features of society or a social group, and that it
encompasses not only art and literature, but ways of life,
value systems, traditions and beliefs.

14. 12 Articles: Declaration on Cultural Diversity
Cultural Diversity is the common heritage of
humanity
Cultural Diversity leads to Cultural Pluralism
Cultural Diversity is a factor in development
The defense of Cultural Diversity is inseparable
from a commitment to human rights.
Cultural rights are an integral part of human
rights
1. For example, all persons have the right to express
themselves in language of their choice

15. 2 Articles: Declaration on Cultural Diversity
Ensure free flow of ideas and access for all to cultural
diversity by safeguarding linguistic heritage and
promoting linguistic diversity
Cultural heritage is the wellspring of creativity
Recognize the rights of authors, artists etc.
Cultural policies are catalysts of creativity
. Strengthen Capacities for creation and dissemination
worldwide
. Build partnerships between public sector, private sector
and civil society
. UNESCO has a role to play

16. Convention for the Safeguarding of
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Adopted in 2003
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is transmitted from
generation to generation and is constantly recreated by
communities and groups in response to their
environment, their interaction with nature and their
history, and provides them with a sense of identity and
continuity
Safeguarding means guaranteeing its visibility and
continuity – this includes identification, documentation
research, preservation, promotion and transmission.

17. Convention for the Safeguarding of
Intangible Cultural Heritage
What are its objectives:
– Safeguard ICH
– Ensure respect for the ICH of communities,
groups and individuals
– To raise awareness at the local, national and
international levels of the importance of ICH

18. Convention for the Safeguarding of
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) includes:
– Oral traditions and expressions including
language
– Performing arts
– Social practices, rituals and festive events
– Knowledge and practices concerning nature
and the universe
– Traditional craftsmanship

19. Oral traditions and Performing
Arts

20. Social Practices and Festive
Events

21. Rituals; knowledge and
Practices concerning Nature

22. Traditional Craftsmanship

23. Traditional Artisans

24. Role of Communities
Importance of the ICH
Convention is the role
of the COMMUNITY
Governments do not
define ICH – the
community does
Part of the process is
for communities to do
an inventory

25. Education and Awareness Raising