This Presentation is prepared for the Graduate Students. A presentation consisting of basic information regarding the topic. Students are advised to get more information from recommended books and articles. This presentation is only for students and purely for academic purposes.

1. Dr. Virag G. Sontakke
Assistant Professor
A.I.H.C. & Archaeology
Banaras Hindu University
World Heritage
Convection

2. World
Heritage
Convection

3. Background

12. Introduction
• The World Heritage Convention
• It was established for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage
• A committee was formed “World Heritage Committee”
• World Heritage Committee prepared a draft
• It took seven-year to finalise from 1965–1972.
• The convention is a signed document of the International Agreement.
• Location: Paris, France
• It was signed on 23 November 1972.
• Effective from 17 December 1972
• As of March 2022, the convention has been ratified by 194 states.

13. Main concept
• The World Heritage Convention……
• The protection and conservation of World Heritage properties;
• Listing of properties on the World Heritage List.
• The List of World Heritage in Danger
• The granting of International Assistance under the World
Heritage Fund; and
• The mobilization of national and international support in favour
of the Convention.

14. Highlights of the World Heritage Convection
1. CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
2. DEFINITION OF THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
3. NATIONAL PROTECTION AND INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF
THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
4. INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF
THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
5. FUND FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND
NATURAL HERITAGE
6. CONDITIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE
7. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
8. REPORTS

15. Definition of Cultural Heritage
Cultural Heritage include Monuments, Groups of buildings and Sites
1. Monuments:
a) Architectural works,
b) Works of monumental sculpture and painting,
c) Elements or structures of an archaeological nature,
d) Inscriptions,
e) Cave dwellings and combinations of features, of outstanding universal
value, for art or science;

16. Definition of Cultural Heritage
Groups of buildings:
a) Groups of separate or connected buildings which,
b) Because of their architecture,
c) Their homogeneity
d) Their place in the landscape, area of outstanding universal value from
the point of view of history, art or science.

17. Definition of Cultural Heritage
1. Sites:
a) Works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and
b) Areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal
value of
i. Historical,
ii. Aesthetic,
iii. Ethnological or
iv. Anthropological point of view

18. Natural heritage
• Natural heritage consisting of
• Physical and
• Biological
• Formations, which are of
outstanding universal value
from the aesthetic or scientific
point of view
• Geological and
physiographical formations
• constitute the habitat of
threatened species of
• animals and
• plants
• of outstanding universal value

19. NATIONAL PROTECTION AND INTERNATIONAL
PROTECTION OF THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
• Each nation ensures the identification, protection, conservation,
presentation and transmission to future generations
• The Nation shall utilize its own resources for the protection
• If appropriate, any international assistance and cooperation, in
financial, artistic, scientific and technical, may be obtained.
• The Nation will adopt a general policy of the convection
• Develop scientific and technical studies and research
• Take the appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and
financial measures necessary for the protection
• Establishment or development of national or regional centres for
training in the protection

20. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND
NATURAL HERITAGE
• An Intergovernmental Committee called “the World Heritage Committee”.
• Established within the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization).
• The election of members of the Committee shall ensure an unbiased
representation of the different regions and cultures of the world.
• World Heritage Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure
• The committee may invite public or private organizations to participate in its
meetings for consultation on particular problems.
• The committee shall publish a list of “World Heritage sites”
• The property situated in a territory, or jurisdiction which is claimed by more
than one State shall in no way prejudice the rights of the parties to the dispute
• The Committee shall make a list of World Heritage in Danger

21. The World Heritage Committee
• The World Heritage Committee is assisted by a Secretariat appointed by the
Director-General of UNESCO.
• The committee is composed of 21 members
• It meets at least once a year (June/July)
• The term of office of Committee members is 6 years
• The Committee define the criteria of sites belonging to cultural or natural
heritage
• The World Heritage Committee shall receive and study requests from nations
• The Committee Requests suggest international assistance for the protection
of heritage
• The Committee decided on the action to be taken with regard to these
requests
• The Committee decided the use of the resources of the Fund on the
monuments
• Decisions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority of two-thirds of its
members present and voting.

22. • Carefully prepared
documentation;
• Thorough and consistent
procedures;
• Evaluation by qualified
experts; and
• If necessary, the use of
expert referees.
The World Heritage Committee
• Identify, on the basis of Tentative Lists
• Decide which properties inscribed on the
World Heritage List
• Decide whether a property should be
deleted from the World Heritage List
• Seek ways to increase the World Heritage
Fund
• Submit a report on its activities every two
years
• Review and evaluate periodically the
implementation of the Convention
• Revise and adopt the Operational
Guidelines

23. Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee
ICCROM
• The International Centre for the
Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property
• Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
• Established by UNESCO in 1956
• Aims:
• carry out research
• documentation,
• technical assistance,
• training and public awareness
programmes
to strengthen the conservation of
immovable and moveable cultural
heritage
ICOMOS & IUCN
• The International Council on
Monuments and Sites, and
• IUCN - the International Union for
Conservation of Nature.
• Headquarters in Paris, France.
• Founded in 1965
• Aims:
• To promote the application of theory,
• Methodology and scientific
techniques to the conservation of the
architectural and archaeological
heritage.

24. The roles of the Advisory Bodies
• Expert advice on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention
• Implementation of the Committee’s decisions
• Global Training Strategy, Periodic Reporting, and the strengthening of
the effective use of the World Heritage Fund
• Monitor the state of conservation of World Heritage properties
• Review requests for International Assistance
• Evaluate properties nominated for inscription on the World Heritage
List
• Attend meetings of the World Heritage Committee and the Bureau in an
advisory capacity

25. FUND FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD
CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE
• Compulsory and voluntary contributions made by Nations to this
Convention
• Nations shall be paid on a regular basis, at least every two years
• Contributions, gifts or donations by nations
• Public or private bodies or individuals
• A fund used only for such purposes as the Committee shall define.
• The Committee may accept contributions to be used only for a certain
programme or project
• No political conditions may be attached to contributions made to the
Fund.
• The Nation supports fund-raising campaigns organized for the World
Heritage Fund.

26. Fund Utilization
• Studies concerning the artistic, scientific and technical issues
• For the protection, conservation, presentation and
rehabilitation of the cultural and natural heritage.
• Provisions of experts, technicians and skilled labour
• Training of staff and specialists at all levels in the field
operation
• Supply of equipment to the nation who not possess or is not in a
position to acquire.
• Provide low-interest or interest-free loans which might be
repayable on a long-term basis

27. CONDITIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS
FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
• Any nation may request international assistance for the protection of heritage
• It shall submit the request with proof of possession.
• The convention may be granted only to the property of World Heritage sites
or under consideration.
• Committee decides the necessary work, expected cost, the degree of urgency
etc. with the help of experts.
• Requests based on disasters or natural calamities should be given immediate
priority.
• The World Heritage Committee also provide international assistance to
national or regional centres for the training of staff and specialists.
• The World Heritage Committee and the recipient State shall make an
agreement.

28. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
• The States Parties to this Convention shall endeavour
educational activities
• The educational and information programmes, strengthen
appreciation and respect by their people for their heritage
• They shall undertake to keep the public broadly informed of the
dangers threatening this heritage.

29. REPORTS
• The Committee shall submit a report on its activities at each of the
ordinary sessions of the General Conference of UNESCO

30. Conclusion
• Heritage sites get legal protection from an international convention
• World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural,
historical, scientific or other forms of significance.
• The sites are judged to contain Cultural and Natural heritage around the
world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity
• As of August 2022, a total of 1,154 World Heritage Sites in the world
• 897 cultural, 218 natural, and 39 mixed properties exist across 167
countries.
• As of 2022, there are 40 World Heritage Sites located in India.
• Out of these, 32 are cultural, 7 are natural, one mix

31. Thank You