The primary aim of the UNESCO Convention is to establish a global framework for identifying, protecting, and preserving cultural and natural heritage sites around the world deemed to be of outstanding value to humanity.
The Convention sets out the responsibilities of States Parties in two key areas:
- Identifying potential World Heritage sites: This involves each country assessing its own territory to locate and nominate sites that meet the criteria for outstanding universal value.
- Protecting and preserving World Heritage sites: By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage more broadly. This includes implementing policies and measures to ensure the long-term survival of these invaluable assets.
In essence, the UNESCO Convention aims to foster international cooperation in safeguarding our shared human heritage for present and future generations. It provides a legal and practical framework for countries to work together to protect sites that are significant examples of human culture and the natural world.
