UN-HERITAGE.ORG
UN Program for International Nomination of Cultural / Industrial / Landscape Heritage
Unesco World Heritage Photo Program
UWHPP
e-mail: photo@un-heritage.org
The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve. From emergency assistance to safeguard properties in danger, to long term conservation, management planning, technical assistance, professional training, public and youth education, and awareness-building, the World Heritage Centre and its partners have developed a series of initiatives and have been actively involved in the implementation of projects, participatory workshops, seminars and training courses.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was founded on 16th November 1945. It is the organisation that coordinates international co-operation in the fields of education, science and culture. The World Heritage List is the realisation of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972. The Convention was also signed by Poland.
Once a year, the World Heritage Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed on the World Heritage List. To be included on the List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and represent cultural and natural diversity of different regions in the world. The inscription means that the countries commit themselves to provide the special preservation and protection, to keep the monument in the possible unaffected form for the future generations. The monuments, before the inscription on the List, have to meet at least one out of ten selection criteria, proving their uniqueness and meet the authenticity criterion. In 2002 the World Heritage Committee has modified the inscription rules. The inscription on the List means a great distinction, but also international promotion of the site, a draw for tourists from all of the world. Currently The World Heritage List includes over 910 properties, located in 151 countries, forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value. More information: www.unesco.org
