Definition of Cultural Heritage -- References to ... - CIF - Icomos

environment and the living culture of the community.
ICCROM Working Group 'Heritage and Society' / / JJ
A majority of Member States have therefore turned towards UNESCO: between
1984 and 1988, 30 States became parties to the Convention for the Protection of the
World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), 12 States acceded to the Convention
on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of
ownership of cultural property (1970) and four to the Convention for the Protection
of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (The Hague, 1954). One
hundred and eight States are now parties to the 1972 Convention, which, as a result,
is rapidly progressing towards achieving truly universal implementation.
In addition, the increase in the number of international safeguarding campaigns
which Member States have requested UNESCO to launch is evidence at one and the
same time of the determination of governments to undertake the major works
necessary for the preservation of the heritage, of the considerable scale of existing
needs and of the trust placed in the Organization to help to respond to these needs.
However, the area covered by the programme for the preservation of the immovable
cultural heritage has increased to such an extent during the last 20 years that it now
calls for far greater resources than are available to UNESCO on its own.
With regard to the non-physical heritage, the place given to methodological studies
has been gradually reduced in favour of practical activities to collect material on
traditions. Priority has been given to the recording of traditional cultural events
and of languages which are dying out.
Objectives and Strategy
This programme's strategy will correspond to four objectives:
- improved understanding of the cultural heritage, especially the non-physical
heritage;
- more effective preservation;
- better incorporation of the cultural heritage in present-day cultural life, creative
activity and the economic and social world;
- greater accessibility to the public.
These objectives coincide fully with those of the World Decade for Cultural
Development, and especially with the second and third objectives of its Plan of
Action. In addition, the activities proposed take due account of the need to link
preservation of the cultural heritage more closely with other fields of cultural action,
such as contemporary architecture, urbanization and town planning, science and
technology, protection of the environment, education and communication. Thus
intersectoral co-operation and co-ordination in respect of the cultural heritage will
be strengthened, as also co-operation with National Commissions.
With regard to the physical heritage, UNESCO's standard-setting activities will be
aimed primarily at promoting wider and more effective application of UNESCO
conventions and UNESCO recommendations to Member States concerning its
preservation.
As regards the preservation of the physical cultural heritage, UNESCO's strategy
will be redesigned to take into account the full extent of the funding required and to
adjust the Organization's objectives and resources. As for international
safeguarding campaigns, the General Conference, at its twenty-fourth session,
adopted both a strategy for the development process. A realistic revision of
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