How UNESCO Works
What is UNESCO?
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) is a specialised agency of the United Nations founded on 16 November 1945, with headquarters in Paris.
Its main objective is to promote peace, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development through education, science, culture and communication. UNESCO’s main areas of intervention.
1. Education
UNESCO works to ensure quality education for all by supporting access to primary education, teacher training and global literacy. It promotes programmes such as: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Initiatives for gender equality in schools Projects to reduce illiteracy worldwide.
2. Science
The organisation supports scientific research and international cooperation in key areas such as: Natural sciences (biodiversity protection, climate change) Social sciences (science and technology ethics) Water and oceanography programmes.
3. Culture
One of UNESCO’s best-known roles is the protection of cultural and natural heritage through:
– World Heritage List (sites such as the Colosseum, the Great Barrier Reef, Machu Picchu)
– Intangible Cultural Heritage (traditions, languages, folk arts)
– Protection of endangered heritage (areas affected by war or disasters)
4. Communication and information
UNESCO defends press freedom and access to information by combating misinformation and promoting: World Press Freedom Day Media literacy programmes Digitisation and preservation of historical documents.
Why is UNESCO important?
It protects humanity’s treasures: safeguarding monuments, traditions and unique landscapes.
It promotes peace: through education and dialogue between cultures.
It combats inequality: working to reduce the educational and scientific gap between countries.
It tackles global challenges: such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
UNESCO is a fundamental organisation for international cooperation, uniting countries in the protection of our common heritage and in building a more equitable and sustainable future.
Visit the official website: www.unesco.org
UNESCO and Outstanding Universal Value
What this means for UNESCO
Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) is the basis for any inscription on the World Heritage List.
It is defined as the cultural and/or natural importance of a property that transcends national boundaries and becomes important for present and future generations of all humanity. Verification of the OUV of each property is an essential step in order to inscribe a property on the List.
For a property to be considered of Outstanding Universal Value, it must meet one or more selection criteria, satisfy the conditions of Integrity and Authenticity, and have an adequate system of protection and management to ensure its safeguarding.
During the nomination process, States Parties present the OUV of the proposed property through the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value, which not only represents the reasons why each property is inscribed on the List, but also serves as a reference point for developing the Management Plan (MP) for the property.
This document consists of: a brief description of the site; the selection criteria; the statement of integrity and authenticity; and the methods of management and protection of the heritage.
Criteria I
Represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
Criteria II
Exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture, technology, monumental arts, town planning and landscape design;
Criteria III
Be a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation that is living or has disappeared;
Criteria IV
Be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates one or more significant stages in human history;
Criteria V
Be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
Criteria VI
Be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, ideas or beliefs, artistic or literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Criteria VII
Present exceptional natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty or aesthetic importance;
Criteria VIII
Constitute an exceptional testimony to major periods in the evolution of the earth, including evidence of life, geological processes in the development of the earth’s features, and significant geological features.
Integrity measures how complete and intact the natural and/or cultural heritage and its attributes are. Integrity is based on three elements:
• that the site includes all the elements necessary to express its Outstanding Universal Value;
• that the site is of adequate size to ensure the complete representation of the characteristics and processes that convey the significance of the property;
• that the site is free from adverse effects of development and/or neglect.
Valid only for cultural heritage.
Authenticity can be understood as the requirement of credibility/genuineness, i.e. the nominated site should be what it claims to be. The degree to which the sources of information on the value of the site are understood to be credible or truthful.
Cultural heritage must be considered and judged first and foremost within the cultural context to which it belongs.
The authenticity of cultural value is expressed through a variety of attributes:
– form and design;
– materials and substances;
– use and function;
– traditions and techniques;
– location and setting;
– language and other forms of intangible heritage;
– spirit and feeling;
– other internal and external factors.
