Search This Blog

World Heritage Day

History and Significance

It is observed on 18 April to increase awareness on the importance of diversity of cultural heritage and preserving it for the generations ahead. Let us have a look in detail about World Heritage Day, 2020 theme, history and significance.

The day is about preserving human heritage, diversity and vulnerability of the world’s built monuments and heritage sites. Also, the efforts required to protect and conserve it and to draw attention towards it.

We all know that Ancient buildings and monuments are an asset for us and for the world. Therefore, World Heritage Day is a collective effort of the communities in the world to do the needful. This day maintain the cultural legacy and make people think about its susceptibility.

The themes of World Heritage Day focuses on global unity with the current worldwide health crisis. It also recognises that whether the heritage is connected with landscapes, place, etc. it should be valued by multiple and diverse groups and communities.

History and Importance

World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18 April to preserve the human heritage and to recognise all the efforts of relevant organizations. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 announced, 18 April as the World Heritage Day. This was approved by General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983, with an aim of enhancing awareness about the importance of cultural heritage, monuments and to conserve them.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) organisation was established on the principles set forth in the Venice Charter, also known as the 1964 International Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites.

Celebration

On this day organisation has decided to celebrate the day by conducting activities like virtual conferences, online lectures, press releases and social media campaigns can be performed. People can even post their photographs, information and videos on shared heritage, cultures from their country. Even it is said that to increase the reach hashtags can be used, share the message about the importance of heritage with friends, relatives and family as much as possible. Interested can also take an initiative and can host webinars related to the topic of heritage.

According to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS):

Inter-generational transfer of knowledge, youth leadership, various conferences related to preserving heritage culture, lectures, training sessions, round-table discussions, poster sessions etc. will pave the importance of heritage and celebrates it on a wider scale.

World Heritage Day gives us an opportunity to conserve and preserve our heritage culture which paves an ancient importance. They have an outstanding universal value.