(Adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its seventeenth session, held in Paris on June 1972+065438+ 10/6, 2006)
Publisher: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Posting time:1972-11-16.
Effective date:1972-11-16.
The seventeenth session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization was held in Paris on 6-6 October 2007/KLOC-0. People have noticed that cultural heritage and natural heritage are increasingly threatened by destruction, on the one hand, due to aging, and at the same time, changing social and economic conditions make the situation worse, making it more difficult to damage or destroy. Considering that the degradation or loss of any cultural or natural heritage has the harmful effect of depleting the world heritage. Considering that the protection of such heritage at the national level is often not perfect, because this work requires a lot of means, and the country where the heritage is listed as the object of protection does not have enough economic and scientific strength. Recalling that the Constitution of the Organization stipulates that the Organization will maintain, promote and disseminate knowledge through the protection and preservation of world heritage, and recommending that relevant countries conclude necessary international conventions. Considering that the existing international conventions, recommendations and resolutions on cultural and natural property show that it is important for people all over the world to protect this rare and irreplaceable property, no matter which country it belongs to. Considering the outstanding importance of some cultural or natural heritage, it needs to be protected as a part of the world heritage of all mankind. Considering that, in view of the scale and seriousness of the new dangers threatening this heritage, it is the responsibility of the whole international community to participate in the protection of cultural and natural heritage with outstanding universal value by providing collective assistance; Although this kind of assistance cannot replace the actions taken by the countries concerned, it will be an effective supplement. Considering that it is necessary to adopt new provisions in the form of a convention in order to establish a permanent and effective system for collective protection of cultural and natural heritage with outstanding universal value based on modern scientific methods. At its sixteenth session, the General Assembly decided that an international convention should be formulated on this issue. This Convention was adopted on June 5438+0972+065438+ 10/6, 2006.
I. Definition of cultural and natural heritage
Article 1 In this Convention, the following items are "cultural heritage":
Cultural relics: buildings, stone carvings and paintings, archaeological elements or structures, inscriptions, caves and buildings with outstanding universal value from a historical, artistic or scientific point of view;
Architectural complex: a single or connected architectural complex with outstanding universal value in terms of architectural style, uniform distribution or combination with environmental scenery from the perspective of history, art or science;
Ruins: places with outstanding universal value from the perspective of history, aesthetics, ethnology or anthropology, such as human engineering or joint engineering between nature and people, archaeological addresses, etc.
Article 2 In this Convention, the following items are "natural heritage":
From an aesthetic or scientific point of view, the natural appearance composed of material and biological structures or such structural groups with outstanding universal value;
Geological and natural geographical structures with outstanding universal value from the perspective of science or protection, and clearly designated as threatened animal and plant habitats;
From the point of view of science, protection or natural beauty, a natural scenic spot or clearly defined natural area with outstanding universal value.
Article 3 Each State Party to this Convention may independently determine and divide the cultural and natural property mentioned in Articles/kloc-0 and 2 above within its territory.
Two. National and international protection of cultural and natural heritage
Article 4 Each State Party to this Convention recognizes that it is primarily the responsibility of the country concerned to ensure the identification, protection, preservation, display and inheritance of the cultural and natural heritage mentioned in Articles 1 and 2 within its territory. To this end, the state will do its utmost to make maximum use of its own resources and, when necessary, make use of existing international assistance and cooperation, especially in finance, art, science and technology.
Article 5 In order to take active and effective measures to ensure, protect, preserve and display the cultural and natural heritage within its territory, each State Party to this Convention shall do its best to do the following according to its specific conditions:
1. Adopt an overall policy aimed at making cultural and natural heritage play a certain role in social life, and incorporate heritage protection into the overall planning plan;
2. If there are no institutions responsible for the protection, preservation and display of cultural and natural heritage in China, establish one or several such institutions, equipped with appropriate personnel and the means necessary to perform their functions;
3. Develop scientific and technological research and formulate practical methods that can resist the dangers that threaten the national cultural or natural heritage;
4. Take appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures to identify, protect, preserve, display and repair this heritage;
5. Promote the establishment or development of national or regional training centers for the protection, preservation and display of cultural and natural heritage, and encourage scientific research in this field.
Article 6
1. While fully respecting the sovereignty of the countries where the cultural and natural heritages mentioned in Articles 1 and 2 are located, the States parties to this Convention recognize that these heritages are part of the world heritage, so the whole international community has the responsibility to cooperate to protect them.
2. According to the provisions of the Convention, States parties shall, upon request, help the countries concerned to identify, protect, preserve and display the cultural and natural heritage mentioned in paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article 1 1.
3. States parties to this Convention shall not intentionally take any measures that may directly or indirectly damage the cultural and natural heritage mentioned in Articles 1 and 2 in other States parties to this Convention.
Article 7 In this Convention, the international protection of the world cultural and natural heritage should be understood as the establishment of an international cooperation and assistance system aimed at supporting the efforts of the States parties to this Convention to preserve and identify such heritage.
Three. Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage
Article 8
1. Within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, an intergovernmental committee for the protection of cultural and natural heritage with outstanding universal value, known as the World Heritage Committee, has been established. The Committee is composed of 15 States parties elected by the Conference of States Parties to this Convention held during the regular session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. After at least 40 States parties have implemented this Convention, the number of members of the Committee will increase to 265,438+0 from the date of the regular session of the General Assembly.
2. The members of the Committee shall be elected to ensure a balanced representation of different regions and cultures of the world.
3. A representative of the International Research Center for the Protection and Restoration of Cultural Relics (Rome Center), a representative of the International Council of Monuments and Sites and a representative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources may attend the meetings of the Committee as consultants. In addition, representatives of other intergovernmental organizations or non-governmental organizations with similar objectives may also attend the meetings of the Committee as consultants at the request of the States parties to this Convention that hold a general meeting during the regular session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Article 9
1. The term of office of the members of the World Heritage Committee begins at the end of the elected ordinary session of the General Assembly and ends at the end of the third ordinary session after the current session.
2. However, the term of office of one third of the members appointed in the first election shall end at the end of the first ordinary session after the current session of the General Assembly; Among the members appointed at the same time, the term of office of the other third member shall expire at the end of the second regular meeting after this general meeting of shareholders. These members were elected by lot after the first election of the President of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
3. Members of the Committee shall send representatives qualified in cultural or natural heritage.
Article 10
1. The World Heritage Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
2. The Committee may at any time invite public or private organizations or individuals to participate in its meetings and hold consultations on specific issues.
3. The Committee may establish such advisory bodies as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
Article 11
1. Each State Party to this Convention shall make every effort to submit to the World Heritage Committee a list of properties within its territory that constitute cultural and natural heritage and are suitable for inclusion in the World Heritage List mentioned in the second paragraph of this article. This list should not be considered complete, but should include documents about the location and significance of the heritage.
2. According to the list submitted by the States parties in accordance with the provisions of the first paragraph, the Committee shall draw up, update and publish the World Heritage List, which is an integral part of the cultural heritage and natural heritage defined in Articles 1 and 2 of this Convention and which the Committee considers to be of outstanding universal value according to its own standards. The latest catalogue should be distributed at least once every two years.
3. The listing of the heritage in the World Heritage List requires the consent of the relevant countries. When several countries claim sovereignty or jurisdiction over a territory, the listing of a property in that territory should not harm the rights of the parties to the dispute.
4. When necessary, the Committee shall formulate, update and publish the List of World Heritage in Danger, including all the heritages listed in the World Heritage List that need to be protected through major activities and need assistance according to this Convention. The Catalogue of list of world heritage in danger should contain the estimated cost of such activities, and only include the cultural and natural heritage that is threatened by the following special dangers, namely, the threat of disappearance caused by intensified degradation, large-scale public projects, rapid development plans of cities or tourism; Damage caused by the change of land use or ownership; Major changes caused by unknown reasons; Abandon at will; The outbreak or threat of armed conflict; Disasters and disasters; Serious fire, earthquake and landslide; Volcanic eruption; Water level fluctuation; Floods and tsunamis, etc. If there is an urgent need, the Committee may add new entries to list of world heritage in danger and publish them immediately.
5. The Committee shall determine the criteria for the inclusion of property belonging to the cultural or natural heritage in the catalogue referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of this article.
6. Before rejecting an application for inclusion in the catalogue referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of this article, the Committee shall consult with the State Party where the cultural or natural property concerned is located.
7. The Committee shall reach an agreement with the countries concerned to coordinate and encourage the research conducted for the compilation of the catalogues referred to in paragraphs 2 and 4 of this article.
Article 12 The cultural heritage or natural heritage that is not listed in the two catalogues mentioned in the second and fourth paragraphs of Article 11 does not mean that it does not have outstanding universal value in other fields other than the purpose of listing.
Article 13
1. The World Heritage Committee shall accept and study the applications for international assistance submitted by the States parties to this Convention for the heritage that has been listed or may be suitable for listing in the second and fourth paragraphs of Article 11. The purpose of such an application may be to ensure the protection, preservation, exhibition or restoration of such property.
2. The application for international assistance mentioned in Article 1 of this Article may also involve determining which properties belong to the cultural or natural heritage as defined in Articles 1 and 2, and when the preliminary investigation shows that this investigation is worthwhile.
3. The Committee shall decide the action to be taken on these applications, determine the nature and extent of its assistance if necessary, and authorize it to make necessary arrangements with the governments concerned on its behalf.
4. The Committee should determine the priority of its activities. In doing so, it should take into account the importance of the heritage to be protected to the world cultural and natural heritage, the necessity of giving international assistance to the heritage that best represents the natural environment or the talent and history of people all over the world, the urgency of the work to be done, and the existing resources of countries whose heritage is threatened, especially the ability of these countries to use their own resources to protect such property.
5. The committee shall draft, update and publish a list of the heritages that have received international assistance.
6. The Committee shall decide how to use the fund established in accordance with article 15 of this Convention. The Committee should strive to increase such funds and take all useful measures to this end.
7. The Committee shall be used with international and national governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations whose objectives are similar to this Convention. In order to implement its plans and projects, the Committee may invite such organizations, especially the International Center for the Protection and Restoration of Cultural Relics (Rome Center), the International Council of Monuments and Sites and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, as well as public and private institutions and individuals.
8. Decisions of the Committee shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. A majority of the members of the Committee constitutes a quorum.
Article 14
1. The World Heritage Committee shall be assisted by a secretariat appointed by the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
2. The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization shall make full use of the services provided by the International Research Center for the Protection and Restoration of Cultural Relics (Rome Center), the International Council of Monuments and Sites and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources within their respective functions and powers, prepare documents for the Committee, set the agenda of the Committee meeting, and be responsible for implementing the decisions of the Committee.
Four. Fund for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage
Article 15
1. A World Cultural and Natural Heritage Fund with outstanding universal value is hereby established, which is called "World Heritage Fund".
2. According to the financial regulations of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, this fund shall constitute a trust fund.
3. The sources of funds of the Fund shall include:
(1) Obligations and voluntary contributions of States parties to this Convention;
(2) Donations, grants or bequests that can be provided by:
1. Other countries;
2. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, other organizations of the United Nations system (especially the United Nations Development Programme) or other intergovernmental organizations;
3. Public or private institutions or individuals;
3) Interest earned by fund funds;
(4) Income from fund raising and organization activities;
5) All other funds recognized by the Fund Regulations formulated by the World Heritage Committee.
4. Contributions and other forms of assistance to the Fund can only be used for the purposes set by the Committee. The Committee may only accept donations to a plan or project, provided that the Committee has decided to implement the plan or project. Contributions to the fund must not be attached with political conditions.
Article 16
1. Without affecting any voluntary supplementary contributions, the States parties to this Convention make regular contributions to the World Heritage Fund every two years. The Conference of the States Parties to this Convention shall meet during the session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to determine a uniform membership fee ratio applicable to all States Parties. The decision of the Meeting of States Parties on this issue shall be adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting without making the declaration referred to in paragraph 2 of this article. In any case, the obligations of States parties to this Convention shall not exceed 1% of their contributions to the regular budget of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
2. However, any country mentioned in Article 3 1 or Article 32 of this Convention may, when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, declare that it does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.
3. A State Party to this Convention that has made the declaration mentioned in paragraph 2 of this article may withdraw it at any time by notifying the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. However, the withdrawal of the declaration does not affect the country's obligation to pay before the date of the next meeting of the States parties to the Convention.
4. In order to enable the Committee to plan its activities effectively, the States parties to this Convention that have made the declaration mentioned in the second paragraph of this article should make regular contributions at least every two years, and the amount of contributions should not be less than the amount that they would have to pay if they were bound by the provisions of the first paragraph of this article.
5. Any State party to this Convention that delays the payment of its obligations or voluntary contributions for the current year and the previous calendar year cannot be elected as a member of the World Heritage Committee, but this provision does not apply to the first election. The term of office of a State party that meets the above conditions but is elected as a member of the Committee will expire at the time of election as stipulated in Article 8, paragraph 1, of this Convention.
Article 17 States parties to this Convention shall consider or encourage the establishment of national, public and private foundations or associations to raise funds for the protection of cultural and natural heritage as defined in Articles 1 and 2 of this Convention.
Article 18 States parties to this Convention shall provide assistance to the international fund-raising activities organized by the World Heritage Fund under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. To this end, they shall facilitate the fund-raising activities of the institutions mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 15.
Verb (abbreviation for verb) Conditions and arrangements for international assistance
Article 19. Any State Party to this Convention may request international assistance for the property within its territory that constitutes a cultural or natural heritage of outstanding universal value. When submitting an application, it shall also have documents and materials that will help the Committee to make a decision in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 1.
Article 20 Except for the cases mentioned in the second paragraph of Article 13, the third paragraph of Article 22 and Article 23, the international assistance provided by this Convention is limited to the cultural and natural heritage that the World Heritage Committee has decided or may decide to include in the catalogue mentioned in the second and fourth paragraphs of Article 11.
Article 21
1. The World Heritage Committee shall formulate procedures for examining the applications for international assistance submitted to it, and shall determine the contents of the applications, that is, the activities to be carried out, the necessary projects, the estimated costs and urgency of the projects, and the reasons why the resources of the applicant country cannot meet all the costs. Such applications must be accompanied by expert reports as far as possible.
2. When it may be necessary to carry out emergency work due to disasters or natural disasters, the Committee shall immediately give priority to the application and have an emergency reserve.
3. Before making a decision, the Committee shall conduct the research and consultation it deems necessary.
Article 22 The assistance of the World Heritage Committee may take the following forms:
1. To study the artistic, scientific and technical problems arising from the protection, preservation, exhibition and restoration of cultural and natural heritage as defined in paragraphs 2 and 4 of Article1/kloc-0 of this Convention;
2. Provide experts, technicians and skilled workers to ensure the correct implementation of the approved work;
3. Training staff and experts in the identification, protection, preservation, display and restoration of cultural and natural heritage at all levels;
4. Providing equipment that the countries concerned do not have or cannot obtain;
5. Provide low-interest or interest-free loans that can be repaid for a long time;
6. Provide free subsidies under exceptional and special circumstances.
Article 23 The World Heritage Committee may also provide international assistance to national or regional centers that train personnel and experts at all levels to identify, protect, preserve, display and restore cultural and natural heritage.
Article 24 Before providing large-scale international assistance, serious scientific, economic and technological research should be carried out. These studies should consider the use of the most advanced technology in the protection, preservation, exhibition and restoration of natural and cultural heritage, and should be in line with the objectives of this Convention. These studies should also explore ways to make rational use of the existing resources of the countries concerned.
Article 25 In principle, the international community will only bear part of the costs of necessary projects. Unless domestic resources do not allow it, the expenses borne by countries benefiting from international assistance should constitute the main part of the bonuses of various plans or projects.
Article 26 The World Heritage Committee and the recipient country shall, in the signed agreement, determine the implementation conditions of the plans or projects that enjoy international assistance in accordance with the provisions of this Convention. Countries receiving such international assistance shall be responsible for the continued protection, preservation and display of protected property in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the agreement.
Intransitive verbs education program
Article 27
1. States parties to this convention shall strive to enhance their people's appreciation and respect for the cultural and natural heritage recognized in Articles/kloc-0 and 2 of this convention by all appropriate means, especially education and publicity programs.
2. States Parties shall make the public widely aware of the dangers threatening this heritage and the activities carried out under this Convention.
Article 28. Contracting States receiving international assistance under this Convention shall take appropriate measures to make people understand the importance of the property receiving assistance and the role played by international assistance.
Seven. report
Article 29
1. In their reports to the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on the date and manner determined by the General Conference, the States parties to this Convention shall provide information on the laws and administrative regulations they have adopted and other actions they have taken to implement this Convention, and detail their experiences in this regard.
These reports should be brought to the attention of the World Heritage Committee.
3. The Committee shall submit a report on its activities to each regular session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Eight. final articles
Article 30 This Convention has been drafted in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish, all of which are equally authentic.
Article 31
1. This Convention shall be ratified or accepted by the Member States of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.
2. The instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Article 32
1. All countries that are not members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization may accede to this Convention at the invitation of the organizing conference.
2. The instrument of accession shall not enter into force until it is deposited with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Article 33 This Convention shall enter into force three months after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession, but this applies only to countries that deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession on or before that date. For any other country, this Convention shall enter into force three months after these countries deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession.
Article 34 The following provisions shall apply to the States parties to this Convention which have a federal system or a single constitutional system:
1. With regard to the implementation of this Convention under the jurisdiction of the federal or central legislature, the obligations of the federal or central government shall be the same as those of non-federal states;
2. With regard to the provisions of this Convention implemented according to the laws of federal countries, regions, provinces or states that do not need to adopt legislative measures according to the federal constitutional system, the federal government shall notify the competent authorities of each country, region, province or state of these provisions and their adoption recommendations.
Article 35
1. Any State Party to this Convention may denounce this Convention.
2. The notification of denunciation shall be deposited in writing with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
3. Withdrawal from this Convention shall take effect one year after receipt of the notification of withdrawal, and withdrawal shall not affect the financial obligations of the withdrawing country before the effective date.
Article 36 The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization shall notify all the ratifications, acceptances or accessions deposited in accordance with Articles 30 and 32, as well as the withdrawal from this contract in accordance with Article 35 and other provisions. Member States of the Organization, non-member States mentioned in Article 32 and the United Nations.
Article 37
1. This Convention may be amended by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. However, any amendment is only binding on the Parties to the Convention that will become amendments.
2. If the General Assembly adopts a new convention and amends this convention in whole or in part, unless otherwise stipulated in the new convention, this convention shall cease to be ratified, accepted or acceded to as of the effective date of the newly amended convention.
Article 38 According to Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, this Convention shall be registered with the United Nations Secretariat by the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The two official texts were signed in Paris on123 October, signed by the President of the 17th session of the General Conference and the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which kept them on file and sent certified copies to all countries mentioned in Articles 3/KLOC-0 and 32 and to the United Nations.
The above is the official text of the Convention adopted by the 17th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which was held in Paris at 1972,165438+1October 2 1.
This is to certify that 1972 165438+ was signed on1October 23rd.