TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE CONTEXT: India is set to host the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee from July 21-31, 2024.
EXPLANATION:
- The event will take place at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and is expected to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on July 21.
- This significant gathering will see participation from over 2,500 delegates, including State Parties, advisory bodies, senior diplomats, heritage experts, scholars, and researchers from 195 countries.
- The event is being organized by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Participants and Delegations
- The session will bring together a diverse array of participants:
- State Parties: Countries that have adhered to the World Heritage Convention.
- Advisory Bodies: Organizations that provide expert advice to the World Heritage Committee.
- Senior Diplomats: Representatives from various countries.
- Heritage Experts, Scholars, and Researchers: Professionals from the heritage and academic sectors.
World Heritage Committee
- The World Heritage Committee was established under the Convention concerning the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage.
- It was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 17th session on November 16, 1972.
- The Rules of Procedure for the committee were last revised during its 39th session in Bonn, 2015.
- The World Heritage Committee is a crucial body within UNESCO, comprising representatives from 21 States Parties elected by the General Assembly of UNESCO.
- The current members, elected during the 24th General Assembly in November 2023, include Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Türkiye, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zambia.
- The 45th session was previously held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Responsibilities of the Committee
- Implementation of the World Heritage Convention: The committee ensures the convention is upheld.
- Allocation of Financial Assistance: Funds from the World Heritage Fund are allocated by the committee.
- Inscription of Sites: The committee has the final authority to decide whether a site is inscribed on the World Heritage List.
India’s Role and Contributions
- India, as the host country, will play a pivotal role in this session.
- The nation currently has 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Notably, Santiniketan, established by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, was declared the 41st World Heritage site in India in September 2023.
- Hosting this session underscores India’s commitment to heritage conservation and its active role in the global cultural and natural heritage discourse.
- UNESCO has released a provisional agenda and timetable for the meeting, detailing the topics and sessions to be covered.
- This structured agenda will guide the deliberations and decisions throughout the session.
UNESCO:
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture.
- It has 194 member states and 12 associate members, as well as partners in the non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sector.
- Its Headquarters is in Paris, France.
- UNESCO has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions.
- UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations’ International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
- UNESCO focuses on a set of objectives such as:
- Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning
- Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development
- Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges
- Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace
- Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication
- Focuses on global priority areas – “Africa” and “Gender Equality”.
