Unesco’s Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage

The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference on 2 November 2001is an international treaty aimed at saving the underwater cultural heritage. States Parties to the Convention pledge to preserve underwater cultural heritage for the benefit of humanity, and take action therefore. Furthermore underwater cultural heritage will be protected from being commercially exploited for trade or speculation.

•  It was recently in news because, the legendary Titanic’s wreckage, which has remained at the bottom of the North Atlantic for 100 years, will now come under its protection. Till now, remains of the Titanic were not eligible for protection under Unesco’s Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, which applies only to wreckage that has remained submerged for at least 100 years. Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on its maiden voyage and sank on the night of April 14, 1912.