World Heritage Day 2019

April 18 was observed as the World Heritage Day 2019 with the theme Rural Landscapes. The theme Rural Landscapes is related to the theme of the 2019 International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Scientific Symposium on Rural heritage to be held at Marrakesh, Morocco in October.

World Heritage Site

UNESCO defines a World Heritage Site as a “natural or man-made area or a structure that is of international importance, and space which requires special protection.”

Genesis of the World Heritage Day

On 18 April 1982 on the occasion of a symposium organised by ICOMOS in Tunisia, it was suggested to observe the “International Day for Monuments and Sites” simultaneously throughout the world.
UNESCO passed a resolution at its 22nd session on November 1983 approving the idea and recommended the member states to examine the possibility of declaring 18 April each year “International Monuments and Sites Day”. This has been referred to as the World Heritage Day.
World Heritage Day offers an opportunity to raise the public’s awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2019