UNESCO and the World Heritage Sites
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
May 29, 2009
On the 16th of November in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (or UNESCO,) was founded. It was an agency within the United Nations whose main goal was “to build peace in the minds of men.”
Purposes of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO has a variety of purposes and goals. For example, they are seeking to eliminate at least half of all the people living in developing countries who are also living in extreme poverty. They are working to prevent terrorism and promote dignity of individual cultures and civilizations. They are also working to eliminate gender discrimination in educational systems across the world.
However, these are just a few of their goals. Their collective list of goals is generally referred to as the United Nations Millennium Goals (or Millennium Development Goals.)
UNESCO and World Heritage
One of the main goals of World Heritage is to help countries realize and ensure protection of important cultural and natural sites. These sites generally have major significance concerning either historical civilizations or to nature itself.
There are also several other goals that help attribute to the main goal. World Heritage also helps provide emergency assistance and relief for sites that are in serious danger. They also encourage individual States Parties (countries that are part of the organization,) to nominate new World Heritage Sites.
Overall, World Heritage and UNESCO, help encourage those around them to take a sense of pride in their home lands. After all, there is only one earth.
World Heritage Sites List and Criteria
With the help and cooperation of countries all across the globe, UNESCO has established a list of 878 (as of May 2009,) World Heritage Sites. World Heritage Sites are only added to the list after the committee has agreed that they meet a certain set of criteria. In June of 2009, new sites will be added to the current list.
Currently (as of May 2009,) there are only 878 sites listed on the World Heritage Sites list. Of the 878 sites, only 174 are natural sites, 679 are cultural sites and 25 are mixed sites (of both cultural and natural properties.) Currently, there are 147 countries who participate on the list.
UNESCO and World Heritage are an important factor in maintaining pride in world history. Many people may never have heard of any of these sites. Now, thanks to UNESCO, these sites show the world their true value and importance.
