Session 1: UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and International Cooperation

Session 1: UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and International Cooperation

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the UN. It has 195 Member States. The UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage adopted in 2001 is the international community’s response to the destruction of submerged archaeological sites by treasure hunters and industrial activities. It reflects the growing recognition of the need to ensure the same protection to underwater heritage as that already accorded to land-based heritage. It provides legal protection, enables States Parties to adopt common approaches to preservation and provides effective professional guidelines on underwater cultural heritage. The Convention and its Annex have been officially endorsed by most professional associations of underwater archaeologists.
The 2001 Convention entered into force on 2 January 2009. Today it has been ratified by 44 States. The objectives of the UNESCO session are to:
* Enhance understanding of the 2001 Convention in terms of its background, its benefits, its ethics and its potentials for contributing to sustainable development,
* Identify a strategy for enhancing capacity in the protection and research of underwater cultural heritage,
* Identify a way forward for increasing ratifications of the 2001 Convention by the countries in the region.

Etienne Clement