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UNESCO is the only UN specialized agency with a specific mandate in the field of culture. The Organization is convinced that no sustainable development can be built without a strong culture component. In the field of culture UNESCO's activities are based on normative documents, in particular, the Conventions for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which were ratified by Uzbekistan. They serve as a basis in the promotion, preservation, protection and support of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO and the World Heritage List.

Since 2018, UNESCO in cooperation with European Union has been implementing a joint project «Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran - International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage». The project aims to strengthen capacities for safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage, raise awareness and promote the common cultural heritage on the Silk Roads, and use the heritage as a foundation for sustainable development.

UNESCO is leading the following projects, with keen Uzbekistan interest: “Preservation and safeguarding of the cultural heritage in Bukhara” (US$ 300,00, Saudi Arabia Funds-in-Trust), with a focus on the Rashid Madrassah in Bukhara for Shashmaqom centre. The project has been finalised.  

Within the Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran – International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage” funded by the European Union: 2019-2022 Conservation works of Bogbonli Mosque in Khiva;  2019-2020 Development of the Destination Management Plan and Sustainable Tourism Strategy. 2021-2022 Establishment of a Destination Management and Marketing Organization; development the Tourism brand for Khiva; development of a Website to Promote Khiva and to support WH conservation.

DG’s visit to Uzbekistan in August 2019 led to the establishment of an International Advisory Committee for World Cultural Heritage properties in Uzbekistan, designed to address the challenges brought about by rapid economic and tourism in the four World Heritage cities. The inaugural meeting took place in September 2021, and the first technical meeting took place in July 2022. The aim of the IAC is to provide advice and support to the concerned local, regional, and national authorities of Uzbekistan, in line with and furthering the implementation of the relevant Decisions of the World Heritage Committee, and recommendations of past technical and advisory missions to the World Heritage properties in Uzbekistan, and in accordance with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, in particular, the Paragraph 172. The IAC convenes a group of international/ national and interdisciplinary experts suggested by the World Heritage Centre with the Advisory Bodies (ICOMOS, ICCROM), endorsed by the State Party of Uzbekistan.

One of the most recent cultural highlights is the ratification of the 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions by Uzbekistan in November 2019. It is a great achievement of the country as well as institutions and organizations involved in the process of the ratification, such as the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Culture as well as our Office that worked for many years towards the promotion of the ratification of the 2005 Convention.

Moreover, the UNESCO Tashkent Office promote further the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage through capacity-building activities, awareness-raising campaigns and greater involvement of communities and NGOs in the safeguarding of the intangible heritage of Uzbekistan.

Office raises awareness about rich movable heritage of Uzbekistan at national and international levels as well as strengthens national capacities in exhibition design and management, storage, inventorying, data collection and analysis, preservation and restoration of museum collections and promotes the role of the museum in formal and informal education and lifelong learning.

In July 2022, Uzbekistan was elected to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2022-2026).

In addition, UNESCO supports the Government of Uzbekistan to implement the 2015 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society.

At the moment the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO includes eleven  elements from Uzbekistan:  Shashmaqom music (2008); Cultural space of Boysun District (2008); Katta Ashula (2009); Askiya, the art of wit (2014); Navruz (2016); Palov culture and tradition (2016); Khorazm dance, Lazgi (2019); Art of ministure (2020); Bakhshi art (2021); Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving (2022); Telling tradition of Nasreddin Hodja Anecdotes (2022).

In 2017 Margilan Crafts Development Centre, safeguarding of the atlas and adras making traditional technologies was included into the UNESCO Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

Unique historical cultural and natural  sites of Uzbekistan  included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are    Itchan Kala (1990); Historic Centre of Bukhara (1993);  Historic Centre of Shakhrisyabz (200);  Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures (2001)  and Western Tien-Shan (2026 have been considered to be of Outstanding Universal Value and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Memory of the World Registry includes 3 elements from Uzbekistan . They are Collection of the AI-Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies (1997); Holy Koran Mushaf of Othman (1997) and Archives of the Chancellery of Khiva Khans (2017). Mount Chatkal (1978) and Lower Amudarya State Biosphere Reserve (2021) are in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves list.