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UNESCO celebrates the 50th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in Palestine
Celebrating 50 years of the World Heritage Convention
The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of UNESCO’s 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, known as the . This milestone anniversary offers the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the Convention to date and look towards the next 50 years for safeguarding World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity, and innovation.
With the sponsorship of Bank of Palestine, UNESCO is celebrating the anniversary with a photo exhibition in Peace Center located in the city of Bethlehem, right across from the Church of the Nativity and along the Pilgrimage Route - one of three World Heritage Sites in Palestine.
The exhibition covers the past, present and future of the Convention in Palestine and globally. It opened to the public last week with an exciting laser show beamed onto the façade of the Peace Centre, celebrating the convention and its achievements.
The official inauguration of the exhibition was attended by partners, representatives from international organizations, government officials, ambassadors, and activists from the cultural scene in Palestine.
“The protection of Palestinian cultural and natural heritage is central to UNESCO’s work in Palestine, not only for ensuring the safeguarding of built heritage for future generations, but also for raising public awareness, enhancing local capacities, and promoting the notion of heritage preservation as a tool for strengthening the Palestinian identity and keeping memories alive.” - Said Ms. Noha Bawazir, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Palestine during the opening ceremony.
Also spoke at the event:
Mr Tony Morcos, on behalf of the Mayor of Bethlehem, Mr Thaer Hamayel, representing the Bank or Palestine, her Excellency Dr. Kholoud Daibes, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Development Foundation, representing the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr Ahmad Rjoob, the General Director of the World Heritage Directorate.
History of the World Heritage Convention and Palestine
In 1972, UNESCO’s General Conference adopted a unique international treaty linking nature conservation and preservation of cultural properties while recognizing the way people interact with nature and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
In 2011, the same year it became a member of UNESCO, Palestine officially ratified the World Heritage Convention, becoming the 189th State Party to adopt it. Today, the World Heritage Convention is ratified by 194 States Parties, giving it a truly universal scope.
The World Heritage Convention has paved the way for the inscription of 1,154 sites in more than 167 countries, including three sites in Palestine: Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem (2012); Palestine, Land of Olives and Vines - Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir (2014); and Hebron / Al Khalil Old Town (2017).
In addition, two World Heritage Sites in Hebron and Battir are currently on the List of . The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was also on this list upon its initial inscription on the World Heritage List but was removed from the List in Danger in 2019 following extensive renovation and preservation efforts. Palestine has also included 14 sites with potential Outstanding Universal Value on its Tentative List which is a precondition for a possible future inscription on the World Heritage List.
The wealth of cultural and natural heritage is an important resource for development in Palestine; it has the potential to help sustain the Palestinian economy and identity - therefore, it is critical for all stakeholders to safeguard and effectively manage it.
Dates of the exhibition
The photo exhibition, which will remain open to the public until the 31st of January, includes a selection of curated photographs and texts providing the public with a glimpse into the background of the Convention, the Palestinian sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, as well as those on the Tentative list. It will also look towards the future of World Heritage Preservation in Palestine.
The Peace Centre is opened from 9am to 3pm daily.
Many thanks to the Bank of Palestine for sponsoring this event!
