Fifty years of the World Heritage Convention: a critical appraisal
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Abstract
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted on 16 November 1972. In its fifty years of existence, the Convention has proved to be one of UNESCO's most successful standard-setting instruments, both in terms of the number of ratifications and the popularity of the World Heritage designation among the general public. Today, however, the treaty also faces serious challenges that threaten its ability to achieve its two main objectives: protecting heritage of outstanding universal value and contributing to international peace and security. This article analyses these open challenges and, in doing so, aims to provide an approximation of where the Convention stands in 2022.
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