International Seminar:"Role of Religious Communities in the Management of World Heritage Properties"

Objectives

A great variety of religious and sacred sites represent the different cultures and traditions of the world. Approximately 20 percent of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List have some sort of religious or spiritual connection.

The need to define the role of religious communities in the management of World Heritage properties was highlighted during a joint UNESCO/ICOMOS reactive mission to the World Heritage property “Kiev: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra” (Ukraine) which took place in March 2009.  

The main aim of this request is to organize an international seminar to establish a platform for discussion and dialogue, comprising renowned international experts, national decision-makers, site managers and representatives of different religious communities all over the world, which should allow sharing views and experiences on how best to balance the competing requirements of faith and conservation and to improve the long-term management of properties of religious interest.

Results

Within the context of the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures 2010, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, the international seminar on the role of religious communities in the management of World Heritage properties was held in Kiev (Ukraine) from 2 to 5 November 2010.

For the first time in the history of the World Heritage Convention, the issue regarding the protection of religious and sacred heritage has been discussed at the international level, involving active participation of the religious authorities.

At the closing of the Seminar, on 5 November 2010, the participants unanimously adopted the Statement on the protection of religious properties within the framework of the World Heritage Convention. Developed in close collaboration with national authorities, international experts, site managers and representatives of religious communities, it is the first and unique document to give general recommendations on this specific issue.

Following this seminar, the World Heritage Committee has been encouraging the development of the UNESCO Initiative on Heritage of Religious Interest since 2011.