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Context

• India is set to host the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting for the first time from 21st to 31st July 2024 in New Delhi.

READ ABOUT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/unesco-world-heritage-committee#:~:text=The%20Committee%20monitors%20the%20state,Heritage%20in%20Danger%20if%20necessary.

The Session:

• As an integral part of the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, and in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, the Ministry of Culture is hosting the 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum.
• This forum is scheduled from 14th to 23rd July 2024 in New Delhi, focusing on the theme "World Heritage in the 21st Century: Building Capacities and Exploring Opportunities for Youth."

UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme The UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme, initiated as a UNESCO special project in 1994, gives young people a chance to voice their concerns and to become involved in the protection of our common cultural and natural heritage. It seeks to encourage and enable tomorrow’s decision-makers to participate in heritage conservation and to respond to the continuing threats facing our World Heritage.

Participants:

• The forum brings together 50 young professionals from around the world, including 20 from India and 30 from international locations.
• These participants will engage in presentations, discussions, and site visits aimed at enhancing their skills and capacities in protecting, preserving, and promoting natural and cultural World Heritage sites.

Program Highlights:

• During the forum, participants will delve into global concepts of World Heritage and Sustainable Development.
• They will also familiarize themselves with India's local heritage through visits to prominent sites such as the Qutb Minar complex, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Declaration:

• A key highlight of the forum will be the presentation of the participants' 'Declaration' to the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee on 22nd July 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• This declaration will encapsulate the insights and commitments of young professionals towards heritage conservation and sustainable development.

About the World Heritage Young Professional Forum:

• The Forum serves as a platform by bringing young people and heritage experts together to foster intercultural learning and exchange.
• It also provides an opportunity for the youth to meet and learn about each other's heritage, discuss common concerns in preservation and discover new roles for themselves in heritage conservation.
• Each Forum is focused on a specific topic linked to World Heritage and aligned with the context of the World Heritage properties of the Host Country.

Objectives of the Forum:

• The World Heritage Young Professionals Forum serves as a platform to foster intercultural learning and exchange among youth and heritage experts.
• It provides an opportunity for participants to discuss common concerns in preservation and explore new roles in heritage conservation.

Sub-themes:

The forum will focus on several sub-themes critical to heritage conservation in the 21st century, including:

• Understanding the achievements and challenges of the World Heritage Convention.
• Addressing climate change impacts on World Heritage sites.
• Integrating innovative technologies for the promotion and preservation of World Heritage.
• Promoting community involvement in heritage conservation efforts.
• Exploring sustainable tourism opportunities and youth entrepreneurship in heritage sectors.

World Heritage Convention About Formal Name: Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Signed Date: 23 November 1972. Primary Goals: Nature conservation and preservation and security of cultural properties. Creation of World Heritage Sites: The convention led to the establishment of World Heritage Sites. Key Features Development Period: 1965-1972. Duties of Governments: Identify potential sites, protect and preserve them, and report on their conservation. World Heritage Fund: Specifies usage and management. Adoption Date: 16 November 1972 by the General Conference of UNESCO. Development History International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia (1959): Led to the relocation of 22 monuments. Outcome: Creation of a coalition of 50 countries. UNESCO and ICOMOS: Prepared a draft convention on cultural heritage protection. White House Conference (1965): Called for a "World Heritage Trust." International Union for Conservation of Nature (1968): Developed proposals presented at the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. Adoption and Implementation Draft Convention: Agreed upon by all parties, leading to the adoption by UNESCO on 16 November 1972. Effective Date: Came into force on 17 December 1975, after the 20th ratification. Implementation Start: 1977, after the 40th ratification. First Inscriptions: 1978, with new sites added annually at World Heritage Committee sessions. Responsibilities of Signatory Countries Conservation: Commit to conserving their World Heritage sites. Reporting: Regularly report on the state of conservation. Restoration: Restore sites if necessary. Periodic Reporting: Submit data providing an overview of the implementation of the convention and current conditions of World Heritage properties.

Conclusion:

• By empowering young professionals with knowledge and skills in heritage management, the forum aims to strengthen global cooperation in preserving World Heritage sites.
• It seeks to inspire a new generation of leaders committed to sustainable development and the safeguarding of cultural and natural heritage worldwide.
• The outcomes of the forum will contribute to ongoing international efforts under UNESCO to protect and promote World Heritage for future generations.

READ: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/world-heritage-sites-47

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements regarding World Heritage Young Professionals Forum: 1.India is hosting the 2024 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum. 2.The venue for this forum is Mumbai. 3.The theme of the forum is "World Heritage in the 21st Century: Building Capacities and Exploring Opportunities for Youth." Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 1 and 3 only c) 2 and 3 only d) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: b) 1 and 3 only

 SOURCE: PIB